De-escalation Strategies During a Tough Conversation

Joshua StamperBlog, Classroom Management, Leadership, Reflect Better, Student Engagement

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

Kids Do Better When We Talk to Them

Bobbie FrenchBlog, Classroom Management

TL;DR: Talk to your students. Students need the opportunity to explain their thinking and express their thoughts and feelings. As an educator, ask students questions and listen to their responses. We all want students to rise to their full potential.  We want that as educators, parents, and even as a community. I could get up on my soapbox about how … Read More

Listen to the Students with Rachel Tugutu & Eliel Koudougnon

Lindsay LyonsBlog

In Episode 52 of the Time for Teachership Podcast, I am talking with two former students, Eliel & Rachel. Their big dream is to create a space in the education system where they can learn not only the base curriculum, but skills that they can carry and use in their future. It’s important to make students partners with educators so … Read More

Small Conversations, Big Impact

Tim StephensonBlog, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Listen closely to small conversations you have with others. Open yourself up to listen to learn. What may appear to be insignificant conversations can turn out to be golden nuggets of information. As stated in previous blogs, I teach astronomy. Now, what was one of my first teaching moments related to space? Back in the 90s, I was teaching … Read More

Are you Using Unproductive Listening Patterns?

Jami Fowler-WhiteBlog, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Unproductive listening patterns include syndicate, memoir eavesdropping, and solution listening. A syndicate occurs when a person attempts to listen and work on a task that is different in nature from the conversation that is taking place. Memoir eavesdropping involves paying attention with the purpose of finding similarities within your own life, so you can interrupt the person and share … Read More