Foster change! Foster growth and a productive struggle. How can we do this? We have a choice in the words we choose. Be aware of the words you choose. Accept that they have an impact. I believe strongly in the power of our words. Within my sphere of influence are 20 beautiful, hopeful, and eager first graders. I want to impact their lives in the most meaningful and positive way possible. It is important that I make them feel happy, safe, and successful. I want them to make mistakes in their explorations. I want them know the feeling of pride and success after struggling through a problem or challenge. How can I help them through the struggles and failures? I can help them with my encouraging words. Not just any words, but the choice words that will encourage a growth mindset which will develop future leaders.
1. What role does school play in building students’ agency and identity?
School is a big part of a child's life. It is where they spend most of their time away from home. The culture is one they must assimilate to in order to find success. School is their first social environment. We shape how they interact in that first social setting. It plays an important role in building their identity among their peers as well as a citizen in a social setting.
2. How aware are you and your colleagues of the impact our choice of words have on developing students’ agency and identity? Can you give examples?
At our school we don't use negative behavior management systems. We keep everything positive. For example, you won't see a behavior clip chart, card chart, or name on any board in any classroom at our site. Instead, you will see personal goals, strengths, and buckets to fill with kind words. We focus on character traits and positive reinforcements. Students earn "Mustang Tickets" for displaying one of the 8 great traits (ie. honesty, responsibility, respect, decision making...). They may purchase pencils, erasers, or a spot with a friend at the Mustang Lunch Table on the stage in the cafeteria. We focus on stating the behavior we want, rather than stating what we don't want. For example, "Please, walk" instead of, "Don't run." We are mindful to not begin a command with the word don't.
3. What would you do, if anything, to make using choice words a more conscious and accountable school wide practice if you were the school leader?
I would definitely keep in practice the idea of positive behavior management systems. I would like to include the idea of growth mindset among staff. Providing professional development to give teachers the strategies and tools to successfully create a happy and successful environment would be a priority.
4. What could you do, if anything, to make the use of choice words a more conscious and accountable personal practice as well as one embraced by others on your site? Are those things within your sphere of influence?
I can definitely change the way I address negative behaviors in my classroom. Within my sphere of influence are 20 first graders, 2 instructional assistants, and my grade level team. I can share what I learn with my team. I can practice what I have learned with my students. I can also model to my instructional assistants what restorative practices look like.
5. Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school choose words wisely?
1. Use restorative practices.
2. Be mindful of the language I use so that it is promoting a growth mindset rather than fixed.
3. Model restorative practices for my instructional assistants.
4. Share the questions from the restorative practices with my IAs
5. Choose my words wisely when encouraging my students to continue through a productive struggle so that they will recognize the feeling of success and the satisfaction of perseverance.
1. What role does school play in building students’ agency and identity?
School is a big part of a child's life. It is where they spend most of their time away from home. The culture is one they must assimilate to in order to find success. School is their first social environment. We shape how they interact in that first social setting. It plays an important role in building their identity among their peers as well as a citizen in a social setting.
2. How aware are you and your colleagues of the impact our choice of words have on developing students’ agency and identity? Can you give examples?
At our school we don't use negative behavior management systems. We keep everything positive. For example, you won't see a behavior clip chart, card chart, or name on any board in any classroom at our site. Instead, you will see personal goals, strengths, and buckets to fill with kind words. We focus on character traits and positive reinforcements. Students earn "Mustang Tickets" for displaying one of the 8 great traits (ie. honesty, responsibility, respect, decision making...). They may purchase pencils, erasers, or a spot with a friend at the Mustang Lunch Table on the stage in the cafeteria. We focus on stating the behavior we want, rather than stating what we don't want. For example, "Please, walk" instead of, "Don't run." We are mindful to not begin a command with the word don't.
3. What would you do, if anything, to make using choice words a more conscious and accountable school wide practice if you were the school leader?
I would definitely keep in practice the idea of positive behavior management systems. I would like to include the idea of growth mindset among staff. Providing professional development to give teachers the strategies and tools to successfully create a happy and successful environment would be a priority.
4. What could you do, if anything, to make the use of choice words a more conscious and accountable personal practice as well as one embraced by others on your site? Are those things within your sphere of influence?
I can definitely change the way I address negative behaviors in my classroom. Within my sphere of influence are 20 first graders, 2 instructional assistants, and my grade level team. I can share what I learn with my team. I can practice what I have learned with my students. I can also model to my instructional assistants what restorative practices look like.
5. Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school choose words wisely?
1. Use restorative practices.
2. Be mindful of the language I use so that it is promoting a growth mindset rather than fixed.
3. Model restorative practices for my instructional assistants.
4. Share the questions from the restorative practices with my IAs
5. Choose my words wisely when encouraging my students to continue through a productive struggle so that they will recognize the feeling of success and the satisfaction of perseverance.