Book Club: Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
There’s a lot of anti-charter sentiment out there, even in circles I admire (like academia). Many people argue that charter schools represent an abandonment of the public school system. They argue that charter schools “skim the cream off the top” and recruit the highest-performing children away from their zoned schools.
My support of the charter school model (notice I didn’t say “charter schools,” since there are a lot of bad ones out there) comes from the past twelve years of working in education for economically-disadvantaged children. I’ve worked with AmeriCorps, Teach For America, KIPP, YES Prep Public Schools, Teacher U, Achievement First, and three school districts. I have experienced firsthand–over and over again–how difficult it is to shift the direction of the bureaucratic behemoths that school districts can be. I have wasted tons and tons of energy fighting the system–energy that would have been better spent on creation and innovation.
As I understand it, the original purpose of charter schools was to create “incubators” where new ideas could be implemented and tested on a small scale and then shared back with school districts. That’s why I believe in charter schools. I don’t want them to take over and cause the dissolution of school districts, but I do want them to show districts that there is a better way.
So anyway, you may have noticed this post is about a book club–not a manifesto about charter schools (did you think I just titled it incorrectly?). If I’m going to be an effective leader of a public Montessori charter school, then I have a lot to learn, and I’m going to start by rereading a book that revolutionized my life six years ago: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
I’m going to talk about one chapter a week. I’d love it if you’d join me!
Here’s how it’s going to work:
- If you want to join us, please leave a brief comment (something as simple as “I’m in!”), so I have a sense of how many people are interested. It’s fine if you comment anonymously.
- I’ll post my discussion of the first chapter “Inside-Out” (which is approximately 30 pages in my copy of the book) on Monday, April 25 and we can discuss it in the comments. We’ll do one chapter per week (gotta keep it manageable!).
P.S. Mica, I got your awesome e-mail message. Thank you! This book is definitely on my list of books that shifted my paradigm. I’m going to start another book list in the left sidebar of my blog, as I think of other ones.
33 Comments
Katrina Crone
I'd do it! This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for awhile and I keep meaning to get around to reading it.. 🙂
Teressa N
I'm in. I've got access to the book & audio book & I think I will take advantage of that asap! Psyched!
Mindy
I'm in!
ErikaM
I'm in. Stephen Covey spoke at my college graduation and my mom gave me a copy of the book. I never got around to reading it but I feel like now is the perfect time to really get into it because of where I am in my job.
kelly
Yes please!
Roxanne
I'd love to! I've been meaning to read this book.
maya938
I'm in! This group of support could not come at a better time for me. Yay and thank you!
Delray from Toledo
I'm in, just need to go purchase the book!
Samantha
I'm in.
Anonymous
I'm in, assuming I can find a copy at my library…
Anonymous
I'm in, I'm actually in the process of reading it right now and maybe this will help me from annoying all my friends by trying to tell them about it :-).
Katie
Andie
yes! thank you for this opportunity…
Amanda
My Dad gave me this book years and years ago and I never got around to reading it (that must be completely opposite the habits of effective people) so it's about time – I'm in!
Maureen
In like flynn. I've had this book for 4 months and have only skimmed it. Thanks for the motovation to read it!
Anne-Marie
What a great goal. I'm in.
Kate S.
I'm in! I've been a recent reader of your blog and been very inspired by you and your family. I've been meaning to read this book for a while now so this is my perfect opportunity! Count me in!
Mindy
I already left a comment but I just heard on NPR that both creators of Google were Montessori students and the company is based on a montessori model! Pretty cool!
Allison Campbell
I'm in!
Kirstie
I'm in, and my library has a copy available, hurray!
Megan
I'd love to participate. I will also be relying on the library for a copy though…
Andrea
I'm in too!
Malvo
I'm in as well!
Jami
I'm in!
k8thegr8
I'm in! Its been in my bedside table for a month now. Perfect timing!
Gretchen
I'm definitely in for reading the book!
And thank you, thank you, thank you for your support of charter schools! I work at a charter school for at-risk high school students in Indiana. I love hearing from people who are willing to take the time to learn about charter schools and understand them before forming an opinion. I find that most people don't understand what charter schools are all about. I'm constantly explaining how they work to people when they find out I work at one. Thanks again!
Mica
Oh boy, I've never been in a book club, online or otherwise!
Thanks for the postscript in your post! I'm excited to start reading this book!
Courtney
Definitely in! I have wanted to read this so why not now?
Michelle
I'm in if I can find a copy of the book by Friday! :o)
Allyn
I'd do it as well. Seems as good of a time as any!
Natalie
I would love to do this but totally don't have time for extra reading right now (sad but true).
But I just want to say, please do start a montossori chart school in Austin! I am moving to the area and don't have kids yet but I will someday and I'd like to be able to send them to your school! I'd support your goal in any way possible!
Megan
I am totally in! I have been meaning to read this book for years, and now is as good a time as ever!!
Sarah
Ooh, I'm definitely interested! 🙂
Lexie
I just picked the book up from the library yesterday! I'm going to try to get caught up in time to participate in this next Monday's discussion.