Principal's Message [11]
Principal's Message [11]
Dear Parents and Families,
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Having a Win-Win attitude is important when practicing the 7 Habits. People who think Win-Win seek the solution that benefits everyone. You need to have the courage, willingness and ability to speak your thoughts and feelings. You also need to be considerate. You need to be able to listen to others’ thoughts and feelings with respect. Ultimately, the agreements or solutions that you make are satisfying to both parties. When parties come up with Win-Win situations the result will be faster (and longer lasting) solutions to problems, more team involvement and rich relationships. In the long run it will be better that both groups benefitted from the solution rather than only one side getting their way.
At school we often have to create Win-Win situations. One example is the Party with the Principal. Any student who achieves the of one behavior referral or less gets to go to the party rather than a Win-Lose situation where it could only be the top 20% of the student population could attend.
Another Win-Win situation we have at school is how we grade. It is on a standard scale rather than on a forced curve or against other students. If we graded on a forced curve only a percentage of students could reach success. This would be a Win-Lose System.
Win-Win situation can occur at home too. Maybe your desired result at home is for your child to get homework done each day so you don't have to nag. An expectation you can create is that your child can’t watch television or play on the computer until the homework is done. The student also knows that you will not remind them more than once a day to do their homework. As a parent, you would need to sign off in the planner each day to make sure that they have completed it all. The positive consequence for both the parent and the student will be that the student will be proud of their grades and the rewards that they receive at home and school for doing their work. For the parent, the nagging will hopefully stop!
Children’s books that you can read and discuss win-win situations with your child:
When Mama Played Baseball, by David Adler
The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister
Sincerely,
Miss Kathryn Klei,
PN Principal
PN Principal