Hope, Purpose, Joy 2017
Published on May 26, 2017
In this presentation, we explore the themes of hope, purpose, and joy. We reflected on our own practices as educators to consider small, but mighty, changes we can make to make schools happier places to work and learn in.
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Hope, Purpose, Joy
Presented by Kate Kennedy, Sarah Pence, Ryan Alexis, and Jim Gaskill
Photo by Bob Jagendorf
Ryan Alexis--Band Director
Jim Gaskill--Principal
Kate Kennedy--ELA
Sarah Pence--4th Grade
"If we are always working on issues or work that we are not necessarily passionate or curious about, or ones that are not really goal-related...we can feel spread thin, because we are always saying yes. We lose touch with a little bit of joy. We can burn out. We work, work, work, but may feel a little empty on the other side of it (Allen 2017)."
Tragedy
Often when talking about our jobs we focus on:
increased accountability
evaluation systems
testing, testing
"not fun anymore"
increased accountability
evaluation systems
testing, testing
"not fun anymore"
Photo by HckySo
Who's in Charge?
Photo by Gage Skidmore
Teachers?
Leaders?
Students?
Families?
Kate's Small Changes: 2012-2017
- Colors, calm, wonder
- Music
- Focus on creativity
- Student talk to collaborate & generate ideas
- Extended blocks of time to think & write
- Fresh air & play
Kate's shifts for hope, purpose, and joy
1. Colors, Calm, Wonder
2. Music
Photo by Brandon Giesbrecht
3. Focus on Creativity
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4. Student Talk
To collaborate & generate ideas
To generate ideas
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5. Extended Blocks of Time
Think and Write
To generate ideas
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6. Fresh Air & Play
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Jim's Small Steps
- Focus on relationships
- Teaching first... OTES later
- Staff voice and collaboration
- More fun and celebrations!!
Photo by ChadCooperPhotos
The World According to Ryan
- Focus on positive (pearl of the day)
- Aim to build relationships with students-musicians will grown from this
- Understand that joy is a choice
- My belief in human nature
Photo by MightyBoyBrian
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Discovery: in your practice, when did you or your students
-experience hope,
-reaffirm your purpose for becoming an educator, or
-feel joy
Dream: what joyful experiences do you hope to cultivate in the upcoming year? What might more hope, purpose, and joy look like in your building or school?
In appreciative inquiry, we focus on the good to get more of it. we look at what's right
Instead of "how can we spend less time on testing?" or "why do I have to do (SLO's, evaluations, TBTs, etc)?" focus on "When have we felt the most hopeful, alive, joyful?"
1980's
Instead of "how can we spend less time on testing?" or "why do I have to do (SLO's, evaluations, TBTs, etc)?" focus on "When have we felt the most hopeful, alive, joyful?"
1980's
Educators = Experiences
Photo by Carlos Luna
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Comfort Level Matters
Neuroimaging Studies & Brain Checmial Transmiters Meausrement
Willis, ASCD, 2007:
"My own experience as a neurologist and classroom teacher has shown me the benefits of joy in the lassroom. Neuroimaging studies and measurement of brain chemical transmitters reveal that students' comfort level can influence information transmission and storage in the brain (Thanos et al., 1999). When students are engaged and motivated and feel minimal stress, information flows freely through the affective filter in the amygdala and they achieve higher
levels of cognition, make connections, and experience “aha” moments. Such learning comes not from quiet classrooms and directed lectures, but from classrooms with an atmosphere of
exuberant discovery (Kohn, 2004).
"My own experience as a neurologist and classroom teacher has shown me the benefits of joy in the lassroom. Neuroimaging studies and measurement of brain chemical transmitters reveal that students' comfort level can influence information transmission and storage in the brain (Thanos et al., 1999). When students are engaged and motivated and feel minimal stress, information flows freely through the affective filter in the amygdala and they achieve higher
levels of cognition, make connections, and experience “aha” moments. Such learning comes not from quiet classrooms and directed lectures, but from classrooms with an atmosphere of
exuberant discovery (Kohn, 2004).
Photo by giulia.forsythe
Educators as Facilitators Of:
- Curiousity
- Creativity
- Joy
- Passion
- Hope
- Collaboration
