Today Kate and I read the rest of chapter one of The Hobbit. We discussed author's purpose and point of view. We then found a documentary showing comparisons between the following book and the Lord of the Rings, as well as commentary on the films, changes made, characters, and plot.
Bobby reviewed the Covey Habits we have been working on for the past couple of months, and then added the sixth (synergize) and seventh (sharpen the saw). He learned that synergy means to involve a group or team for the purpose of increased efficiency and power, as compared to one individual working all alone. He came up with some examples, including basketball teams or an ant colony. We finished our session on the large computer, listening to Stephen Covey explain how to create a Mission Statement. One key lesson from Covey today involves keeping your destination strongly in mind in order to accomplish your long-term goal in life. The analogy was of a plane that takes off for a certain city, but ends up going off-course about 90% of the time. The pilot will adjust and come back on course many times during a flight and ultimately, without question, end up at the appointed destination. So it is with our lives. The important lesson for Bobby here is to be mindful of his goal and continue to adjust and come back on course. We also discussed 'sharpening the saw,' -- taking care of one's self. He learned the four quadrants in doing so -- mind, body, heart, spirit -- and got some tips for how to exercise these each day.
Charlie completed the reading vocabulary portion of the Stanford Test. Following this, we finished watching the film we have been working with (Lone Ranger) which raised some critical thinking questions. The conclusion of the film requires inference to gain any satisfaction. Before Charlie left for lunch, I made him watch a few minutes of the original TV series for a critique of differences and similarities.
Kate wanted to work together reading something. She has finished her book. I had a copy of easy to read Romeo and Juliet in my bag and she eagerly wanted to hear and read some of that. She had seen the movie. We went outside and read some, and I asked plot and character questions, which she knew except for some details, We used critical thinking to problem-solve some of the character situations.
We began our session with Charlie selecting two terms from each of the three categories of critical thinking and writing them on the board. We have almost completed the "visual text" upon which we discuss many useful and practical applications of critical thinking, the film of The Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp. Charlie recognized and recorded instances of all six selected concepts: precision, purpose, intellectual courage, fairmindedness, point-of-view, and fairness.
Today we reviewed Covey's first five Habits of Highly Successful People. Bobby taught these back to me as I played the students. After each, I asked questions, and wherever he needed help, I taught the complexities and details. He wrote these on the board with little notes that he created by paraphrase of what he read as reminders on the Covey app. His strongest point is the one-week planning habit which he implemented for the third time now. I'm hoping this one will become a regular habit -- he chose three of his roles and wrote specific things he would do at specific times to enhance his success in each chosen role. He used accuracy and precision (standards of critical thinking) in his planning because it cannot be too general or left without a specific time to be executed. He has the carrying out of his plans in each role as homework and will be held accountable next week. I think he is enjoying this covey work -- there are two Habits left.
We reviewed the first three Covey Habits for personal leadership. Bobby wrote them on the whiteboard and we discussed each, and how they were to be actual habits that we could do from now on. We revisited last session's "Putting first things first," and actively created another plan for this week in Bobby's various roles. We reviewed his homework from last session with Habit 3, and moved on to Habit 4 -- "win-win." Clearly, he realized that it is not good for one to profit while another suffers from that same activity. It also discussed "mood" and the importance of maintaining our own positive mood and resist any possible negativity from others. This led me to explain -- and show Bobby -- Mr. Emoko's work with water crystal photography. It shows the difference in the physical look and structure of the water particles after exposure to music and to various feelings directed to it. Win-win keeps everyone smiling. It is an important feature in success for businesses.
Kate and I finished a chapter in her book, The Outsiders, discussing character traits, use of older language from the 1950's, relationships of characters, purpose and points of view. Then we went on a website of good books for middle school and she perused the list, choosing three. She then read aloud the synopsis of each, the ratings for each, and then made a decision of which she might like to read. The selected book list is at the top of her whiteboard -- all good selections.
