Blog – Page 40 – Happy Schools

Email Madness

March 12, 2015

Keeping it under control We need to consider how and why we are using e-mail. Whilst it can be an effective communication method if used well, used poorly, it wastes a lot of unnecessary time. Think before you write, not when you write – Remember that a face-to-face conversation is the best form of communication. If that’s not possible, use email to set up a telephone call and use email as a record of agreed outcomes. What can be discussed in minutes often takes hours in the creation and transmission of a series of emails between two parties. Don’t confuse Important and Urgent – When sending an email that requires action by a specific time, consider including this in the…

Communication – An Essential Investment!

March 11, 2015

Steve Francis

Communication

It’s “Tax time” for every individual & organisation whether Company, Community, Clan or Church. These magic words present an opportunity to finalise projections for the next 12 months, complete financial returns and report to stakeholders. Similarly, it is an ideal time to consider the effectiveness of individual and organisational communications over the past 12 months. Consider the people we work, live and play with. Let’s start with a few questions: Do your relationships feel ‘out of balance’? What sort of ‘return on investment’ are you seeing? Have external factors influenced performance outcomes? Does it seem that expectations just aren’t being met? Time to take responsibility and be part of the solution! Are you ready? Choose two out of the following…

10 ‘Commandments’ for Work, Leadership and Life

March 10, 2015

Steve Francis

Engagement

We all know the story of the 10 commandments. Recently I was inspired to reflect on my own personal commandments and how they influence my life. Through reflecting on our personal values we can all contribute to the world being a better place. Be here now – Being present, fully awake and focused on what is occurring at the moment enables you to respond most resourcefully to what is happening. Breathe – By consciously breathing deeply and fully and becoming aware of your natural breath, you will maintain your self-awareness and ability to flow with life. You also lower your stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, when you breathe deeply. Listen to your intuition – By listening to your inner voice,…

Seven Ways to Engage Students

March 10, 2015

Stevef

Effectiveness

Have you noticed that “on-task” does not always mean engaged? How do you achieve both? We know that engagement is the key to learning but we also know that some of our students are bored with the curriculum and activities being offered in classrooms. To battle this problem, much focus and attention has been placed on getting students to be “on-task.” Indeed, the link between on-task behaviour and student achievement is strong. However, just as a worker at a company can be busy without being productive, a student can be on-task without actually being engaged in the learning. True, long-lasting learning comes not merely as a result of being on-task, but being deeply engaged in meaningful, relevant and important tasks. We see…