TL;DR: There are a number of de-escalation strategies one can use to diffuse any tough conversation: (1) Move to a private area. (2) Be empathetic and non-judgmental. (3) Keep your tone and body language neutral. (4) Provide choices. The Teach Better Academy course, Addressing Tough Topics in Schools, shares communication strategies for challenging topics in your school community. As an … Read More
3 Myths that Keep Us From Talking About Racial and Gender Justice in Schools
TL;DR: Consider the 3 myths that keep us from talking about racial and gender justice in schools. It is important for all students to discuss racial and gender justice by acknowledging the impact and by taking action. There are opportunities to talk about racial and gender justice in younger grades and in various subject areas beyond Social Studies and Ethnic … Read More
Teaching Collaboration and Communication
TL;DR: How do students know if they’re doing a great job collaborating? Directly teach students what collaboration looks like. Share feedback with them throughout their class through glows and grows or a rubric. Embed practice into your lessons. Prized Classroom Possession My most prized classroom possession may not be what you’d assume. It’s not a document camera, SmartBoard, or other … Read More
Support for Educators with Phone Anxiety
TL;DR: The families we serve all have their own communication preferences. As you communicate with stakeholders, utilize a variety of different methods. Tips to ease phone anxiety include practicing, using a script, scheduling the call in advance, beginning the call with celebrations, and getting support from others for difficult conversations. It’s important that we recognize that the families we serve … Read More
5 Leadership Skills to Thrive In a VUCA World
TL;DR: The world we live in is VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous). This post shares 5 leadership skills educators need to thrive in a VUCA world. Remember to support one another. Be ready to face the unknown with flexibility. Address the repairable systems. Clarify communication. We live in a VUCA world. VUCA stands for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. … Read More