Steve Francis – Page 2 – Happy Schools

Conveying Difficult Information on Student Reports

September 21, 2023

One of the most difficult aspects of writing comments on student reports is figuring out how to phrase messages that may be difficult, challenging or confronting for parents to receive. The following tips are intended to help you determine the most tactful and compassionate way to write about tough topics in your report comments. No Surprises Don’t take the opportunity to drop a bomb. Student reports should not contain surprises. If there are major concerns then the parent needs to know before the end of the semester. No one wants to find out about a problem after it’s already spiralled out of control for weeks on end. The problems you discuss in report comments should not be a surprise to…

STOP – Make Rules That Help Your Well-Being

August 24, 2023

Stevef

Resilience

The default move for getting more done is to do more. That can work and it can also waste a lot of time, energy and attention doing stuff that just doesn’t really matter. We also need to know when to stop doing things. This week, create some stopping rules so you’ll know when to stop doing something. Here are 8 situations you might like to consider setting some rules that you should abide by. Inspired by Donald Sull and Kathleen Eisenhardt’s book, Simple Rules. Email – When have you spent enough time on email? If you are checking school email at night, set a time limit. You’ll be amazed at how much gets done in 15 minutes if we set…

What Story Are You Telling Yourself?

August 17, 2023

Stevef

Resilience

Self-talk refers to the internal dialogue we have with ourselves, the thoughts and messages that run through our minds on a daily basis. That little voice inside your head tells a story. The stories we tell ourselves are a specific form of self-talk, where we create narratives about ourselves, others and the world around us. These stories shape how we see the world, what actions we take and what we think about ourselves. The impact of self-talk and the stories we tell ourselves is significant. Positive self-talk can boost our self-esteem, motivation and resilience. By replacing negative thoughts with empowering and supportive ones, we can cultivate a more optimistic outlook and improve our mental health. For example, reframing a setback…

Saying ‘No’ to Avoid Overload

August 3, 2023

Stevef

Communication

Most staff who work in schools, like helping others. Many of us are people pleasers and we find it difficult to say ‘no’ to someone who is seeking our assistance. At times, to stay on track you just have to say ‘no’. Try using these strategies for saying ‘no’ to other people’s requests and still keep your reputation intact. Defer – I’m not able to assist you at this time. I will be able to help you at a later date. This will filter out those who don’t follow up. Refer – Offer to connect them with someone who is better placed to help them or to some resources that would help them solve it themselves. Commitment – Share your…

Are Mindless Habits Contributing to Working Longer Hours?

July 6, 2023

Stevef

Efficiency

Getting distracted at school can cause us to lose focus. This has a negative impact on our ability to get things done and can result in us spending longer hours at school. Whilst distractions such as interruptions, are beyond our control, some distractions come from mindless habits that are sabotaging our productivity and often we repeat them instinctively. The first step to breaking a habit that isn’t helping us, is to identify it. Here are some of the most common mindless habits to watch out for, according to Monica Torres in the Huntington Post. You constantly check your phone when there is a lull. We often operate at such a frantic pace that any sort of lull in our day…

What Makes Us Happy?

June 22, 2023

Stevef

Engagement

What does HAPPINESS mean to you? Would more money make you happier? … more job satisfaction? … more family time? … a new car? … more travel opportunities? What would make you happier? Social and brain scientists have been able to ascertain the things that make us happy – but to get there we need to stop our quest for status and stop buying unnecessary possessions. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin have used CT scans to identify the most active part of the brain during various moods. The most active part of the brain when we are distressed are the amygdala and the right frontal cortex. However, when we are in a positive mood those areas of the brain…

Promoting Resilience in the Teaching Profession

June 16, 2023

Stevef

Resilience

Teachers and other staff who work in schools are faced with many challenges on a daily basis. From dealing with difficult students and parents, to managing a heavy workload and meeting high expectations. It can be easy to become overwhelmed. Resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, is a critical skill to develop. One way to promote resilience is through self-care. This includes taking care of your physical, emotional and mental well-being. This may mean setting aside time each day for exercise, eating well, getting enough sleep and practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga or deep breathing to slow our minds. It’s also important to make time for activities you enjoy, such as reading, spending time with friends…

Working with Helicopter Parents

June 8, 2023

Stevef

Communication

Dealing with overprotective parents can be challenging. While it is understandable that parents want to ensure the safety and well-being of their children, it can sometimes lead to micromanagement and overprotective parenting that has become known as helicopter parenting. According to author Hara Estroff Marano, “Today’s parents are not just helicopter parents…they are jet-powered turbo attack models.” Here are some tips on how to handle such parents. Set clear boundaries: As a teacher, it is important to establish boundaries with parents early on. Clearly communicate what your expectations are for parent-teacher communication and involvement in the classroom. This includes advising them of the best way to contact you, setting reasonable expectations about response times and specifying when it is appropriate…

Is It Time to Declutter?

May 25, 2023

Stevef

Effectiveness

Over the years, I, like many teachers, have collected a lot of “stuff”. I’m not sure if it is because budgets are tight and we are frugal or we always think we might be able to reuse that resource again “someday” but many teachers are loathe to throw things away. I recently culled a drawer in my filing cabinet and threw away spirit duplicator masters that I had saved from my beginning teacher days. (If you don’t know what a spirit duplicator is – google it!) This hoarding can contribute to cluttered classrooms. The environment in which we work can have a significant impact on our productivity, efficiency and overall well-being. This is especially true in the case of classrooms,…

7 Types of Difficult People

April 20, 2023

Stevef

Teamwork

One of the challenges of working in schools is that we work with people. Each of us has people who we find difficult to deal with, whether they are fellow staff members, parents or students. Often they frustrate or annoy us! By identifying what makes their behaviour challenging, we can implement strategies to assist us in responding. Seven types of difficult people have been outlined with suggestions on how to respond to their typical traits. You may find you recognise elements of your difficult person’s behaviour in one or more types. After reflecting on this information try to identify specific strategies to deal with the people you find difficult. However, it is important to remember you cannot change anybody else’s…