May 2024 – Happy Schools

Cut YOURSELF Some Slack

May 30, 2024

That little voice inside your head is powerful! It can be harsher than your toughest critic. What we say to ourselves has a significant affect on our stress levels. In last week’s Happy School article we highlighted the importance of cutting OTHER people some slack. We recommended taking care not to be too judgemental of others and giving them the benefit of the doubt, where possible. We don’t always know what is going on in other people’s lives and we should try to be forgiving. It is just as important that we have reasonable expectations of ourselves. We need to monitor our self-talk and ensure that we are being fair to ourselves, particularly when we are running low on reserves.…

Cut Them Some Slack

May 23, 2024

Stevef

Effectiveness

We rarely know what is going on in other people’s lives. Whilst we might be frustrated by the behaviour of our students (and at times by our colleagues or boss) we rarely know all of the information about what is going on in their lives. We don’t necessarily know about health issues, financial pressures or other challenges they, or their family, are currently facing. We don’t necessarily know when they have had a sleepless night or an argument before coming to school. Many of our students also have additional demands placed on them. Many students are coping with health issues in their families, living with chronic sickness, surviving the death of a loved one, the break-up of a family, helping…

Funny Things Happen in Schools…

May 16, 2024

Stevef

Engagement

Working in schools can be frustrating. There is always so much to do. Our ‘To Do’ list is never finished and our IN box will always have unanswered emails. However, it is important and beneficial to stop and reflect on both the satisfaction that we gain through working in schools, as well as some of the funny things that occur. Think about some of the funny things that have happened during your career. This week, share a story with a colleague. Here is mine! Early in my career I was the teaching Principal at a one teacher school. This is a particularly busy and demanding role. I was teaching a multi-age class of 18 students from Year 1 to 7.…

Wake Up and WIN

May 9, 2024

Stevef

Engagement

Most of us wander around in a daze of unconsciousness! Our eyes are open but our brains are not registering what is really happening in our world and how we are shaping it! What would your world be like if you were really aware of what your contribution was to every situation you find yourself in? For example, when I speak at conferences, I say that all communication is in loops. What you do, affects the other person, which in turn affects you and so on. Whenever we interact with somebody who’s behaviour we don’t like, we invariably would like them to change. We all want the OTHER person to change don’t we? But there is little – read NO…

Building Emotional Resilience

May 5, 2024

Stevef

Resilience

“I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my mood that sets the weather.” This quote from Haim Ginott is a two edged sword. Whilst it can inspire us, it is also a daunting reminder of the impact that we can have each day. Have you noticed that when we are feeling tired or stressed our students’ behaviour often deteriorates? This can create a vicious cycle where we don’t respond as well as we could and their behaviour degenerates further. On those days, it is easy to resent the suggestion that we are the decisive element. Emotional resilience is our ability to maintain an even, consistent and predictable approach. Emotionally resilient people…