Habit+3+-+Put+First+Things+First



__ **Habit 3: Put First Things First** __

· Spend time on things that are most important · Set priorities, make schedules, follow a plan · Be disciplined and organized


 * Jacqui - This is where I think I have a touch of ADD. I don't make schedules and follow a plan. Believe or not, I do my best #|work atthe last minute under pressure. I don't like to be bored, either. That's how I know why it is so important to keep our #|students' mind occupied or they will get in trouble. If my mind is not stimulated it tends to wander off. **

Katie - Ooohhhoooo.......I am a last minute, last moment person. Pressure makes me perform much better. I try real hard to be organized and in my own manner I am organized.....others see it as a mess, but it is my "mess".....lol. I agree with Mrs. J about the bored part. I try to emulate to students and others that I'm around to keep a book or a puzzle handy....Fannie Mae always said that "Idle hands are the Devil's workshop." I think that idle minds are devils workshop also.

Sissy and Mrs. White - Habit 3 is about life management as well--your purpose, values, roles, and priorities. I am a last minute, last second person as well. Pressure makes me perform at my best. Even though I feel the stress.............ugh.

Ella - I am a person that likes to get things done a day ahead, just in case I have to go back and redo!

Michelle - This habit steps on my toes a bit. If we plan for every single minute in the classroom then we should plan for every single minute of our own lives both professional and personal - tough to follow and stick to.

Linda - Habit 3 really points the finger at me. I like to slide in just on time. I guess I like the pressure of getting things completed in a day not drag it out over time. Success is in the mind of the beholder. Yeah, for sticky notes!

Glenda - I am definitely NOT a person that procrastinates. Sometimes I get angry at myself for thinking that I have to get things done ahead of time, or that I have to get to a certain destination early. I guess I am like Ella Rea, I will have time to redo something if it is wrong!! Ha!

Carol - Since I am an organized person, I can identify completely. I have tried to change, but it is just not in my character!

Whitlock- This is hard for me because I feel that priorities can change. However, I do understand how taking care of the "most" important things is really the rational thing to do. I definitely think that we as human beings can get caught up doing whatever is the most convenient first or the easiest. Hopefully we will not fall into that type of pattern in teaching. We must stay focused and really work on the things that are most important.

Liz - We should spend our time on things that are most important as opposed to doing or teaching something that does not benefit us or our students. This is where getting ourselves organized come into play. We should identify what is most needed/required, plan and follow it accordingly.

Lisa Nordan- I agree with Liz. Sometimes the paper work will have to wait. We

need to focus on our students and use our time in a wise manner. Being a

Reading teacher has taught me that every second with a student counts.

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Tonya "Mrs. Incredible' Harris

To live a more balanced life, I have learned to recognize that not doing everything that comes along is okay. There's no need to overextend myself.All it takes is realizing that it's all right to say

no when necessary and then focus on my highest priorities.

Also, I am not a last minute person. Pressure does not make me perform better. It makes me cranky and irritable and when I am cranky and irritable I lash out on those who did nothing to me. To

keep me from being that way, I choose to be organized and to put important things first. I just don't like being under pressure. ORGANIZATION is what I am all about.

Somar Ramos I believe that organization is a great skill that takes time to acquire, I am organized and my wife is organized in her on way(LOL), i have learned with her that my organized and hers is not the same, with this being said i have learned to respect her ways--lists starting in order as to whats needed first not what is easily obtainable.

David Lewis

Habit 3 to me is the Getting Things Done habit.Put First Things First sounds very logical, yet we mess this one up a lot of times. First Things are not the things that need to be done first, but the things that have to come first. **YOU decide what the first things are! **
 * Gibson,P. - A high school teacher once told me that I was unpredictable. I didn't know what to make of it at the time, but as time progressed, I began to see myself as a person who has good intentions, but doesn't always get things done on time. When I plan my lessons, I want everything be consistent and to flow smoothly. However, I do leave room for questions and for how the lesson might fit into real-life situations. The internet has become a valuable tool when students have questions as to why they have to learn certain objectives in math. Sometimes you have to travel off the path to bring fresh and inventive ways to answer questions. **
 * Gibson,P. - A high school teacher once told me that I was unpredictable. I didn't know what to make of it at the time, but as time progressed, I began to see myself as a person who has good intentions, but doesn't always get things done on time. When I plan my lessons, I want everything be consistent and to flow smoothly. However, I do leave room for questions and for how the lesson might fit into real-life situations. The internet has become a valuable tool when students have questions as to why they have to learn certain objectives in math. Sometimes you have to travel off the path to bring fresh and inventive ways to answer questions. **

**D. Manuel - I think that sometimes I have a problem with putting first things first. The problem is that sometimes what I consider to be most important is not what the boss or the people in charge feel is most important or"first". Advantage "Boss'! If I can become more oragnized and procrastinate less, I feel that I become a much better professional and have a better handle on my priorities as a professional.**

**Regina, Gladys, and Kim** **I think everyone knows that Second Grade procrastinates, but we agree with Mrs. James and Katie. We also do our best work at the last minute. However, in the classroom you must set priorities, make a schedule, and follow a plan. Sometimes the plan gets interrupted or delayed, but we work hard to get the plan back on track. Sometimes, plans have to be changed to fit the situation. As teachers, we should be flexible. Making sure all students learn and grow up to be productive, well mannered boys and girls is putting first thing first.** 

Denise: Which comes first? Organization or discipline? Either way, both are habits that need to begin being developed in childhood. As teachers and adults, we need to instill these habits in our students and children by **//__demonstrating them on a daily basis__//** before expecting the same from our students. This is not easy and takes much effort and thinking on our part, but I know we can succeed.

Sandra - Make no bones about it, I am the Document QUEEN and truly believe you must stay organized to stay successful. However, with so many deadlines and so much documentation expected, the words LAST MINUTE have taken on a new meaning for me. This year has been an exception due to health issues and my absence, however, one of my goals is to better meet documentation goals more timely than in the past.

Pam Mc., Bobbie Mac., & Charity - I, Pam Mc., am a lot like Katie and Jacqui in this area. I am a last minute person, although I know I shouldn't be. I do my best work under pressure. But we feel one should prioritize and plan and try to follow those plans to best of their ability.

Priscilla-Putting First Things First is a hard task for me. I will organize things but I find it hard to manage time and events according to the things that are most important. I believe that we all should set set priorities,make a schedule, and follow our plan. During the 2011-12 school year I plan on becoming a person that Puts First Things First. Currently,I am truly a person that procrastinates. I always seem to work best under pressure. (I have noticed this has been passed on to my daughter and she completes her best work under pressure.) Being organized and disciplined will help my classroom run smoothly and efficiently.

Zeda--Like Pricilla Putting First Things First is sometimes hard for me. I sometimes want to skip some of the first steps of organization and move on just to find out that I should have Put First Things First to be a success. Becky Gibson- I know organization is key! However over the past year or so I have been slacking. Getting organized is one of my summer goals!


 * Sheila - I'm a lot like Katie.......I try to be organized and perform best under pressure. I strive to be organized, but I am efficient in my own manner. If we were all alike, our world would be a boring place. **

Gwen, Patti, and Teresa We feel that it is very important to be organized as first grade teachers. If we were not organized, our days would be chaotic. We should all take lessons in organization from Mrs. Williams. She is always so organized and on top of things. We believe that people are more productive when they are organized.

Pam Moody - Put First Things First - I think Habit #3 is what causes me to have such a problem with all of the documentation and paper work that is required of educators. I plan ahead and set goals in my classroom. I try to do things that are meaningful and make a difference. Because of this, I sometimes procrastinate on the things that I do not feel will make a difference for my students.