Call this meeting to ORDER

On Thursday, we heralded in a new semester.

This semester welcomes Haley Walk to third hour and switches gears from public speaking to debate.   I predict a lot of heated arguments over tacos, burritos, waffles, pancakes and more!

In fourth hour, Merry Dial officially joined our leadership team. Our class started with some rousing enthusiasm over Trey's hero themed scholar retreat plan.  It was great to hear suggestions, ideas, etc from everyone.  Remember YOU will ALL play a part in making this successful, so keep brainstorming and bringing in your ideas.  Great job, Trey.

Adam also presented his dystopian idea for field day.  Hunger Games will rule the day along with good food and the all important CHAIRS!  Good thinking, Adam!  I especially like how you took into account feedback from past field days.  That's definitely what a leader does.

Our next activity is the Valentines Exchange.  It will be fun, simple, and fantastic.  I know Katie and Merry will do a great job taking the reins.  Next week, we will be manning a Valentine box making booth.  So put those smiles on your faces and be ready to help out at lunch....EVERYBODY!!!    Also, please bring any boxes, paper, stickers, or other fun item that can be used to decorate a Valentine box.  

Lastly, Teacher Genne led us into the exciting world of Parliamentary Procedure.  This is an important procedure to understand as a leader.  It will aid you when you participate and lead a meeting.  I hope you all took notes and slipped those worksheets into your leadership notebooks.  

Next week, Adam will present his leader deconstruction presentation.  And it would be outstanding if Katie continued her book report presentation.  Katie, choose your favorite leadership law and tell us what and why!  Simple : )!

And remember Robert's Rules of Order?  You are supposed to read it! And if you do, not only will you glean valuable insight, you will also be rewarded with something fabulous!!! 

Your first reading assignment is :

XXV-XLV

XLVII-XLVIII

539-542

548-580

And, don't forget to bring in a leadership quote or experience!  I love hearing these.

We'll see you Thursday!

Ushering in Debate and Parliamentary Procedure

Hi Leaders,

We made it through the first semester and accomplished great things together!! I have seen such great growth in each of you and I hope you see what I see:)!

This next semester 3rd hour will focus on the art of debate.
And 4th hour will dive into parliamentary procedure. This will teach you how to run a meeting effectively and efficiently.

We will also continue to plan all the great activities for FILA!
Bring in your vision boards! Have committees and assignments in mind for the carrying forth of your activity.
Next up is the Valentine's Exchange.
Katie, be ready to give us assignments! We want to help bring forth your vision:)!

Also, keep working on your leadership deconstruction presentations. Your goal of to figure out what makes or made these leaders tick!

Katie will present TOMORROW!!

See you Thursday!!

PS - BRAVO to Eric, Logan and Morgan! They each delivered an amazing speech at Parent's Night and they each earned their delicious Golden Microphone! Congratulations and good work!!!

Sent from my iPhone

Show us your VISION

Hi Leaders,

I hope you are having a great week, thus far.

We had a thought-provoking class last Thursday and it all started with Logan's stimulating presentation on the erudite leader and Logan's favorite president, John Quincy Adams.

Logan took us through his life step by step.  He was clearly someone that valued learning. He was also very influenced by his father, and was even pushed to follow in his footsteps.

Thank you, Logan!  You put forth a great example by presenting first.

Next week, Eric, YOU are presenting!  Remember, don't make this harder than it is.  It should be easy, interesting, and eye-opening.

Next, Teacher Genne shared her amazing VISION BOARD with us.  I hope this is her year for finding TRUE LOVE.

She gave us some great advice when it comes to making a vision board---THINK BIG!!  Set your sights high when you are planning your activities and completing your own vision boards.  WOW US!!

In regards to last week's homework, I was saddened to hear that not everyone completed these super fun and easy assignments.  But congrats to those who did report their successes!  I hope you enjoyed moving up the leadership ladder. 

For those who forgot, PLEASE complete those assignments THIS WEEK!!  These experiences, even though they may seem small, all contribute to the leader you are and will become.  Greatness lies ahead, so grasp on!

Below are this week's (and last week's) homework assignments.

3rd hour students - FINE TUNE your speeches by A LOT of PRACTICE!!  Give your speech to the mirror, your brother, mother, and anyone else who will listen.  You will be presenting these during Parent's Night (which is THIS THURSDAY!!)

4th hour students -

1)Complete your activity VISION BOARD!  Dazzle us with your plans.  You will present your vision on Thursday.  We want to help you make it happen.

Valentine's Exchange-  Katie (and Morgan)

Scholar Activity- Logan

Shakespeare fundraiser - Morgan (and Katie, Jared)

Field Day- Adam

Scholar Retreat- Trey, Eric, Jared 

2)Here are the assignments from last week:

-Adam - Introduce yourself to 5 people from FILA that you don't know.  Find out their names and something about them.

-Katie - Assist two FILA mentors ( this can also extend to FILAP mentors.)

-Trey - Go help with recess duty.  Initiate a game with a group of kid.

-Eric - Write a thank you letter to a mentor you have had.  Tell them why you appreciate them and what they have taught you.

3)  Study the FILA Constitution (we will be taking Morgan's quiz on Thursday)

4) Bring in a leadership quote

5) Start working on your Leader presentation, unless you are Logan.  Here is the schedule:

Jan 21 - Eric Prestegard

Jan 28 - Katie Dial

February 4 - Adam Blanchard

February 11 - Morgan Miller

February 18 - Trey Claridge

February 25 - Jared Peterson

See you Thursday!

 

Leadership Ladder and the Beliebers

It was great to see everyone on Thursday.  And so heartwarming to hear that a few of you worked on or thought about assignments from class.  I hope you all at least have ideas about what you want your activity to LOOK like.

We will spend the next two weeks really NAILING down plans for your event assignments.  You need to choose a date, time, committees, etc.  The more you have planned and decided, the smoother the future planning and implementation will be.  Be a decision maker this week!!!  It's your activity and your VISION.

As for Thursday's class, we discussed the steps of the leadership ladder.

We have all been designated "THE BOSS" simply by signing up for this leadership class.  Now the responsibility to move up the steps is in your hands.  I hope you all identified with the steps in some way, either in your own leadership experience or as a follower of a leader.  Take an inventory of your relationships with the people around you.  Are you a leader to them?  Do you follow them?  How can you improve this relationship?

By the end of the year, I want you to recognize yourself as a leader of FILA, not just as a boss!

For homework, you were each given an assignment that essentially will help you work on your leadership relationships with FILA.  Here are the assignments:

1)

Adam - Introduce yourself to 5 people from FILA that you don't know.  Find out their names and something about them.

Katie - Assist two FILA mentors ( this can also extend to FILAP mentors.)

Morgan - Read the FILA Constitution and develop a quiz to give to your fellow leadership students.

Jared - Talk to 3 FILA students and ask them what their favorite classes have been and why.

Logan - Talk to 3 students about the activity you are planning.  Get their input.

Trey - Go help with recess duty.  Initiate a game with a group of kid.

Eric - Write a thank you letter to a mentor you have had.  Tell them why you appreciate them and what they have taught you.

You are NOT allowed to use your family members for this challenge!!!!! 

You will be reporting your results to class!  I want to hear names and details!!! : )

2)

READ THE FILA CONSTITUTION - You will have to take the quiz Morgan creates.  The highest scorer gets a PRIZE!

3)

Complete the first two columns on your Project/Event Planning Process worksheet.  This is VITAL to this week's class!

4)

For those of you in 3rd hour, FINISH YOUR SPEECHES!!!! (Yes, that is me yelling that assignment.)

And lastly, Morgan, we missed you dreadfully.  Please come back soon. 

Thanks, everyone!  Have a fantastic week.

Ready, set, GO!

We can now check off Christmas party on our activity list! Woohoo!!!!
It went splendidly. The food drive was a success. Did you see the boxes filled to the brim? The talent show proved to be a stepping stone to Broadway for so many of the entrants! And the announcing was second to none. (Even without the helium!). And the white elephant gift exchange left at least one child in tears (that's the sign of a successful white elephant;))! And the snowflakes!!!!! Superb atmosphere! I almost thought I was in a winter wonderland (one filled with chaos and spills.). Overall, WELL DONE!
Thank you so much. Everyone was always asking for duties and pitching in wherever they could. Great, great sign of a leader. I hope you felt this activity ran so much smoother than Halloween. I truly did! You all really stepped up! Thank you!

So now YOU have your activity assignments! For the next three weeks I want you to brainstorm, brainstorm, brainstorm!
The power and control is in your hands. YOU get to shape this activity. Just keep in mind the "why" of the activity, whom it is geared for, what is available, etc, etc.
But also during your brainstorming, don't limit yourself, THINK BIG! Think HUGE!
I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Here are the activity assignments:

Valentine's Exchange- Morgan and Katie

Scholar Activity- Logan

Shakespeare fundraiser - Morgan and Katie

Field Day- Adam

Scholar Retreat- Trey, Eric, Jared

-Also, speech writers, be ready with your complete speeches, and "fancy" them up!

-And don't forget to bring in a leadership quote or experience!

-And start working on your leadership presentations. Eric, you're up the second week we get back from break.

Have a fantastic break! We'll see you next year.

Sent from my iPhone

Conclusions and Deconstruction of a Leader

Good morning, Leaders!

I don't think we thank you enough for doing such a great job!  I really appreciate your willingness to step up and lead activities, share ideas, announce the activities during lunch, give book reports, lead the news discussions, provide feedback, etc, etc....  You have been an incredible group to work with.  I have especially noticed a change in how our class communicates and relates to each other.  I LOVE  it!  GREAT JOB!!  We are all growing as leaders. THANK YOU!

Last Thursday, during third hour, Logan and Morgan handed in a rough draft of their speeches.  We were able to talk through issues and hopefully build stronger arguments.  We then worked on outlining the steps of writing a conclusion.

Teacher Genne gave us some great info.  Here is what I jotted down:

V. Re-state/re-tell thesis statement (optional)

    -summarize points

    -KNOW, FEEL, DO - challenge the audience, exhort them, ask a thought provoking question, repeat your most significant point and why

    -Final Clincher -

        -dramatic ending

        -return to beginning

        -answer first question you  asked in the intro

        -  quote

        - command

*DON'T LET THE AUDIENCE FORGET YOUR SPEECH!!

So for homework: write the conclusion to your speech!

In fourth hour, Jared gave a great interpretation of the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.  He used great examples in his presentation and pulled out three great and useful lessons for us all.  Remember, don't use criticism!  (I'm going to work on that!)

Jared's presentation draws to close our book report portion of our class.  I hope you each took some valuable lessons and information from your own book presentations and each other's.

Next, we are going to deconstruct a leader.  I gave each of you a set of questions to use in this process.  Pick one of your favorite leaders, or one of your least favorites.  Make sure you address all the questions on the handout.   I guarantee it will be fascinating to discover what really makes your leader tick.  Then be ready to give a 10-15 minute presentation on your findings to the class.  I really can't wait!!

Here is what the presentation schedule looks like:

Jan 14 - Eric (sorry, Eric!  This is what happens when you miss class. : ))

Jan 21 - Logan Miller - John Quincy Adams

Jan 28 - Katie Dial

February 4 - Adam Blanchard

February 11 - Morgan Miller

February 18 - Trey Miller

February 25 - Jared Peterson

And finally, the Christmas party is THIS WEEK!!!  I really hope that you have enjoyed having the POWER and CONTROL in our FILA activities.  It is one of the upsides to being a leader.   I hope these REAL -LIFE "simulations" have prepared you to head up your own activity next semester. 

So FINISH up your to-do lists for your committees!  Send out those reminder emails!  And be ready to spread some enthusiasm on Thursday!

In class, we will be debriefing this amazing event, CHOOSING your  activity to lead next semester, and brainstorming! Hopefully, we also get a chance to send you off to Christmas break with some bad puns!

Eric, we missed you!!!!

THE BODY and Party Committee TO-DOS

We finally conquered THE BODY of your speech writing!  So by now you should have a hook, transition to the thesis, a thesis, and a body made up of three topics with proper support.  Remember to fill your speech with ethos, logos, and pathos.  Make your audience believe, feel, and hear evidence.  NEVER use my or I in your speech!!

On Thursday, be ready to write your conclusion.  Everything up to that point should be completed.

During fourth hour, we enjoyed some news from CNN.  Our news discussions have really improved.   We were able to talk about more than the penguins. Woohoo for us!

Also, you got with your committees and made a list of your responsibilities and goals.  I hope you are working on those right now.  Be ready to report and finalize last minute details.  The party is NEXT WEEK!  Yes, NEXT WEEK!!

This Thursday, we get to hear from Jared.  He is going to present his book presentation.  I know we are all excited.  We are then going to hear about your next presentation.  It's going to be a good one.  We are also going to check in with how your class requirements are going. 

Everyone seems to be checking off boxes.

See you Thursday!  Work on your committee to-do lists!!