TL;DR: Prevent power struggles by building relationships, providing choices, beginning with a purpose, checking in with students, and being willing to negotiate. If you find yourself entering a power struggle, take a step back, defer the conversation until a time when there isn’t an audience, and walk away. If a power struggle does occur, apologize first, then continue to strengthen … Read More
School Communication: Posting a Clear Message
TL;DR: Crafting a clear message is key when communicating with stakeholders. Be inclusive with your message and consider families of all backgrounds. Post your message on multiple platforms to ensure it is being received. Host live sessions to engage with stakeholders and be available to answer questions. You may have started the year in remote learning, in-person learning, in a … Read More
It’s Time to Get Clear with Your Time!
TL;DR: Time is something many people feel like they don’t have enough of. This post shares 5 actionable steps to start making the most of your time each day, including monitoring your language and mindset, reflecting on how you’re currently spending your time, noting how long activities take, blocking time to increase productivity, and delegating! 2 organizers are shared for … Read More
Team Building through Play
TL;DR: Incorporate team building into your classroom through the game of cup stacking. You can vary the level of difficulty by giving different challenges like having students use their non-dominant hand, stand on one leg, incorporate exercise if a cup is dropped, or use only non-verbal communication. In this time of need for mental health education, I had an urge to … Read More
Building Classroom Community in a Virtual World
TL;DR: Strategies for building classroom community in a virtual world include using a user-friendly online platform, teaching expectations, utilizing breakout groups, assigning roles, creating goals, having a plan for students to seek assistance, providing opportunities for communication, and celebrating successes. Learning environments are crucial for providing students with opportunities to exercise their strengths and to overcome their weaknesses. A school … Read More