Your weekly source of learner-centered inspiration
Dear Educator,
As I have worked with different groups of educators, from teachers to administrators, I have become more intentional about starting off the day with celebrations.
Borrowing from Chaka Khan, I often start with, “Tell me something good!” I even say this to my own kids regularly 🙂. I love Chaka Khan's song, but the message and impact of the words are even more important.
It is easy to focus on what is NOT working and pinpoint all the things that are wrong rather than celebrate what IS going well—even the simple steps being taken in the right direction. The possibilities are endless when we focus on what’s right with people instead of what is wrong with them. For this week’s Bright Spot, I want to highlight a practice of praising our colleagues and the impact it can have.
With Gratitude, Katie
I'd love to hear from you! Reply to this email to share your Bright Spot this week!
BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK
The Power of Sharing Affirmation
This week, I got to spend a day with a team that I have worked with in person and virtually all year. We examined our own experiences in school and their impact on us as teachers. I asked what support was needed and, in the current climate, educators told me they were feeling unappreciated. Many were craving affirmation that they were on the right path.
One teacher, who heard the needs of her colleagues, took it upon herself to create a Teacher Shout Out slide in our shared deck. Within minutes, it was full of messages, and multiple pages were added to highlight what they noticed about each other and to share kudos for the strengths that each brought to their learning community.
Evolving in our practices can be daunting, and affirmation along the way is critical to supporting the shifts that we aspire to see in education. Plus, it creates a culture of celebrating bright spots and strengths, which our students deserve, too.
Interested in exploring ways to uplift and create a culture of celebrating your fellow teachers in your learning community? Let's connect!
Below are some resources to support your efforts in shouting-out your colleagues and affirming their efforts in the classroom.
1. Learner-Centered Collaborative book club. Connect, learn, and get inspired during this free 3-week program geared towards educators and leaders thinking about or actively working toward learner-centered models of education. Starting Monday, Feb 28. Learn more and register now.
2. In praise of positive feedback. Positive feedback is a powerful tool that helps individuals feel confident in their learning. Discover 5 strategies to build on and incorporate positive feedback into your toolkit in this Forbes article.
3. A culture of gratitude. Educators that make a point of expressing gratitude can positively impact students and lift morale. Explore gratitude practices you can implement in your learning community in this post from Edutopia.
LET'S SHARE OUR BRIGHT SPOTS!
How are you showing gratitude to your colleagues in your context? Use #LCBrightSpots to share your experiences on social media!
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