7habits of highly effective ell advocates

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective ELL Advocates

Kristina RobertsonBurnsville-Eagan-Savage School District

MDE ESL, Bilingual and Migrant Conference

April 15, 2011

Session Goals:

Participants will be able to: Relate Covey’s “7 Habits of

Highly Successful People” to their own lives

Create a strategic focus for their ELL program goals using components of “7 Habits” and planning tools

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What happens in our brains when we advocate for ELLs?

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Reptilian BrainNeocortex and Limbic Brain

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Overview The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Be ProactiveBegin with the End in MindPut First Things FirstThink Win/WinSeek to Understand, Then be UnderstoodSynergizeSharpen the Saw

1. Be Proactive

Proactive vs. ReactiveCircle of Concern vs. Circle of

InfluenceProactive Language

“Let’s look at our alternatives.”

“I choose…”

“I prefer….”

Reactive Language

“There’s nothing we can do.”

“They won’t allow that.”

“I have to do that.”

The Habit of Choice

2. Begin with the End in Mind

What do you REALLY want to be remembered for? Write your Life’s MISSION

To empower others to achieve their full potential. Clarify your real GOALS

A position where I can use my knowledge and influence to improve academic achievement for ELLs.

Opportunities to work collaboratively with other educators to create quality ELL programs and identify solutions to barriers for academic success.

Match your Actions with your MISSION & GOALS

The Habit of Vision

3. Put First Things First

Be intentional Organize & Execute around Priorities To say “YES” to your Priorities, Learn to say “NO”

to some other activities (which may appear urgent !)

Important

Not Important

Urgent Not Urgent

ELL numbers for staffing today

Develop ELL Program planning tool

Unimportant phone calls, email, useless meetings

Gossip with co-workers, busywork, Angry Birds

The Habit of Integrity and Execution

4. Think Win/Win

Seeks mutual benefit. Is cooperative, not competitive.Listens more, stays in communication longer, and

communicates with more courage.

The Habit of Mutual Benefit

You need to:Build Trust in Relationships - your Emotional Bank AccountSeek to Understand OthersPersonal Integrity generates Trust

5. Seek FIRST to Understand, Then be Understood

Listen!Empathetic listening - I listen with the intent

to understand.Autobiographical listening - I listen with the

intent to reply.Ask SINCERE, clarifying QuestionsBe Aware of Your Filters

The Habit of Mutual Understanding

6. Synergize

Synergy - The process of interacting that highly effective people use to get solutions together.

The Habit of Creative Cooperation

Synergizing is: Synergizing is not:

Exploring and seeking different perspectives.

A brainstorming free-for-all that leads nowhere.

Win-win cooperation. Win-lose competition.

Having a mutually agreed-upon end in mind.

Groupthink (giving in to peer pressure).

7. Sharpen the Saw: Spiritual Self- Renewal

Physical: Exercise, Nutrition, StressMental: Study, Visualize, PlanSocial/Emotional: Forgive, Service, EmpathySpiritual: Values Clarification & Commitment,

Prayer & Meditation, Sing & Dance, Retreats in Nature

The Habit of Renewal

To maintain and increase effectiveness, we must renew ourselves in body, heart, mind,

and soul.

ELL Advocacy

Be Proactive Win-Win

ELL Advocacy: Be Proactive

Proactive vs. Reactive

Proactive Language

“Let’s look at our alternatives.”

“I choose…”

“I prefer….”

Reactive Language

“There’s nothing we can do.”

“They won’t allow that.”

“I have to do that.”

The Habit of Choice

When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. ~ Viktor Frankl

Be Proactive: Circle of Influence vs. Circle of Concern

Circle of Concern

Circle of Influence

• School budget cuts• Past mistakes• My upbringing• Delayed flight• My happiness• How others treat me• My effectiveness as a teacher

ELL Advocacy: Think Win-Win

Six Paradigms: Win-Win: Let’s find a solution that

works for both of us.Win-Lose: I’m going to beat you no

matter what.Lose-Win: I always get stepped on.

What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?

Lose-Lose: If I’m going down, you’re going down with me.

Win: As long as I win, I don’t care if you win or lose.

Win-Win or No Deal: Let’s find a solution that works for both of us, or let’s not play.

ELL Advocacy: Think Win-Win

What does win-win look like?Situation:

What’s a win for you? What’s a win for them?

In order to have win-win agreements….Desired Results

What’s the end in mind? What are the outcomes I want?

Guidelines What rules do I follow? What are the guidelines for accomplishing the results?

Resources What resources do I have to work with? (people, money, materials, technology)

Accountability How will we measure how well it’s going?

Consequences What are the rewards of achieving the outcome? What are the consequences of not achieving the outcome?

How do you know it’s a win-win agreement?

Clarifies expectationsIncreases empowermentDelegate responsibilitiesAlign conflicting priorities

Some advocacy guidelines (wisdom I’ve picked up over the years)

You are advocating for those who don’t have a voice, so you need to speak up, but don’t go in alone… many voices are more effective.

You won’t get what you want if you tick people off.

You will be more successful with allies and a plan.

Keep your integrity - work for change with honesty and openness.

Some advocacy guidelines (wisdom I’ve picked up over the years)

Start small - success with one item builds credibility, trust and a relationship for future success.

Be realistic - it may not be the right time for your ultimate goal, but are there other goals you can work on while waiting for the climate to change?

Be ready - even if it won’t happen today or tomorrow - keep your information (data, research) together so you are ready when the opportunity arises.

Lets get started!Look at ELL Advocacy Planning Sheet Guides you through questions such as:

What is your goal? What is your number one thing to improve the academic experience of ELLs?

What needs to happen in order to achieve that goal? (permission, agreement, communication)

What barriers exist? What resources could you draw on?

Further considerations

What does the “decider” care about? Research? Data? Funding? Academic results?

What are the first steps to move towards your goal? (more allies? More research? A committee?)

Finally…

What allies and resources can you draw on? Who does the “decider” listen to?

Write statement of intent: SMART goal (helpful if this is a shared goal with allies)

More questions?

contact: Kristina Robertson kmrobertson@burnsville.k12.mn.us

www.elltitle.blogspot.com

http://eladvocacynetwork.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/kmrobertz

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey

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are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.