Blog – Page 3 – Happy Schools

Technology is NOT a substitute for teaching (Part 1)

July 18, 2024

Infusing education with technology is a wonderful idea. Classrooms with access to the internet and mobile devices have marvellous opportunities to make learning relevant to 21st Century students. Technology offers new ways to enable and encourage self-learning, engage students with content and build capability in vital workplace skills. However, as with every other educational strategy or tool, technology is only effective when embedded in a well thought out learning experience and specifically applied to support learning outcomes. Unfortunately, the rush to incorporate technology into our schools and classrooms (eg BYOD) has in some cases served to undermine fundamentally sound teaching and learning strategies. The overwhelming notion seems to be that, if we incorporate a computer, mobile phone or iPad somewhere…

Avoid Defensiveness With Tricky Parents

July 11, 2024

Stevef

Communication

Parents who are defensive of their child can be tricky to manage. Dealing with defensive reactions is difficult and often stressful. When people are defensive, they are often at their worst. They quickly become adversarial, irrational, hostile and angry. Through making subtle adjustments to our approach by anticipating and endeavoring to avoid a defensive reaction before it happens, can help manage tricky situations. According to Richard Carlson, author of “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”, having the wisdom to anticipate defensive reactions allows you to avoid a great deal of conflict in the first place by not pushing certain buttons in people and by not engaging in behaviour that is likely to set them off. Respond in a composed manner, sticking…

The 3 Metre Rule

July 4, 2024

Stevef

Communication

Interactions with parents can add to stress levels in schools. Being proactive by establishing a positive relationship before any issues arise is obviously beneficial. There’s a school I know (it shall remain anonymous to protect the names of the innocent!) that doesn’t leave anything to chance. The teachers and other staff use the 3 metre rule, a great customer service process to make sure parents feel comfortable at the school. Whenever a staff member comes within 3 metres of a parent at school, they greet them and enquire if they are being seen to. “Hello Bree. Can I help you? Is someone helping you?” It’s amazing what a warm smile and simple acknowledgement can do to make you feel welcome!…

Be an “Independent” Team Player

June 27, 2024

Stevef

Teamwork

Independence is defined as freedom from dependence; exemption from reliance on, or control by others; being in charge or direction of one’s own affairs without interference. Sounds great doesn’t it? Liberating even? You know the saying belted out by every motivational coach, “There is no I in Team”. Well I don’t agree, in fact I see the “I” so important that it needs to go first. Maybe even a new word, iTEAM. Modern day workplace culture is based on the importance of teamwork, of collaboration and consultation. Don’t get me wrong, I agree these are important but we first need to focus on getting our own self together and having freedom to be creative if we are to be a…

Building Rapport With Others

June 20, 2024

Stevef

Communication

When you work with people, whether it be colleagues, students or parents at your school, the better the rapport and relationship, the higher the trust and the greater the cooperation. Put simply, good rapport between two people is all about liking and trusting each other. Of course, we often build rapport and relationships naturally and automatically. There are some people who we simply ‘click with’ better than others. But there are also some people who we need to intentionally build rapport with – colleagues, students or parents with whom we may have a strained relationship. Here are five ways you can build rapport more easily: Make people feel good about themselves: The general rule is that we like people who…

We’ve Got This!

June 13, 2024

Stevef

Resilience

In the heart of every community, there exists a group of individuals whose dedication and impact are immeasurable. These individuals, often uncelebrated but always vital, are staff who work in schools. We stand together on the front line of shaping the future. In the face of unprecedented challenges, it is crucial to recognise the profound importance of our work and to find renewed inspiration to persevere. Working in schools has a profound impact. Every word of encouragement we offer and every challenge we help a student overcome, contributes to the larger society. It is through our efforts that students learn to think critically, to explore their creativity and to understand the complexities of the world around them. The seeds we…

How Does Your Balance Wheel Measure Up?

June 6, 2024

Stevef

Engagement

The six aspects of our lives that help us achieve balance are depicted in this wheel. Imagine that this wheel is, in fact, a life raft. The idea is to keep air in all six compartments because if any one were to get spiked and lose its air, the other five would keep you floating. If, on the other hand, you had all the air in one compartment only, like ‘work’ and that compartment got punctured, you and your life raft would rapidly deflate and sink. A great way to check your ‘spread of air’ is to place this symbol of the life raft into your calendar dates for the next two weeks, with the aim each day of ticking…

Cut YOURSELF Some Slack

May 30, 2024

Stevef

Resilience

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.…