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…

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, where challenges can often feel like battlefronts, the wisdom of military strategy can offer valuable insights. Just as generals must navigate complex terrain, staff in schools must navigate the intricacies of molding young minds and managing educational environments. Here are some key principles borrowed from the world of generals to help guide decision-making in schools: Vision and Mission Like generals, educators must have a clear vision and mission. What are the overarching goals of the school? What values do you want to instill in your students? By defining these objectives, every decision can be aligned with the broader purpose of education. Situational Awareness Generals excel at understanding the battlefield and educators must similarly grasp…

The next time you call a kid “attention-seeking”, change it to “connection-seeking” and see how your perspective changes. The people who need connection the most are often the hardest ones to give it to on any given day. Kids are hardwired to turn it up louder and louder until we meet their needs and assist them in making sense of the world. Author of the great book, “Kids These Days”, Dr Jody Carrington explains that behind every mad is a sad. She says she has never met an angry, cranky child who is mad with the world, who wasn’t sad. She says there is always a sense of loss, a sense of something that is not okay and they are…

I’ve often heard the statement ‘students don’t learn from people they don’t like!’ In ‘Kids These Days’, author and psychologist Jody Carrington says, “Kids won’t learn from people who they think don’t like them.” This statement resonates with me and is consistent with behaviour management guru Bill Rogers’ position that the best teachers are warm-demanding. They have that balance where they have the warmth to relate to students but are also demanding and have  clear expectations of their students. Teachers who are too warm and want to be every students BFF are unlikely to be respected. However, teachers who are too strict and gruff (don’t smile until Easter), are unlikely to engage students. The sweet spot is somewhere in the…