The Leader in Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child At a Time

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The Leader in Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child At a Time

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 521 ratings · 89 reviews

The world has entered an era of the most profound and challenging change in human history. Most of our children are not prepared, and we know it.

Parents around the world see the change and know that the traditional three R's -- reading, writing, and arithmetic -- are necessary, but not enough. Their children need to become far more responsible, creative, and tolerant of di...more The world has entered an era of the most profound and challenging change in human history. Most of our children are not prepared, and we know it.

Parents around the world see the change and know that the traditional three R's -- reading, writing, and arithmetic -- are necessary, but not enough. Their children need to become far more responsible, creative, and tolerant of differences. They need to increase their ability to think for themselves, take initiative, get along with others, and solve problems.

Business leaders are not finding people whose skills and character match the demands of today's global economy, including strong communication, teamwork, analytical, technology, and organizational skills. They need young people who are self-motivated, creative, and have a strong work ethic.

How will we bridge this ever-widening gap? The Leader in Me is the story of the extraordinary schools, parents, and business leaders around the world who are preparing the next generation to meet the great challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century.

In 1999, the A.B. Combs Elementary School in North Carolina was on the verge of being cut as a magnet school and needed to find new ways to educate its students. Teachers and administrators began teaching practical, principle-based leadership skills -- with remarkable results. In a short time, the number of students passing end-of-grade tests vaulted from 84 to 97 percent. Simultaneously, the school began reporting significant increases in students' self-confidence, dramatic drops in discipline problems, and striking increases in teacher and administrator job satisfaction. Parents, meanwhile, reported equivalent improvements in their children's attitudes and behavior at home. As news of the school's success spread, schools around the world began adopting the mantra to "develop leaders, one child at a time." Business and civic leaders started partnering with schools in their communities to sponsor teacher training and student resources. Each school and family approached the principles differently, but the results were the same -- attentive, energized young people engaging in the world around them.

The best way to prepare the next generation for the future is to emphasize the value of communication, cooperation, initiative, and unique, individual talent -- for nothing undermines confidence more than comparison. Whether in the classroom or at home, it is never too early to start applying leadership skills to everyday life. Drawing on the many techniques and examples that have already seen incredible success around the world, The Leader in Me shows how easy it is to incorporate these skills into daily life. It is a timely answer to many of the challenges facing today's young people, businesses, parents, and educators -- one that is perfectly matched to the global demands of the twenty-first century.(less)

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published November 18th 2008 by Free Press

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Aug 06, 2011 Anne added it

This book didn't help me as an educator with how-to's for my school. I bought the book hoping it would help me. Its in the education section of the book store.

However, this is written more for a broad audience and tells how Covey's disciplines have worked in schools.

The clincher is the how-to: if you want to help your local school win with his plan, after reading his book, then I am assuming you must attend his seminars in order to work towards these leadership disciplines.

I would've loved a gu...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Nugroho Angkasa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Kreatif Mendidik Anank

Dimuat di Pontianak Post/ Sabtu 15 Januari 2011

“Makhluk liar yang saya kenal dua minggu lalu telah berubah menjadi anak lembut. Ia duduk di samping saya saat saya menulis jurnal ini, wajahnya tenang dan bahagia…Kini menjadi tugas menyenangkan sayalah untuk mengarahkan dan membentuk kecerdasannya yang indah yang mulai menggugah jiwanya.” (Anne Sullivan Macy, Gurunya Hellen Keller, hlm 241)

Stephen R. Covey terkenal karena buku bestseller “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peop...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Greg rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Listened to this one on the car ride to Baltimore for the Lehigh/Lafayette telecast party. It's just one CD and it's read by the author. My wife and I had different perspectives but I think it's because I've already drank the Covey Kool-Aid. I actually didn't find the first half that intriguing. He shares the story of a particular magnet school that choose the 7 Habits as their theme. He says that they integrated the habits into their mission and approach but doesn't really go into detail about...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Ms.Given rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: professional-development-educatio

Others' critiques of this book are warranted. Like many books in this genre, the guru/writer does a lot of repetition of old news and then tells of a success story where a set of steps 'fixed' a school. If you are willing to get past this, the book does have a great message and I took ideas away that seem pretty simplistic, but that are often overlooked in schools managing a lot of stakeholders, outside mandates, and trying to be all things to all people. The most important lesson being, add-on...more

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Feb 16, 2011 Sherry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hadn't thought about the Covey habits for a time and loved reading the stories in this one about schools, especially the A. B. Combs Elementary in Raleigh whose principal (or princessipal as I liked to call us) really applied his stuff to kids and runs an exciting school where leadership permeates its culture and everyone leads in some way. Very inspiring!

Two other things in the book that resonated. First, he quoted the same definition of leadership I have used as my favorite: "Leadership is co...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Krystal Grandt rated it 1 of 5 stars

A short summary:

A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs, 7 Habits! 7 Habits!, A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs! 7 Habits! A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs, 7 Habits! 7 Habits!, A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs! 7 Habits! A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs, 7 Habits! 7 Habits!, A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs! 7 Habits! A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs, 7 Habits! 7 Habits!, A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs! 7 Habits! A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs, 7 Habits! 7 Habits!, A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs! 7 Habits! A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs, 7 Habits! 7 Habits!, A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs! 7 Habits! A.B.Combs, A.B.Combs, 7 Habits! 7...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Don Weidinger rated it 4 of 5 stars

7 habits: proactive-responsibility and consequences, end in mind-see yourself, first things-prioritize-plan-execute, win-win for others too, understand then understood-care and respect, synergize-teamwork, sharpen the saw-reflection and improvement. Skills needed: communication, honesty, ethics, teambuilding, analytical, organizational and creative. To hire need character and competence, and character is most important as one can learn competence. Language and culture of leadership and caring. Y...more

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Nov 11, 2009 Nickie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book has been the best way to introduce The 7 Habits to me. I am so pleased and now excited to begin the process of change so that I can model these principles to my children and other families. Actually, I decided the best way for me to learn is to present. So I started last week with our homeschool group and Habit 1.

Do you have ideas for implementing these habits in your family? Please share them with me and I'll share with you.
___________________________

I have also stayed about from Stev...more

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Oct 17, 2009 Megan Watt rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am LOVING this book. I am so glad my children are attending a "Leader in Me" School! This book is about the foundation of teaching very young children the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. My kids school is partly based on this philosophy and these principles. It is so great to know that beyond ""book smarts" my children are learning a foundation that will carry over into every aspect of their lives - they are learning to be leaders and communicators and to make decisions - I can't give thi...more

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Feb 17, 2009 Lenore rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book. I could not find myself putting it down. You learned how an elementary principal from A.B Combs Elementary took Stephen Conveys book of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and implemented it into the school. The results were outstanding and this books is helpful not only for schools but for parents as well. It mentions other schools adapting this concept of Leadership, honesty/integrity, teamwork, interpersonal skills, self-motivation, strong work ethic and the list conti...more

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Apr 21, 2010 The Reading Countess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: professional

Based on Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People principles: 1. be proactive, 2. begin with the end in mind, 3. put first things first, 4. think win-win, 5. seek first to understand, then be understood, 6. synergize, 7. sharpen the saw: these principles are put into place in schools now globally. Understanding that our children are 21st century learners and must learn tools necessary to be successful in the 21st century, Covey asserts that his principles are a wonderful bridge to kids' f...more

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Feb 08, 2010 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a great book to read if you have children or grandchildren. I picked it up on a lark, wanting to learn more about leadership in school systems. I was completely shocked to find that most of the book was about a magnet school in North Carolina that improved test scores, discipline, public speaking, and the list goes on by implementing a leadership program (7 Habits). The school is A.B. Combs in Raleigh, NC, and it has received numerous awards and accomplishments, including being named one...more

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May 07, 2012 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellent inspiration for me as I begin my community art work this Summer. The book is a great overview of what can be accomplished by creating a culture of leadership. I would have liked more specific examples of how to execute specific lessons on leadership, but I am going to do much more research to fill in the gaps myself. The book focuses on changing entire school systems to embrace leadership as a central and ultimate goal. However, I am going to figure out how to integrate leadership into...more

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Oct 30, 2009 Christy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Novel follows The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People through schools that have adopted the 7 Habits. Ideas proposed are having students take more responsibility (become leaders of various things--door greater, tour guide, music leader, etc.), telling students that they are loved, getting teacher buy-in, and transference into the home.

When I read this book, I was hoping it would give me ideas on how to be a leader in the school, but it was more geared towards principals and students I felt than...more

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Feb 11, 2009 Desiree rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was an inspiring read. It is meant for any parent or educator who may be discouraged by the experience they have had in the classroom. Every year, Covey writes, more and more of our children are entering the work force ill prepared to meet the challenges they face. They lack such basic business/ life skills as the ability to communicate effectively, how to work cooperatively, and, of course, how to lead. What is often missing in these children, furthermore, Covey argues, is character....more

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Nov 15, 2008 Aaron rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: parents, educators, business leaders, anyone interested in improving society's future

I first have to state that I am not an impartial reviewer of this book. I have been lucky enough to be involved in working on The Leader in Me project for the last year. I think what is documented in this book is so significant that I left a great situation at a growing company to join FranklinCovey and work on this program. This book chronicles how a small but growing number of elementary schools have created a place where literally every child becomes a leader. Not a leader in the sense of a p...more

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May 22, 2009 Sue rated it 3 of 5 stars

I like the concept of this book. If you give children the opportunity to take initiative, work cooperatively and take leadership roles and if you EXPECT them to do so, they will. Apparently, the leadership model has been implemented in schools world-wide with success. The book is self-serving, of course. The leadership curriculum is based on Covey's previous book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". The Leadership books sells the 7 Habits book. But I do like the ideas he's presenting.

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Jul 30, 2011 Scott L. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teaching, library-books

I was somewhat disappointed. I don't know what I was expecting from this book as a teacher, but I have read Covey's Seven Habits for Effective People and am really interested in implementing them at our school. I found this book was not really what I thought it was advertised to be - this is more of a "here's what worked for these people - but you have to find what works best for you..." book. Still, I think it worthwhile to read after you have learned the seven habits - but read before, it seem...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Marianna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2011

Shallow is the word that first comes to mind.

My children's elementary school principal has designated this as her staff and parent book study book for the fall. There are a few ideas I hope she will take away regarding giving students more autonomy.

I love the concept, but there is not depth as to how to make it work. For the depth a school must pay an execissively large amount of money to the Franklin Covey oraganization.

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Mar 23, 2010 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: education, read-in-2010

As a big fan of Stephen Covey and his Seven Habits approach, I had high expectations for this book. Although the overall storyline is incredibly inspiring (the point of the book is really how integrating the 7 Habits/ character/ discipline aspect into education can be very transformative), the book didn't seem to be all that well organized or well-written. It bounced around a lot and seemed to repeat a lot of the same points. Don't get me wrong - still a good book with a *wonderful* message (and...more

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Dec 05, 2011 Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars

Listened to this on Audio CD. Found it inspiring and wish that it was something my school would take on, but know it wasn't. So found it frustrating as well as inspiring because I know that to have the most success it would need to be used by the whole school and know that won't happen at my school any time soon. But I'm going to try implementing some of it at home and in my own classroom and see what happens.

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Aug 23, 2009 Nielson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was such a great and inspiring book. I had to read this for my school as a part of our training. I felt so inspired as an educator as I read this. I also felt really inspired as a person while I read this. I wanted to make this a way of living because what I read was so good. I want to read the 7 Habits book now too. I love these kinds of self-help, motivating books.

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Sep 23, 2012 Azri Hisam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

selesai..

satu buku yg menceritakan kesan2 daripada 7 habit yg ingin diterapkan...
semua cerita menunjukkan bahawa mereka (org bukan islam) seakan-akan berusaha mengamalkan islam...

mengagumkan usaha2 yg cuba diterapkan pada budak2 sekolah tadika..

kata seorng budak tadika:
"andai semua org di dunia ini tahu perkara ini, nescaya ayah saya tidak perlu untuk menjadi askar"

p/s: kena praktikkan... insyAllah...

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Aug 14, 2012 Malinda Gottschalk rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Any who wants to truly live a full life.

Recommended to Malinda by: Franklin Cox - Principal, Holly Elementary School

I love this book and the process it describes. Mr. Cox and the staff at Holly Elementary will be introducing "The Leader in Me" to the students for the 2012-2013 school year. An opportunity for the children at Holly Elementary to grow from the inside out. I have now order "The
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" for myself and "The 7 Habits of Happy Kids" for Kelsey. We are changing our futures, not easy - WORTH IT! :-)

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Jan 23, 2012 Charlotte rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Charlotte by: Gilles Babin

Shelves: non-fiction, parenting

Inspirational stories about schools that are making a difference and teaching kids to be leaders, using the 7 habits of highly effective people. I'm somewhat turned off by the "Covey mania" but do think these principles are important and universal and would like to see them taught more in my children's school. Oh how I miss Johnson!

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Aug 24, 2009 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

I liked Stephen Covey's 7 Habits, and was excited about reading The Leader in Me to learn how to incorporate the habits into my middle school curriculum. However, I found the book to be more of a praise for 7 Habits as opposed to a resourceful guide into how to accomplish this. There were a few chapters worth reading. But, overall, I found 7 Habits more valuable.

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May 13, 2010 verena mumtaz is currently reading it

mendifisikan kembali pendidikan yang cocok diberikan kepada murid -murid di sekolah, keberhasilan pendidikan tidak diukur dengan sederetan nilai 9 di rapot, tetapi bagaimana anak bisa menjadi lebih bertanggung jawab dengan hidupnya dan bisa memotivasi diri sendiri
mengajarkan kepada siswa 7 habit of effective people

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Feb 11, 2012 Barbara Lovejoy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just happened to see this book at Barnes & Noble when I was looking for a book I might want to buy with the gift card Craig--my husband--gave me for my birthday. What a treat! It complements so well with what we want to do at Esperanza with Invitational Education and Glasser's Quality School.

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Jan 04, 2013 Steve Rueffer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: education

A great introduction to the Leader in Me framework. Proud to be part of a school that is actively involved in this work. The effects on students and adults can be amazing and life altering for many. Just remember that this is only an introduction. Your journey to success has just begun.

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Apr 30, 2013 Jennifer Black rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: education

We're doing The Leader in Me next year at our school. I was really excited about the things I was reading for about the first four chapters. The rest of the chapters was more of the same heavy sell of the program. It got very boring. I'm excited to try the program, but I'm ready for some more practical advice instead of all the hype.

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About Stephen R. Covey

Stephen Richards Covey was the author of the best-selling book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People". Other books he wrote include "First Things First", "Principle-Centered Leadership", and "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families". In 2004, Covey released "The 8th Habit". In 2008, Covey released "The Leader In Me—How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One...more

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Books by Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families

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