A Teacher's Ruminations

What do people mean when they say that a school has a toxic environment? According to a quick google search, toxic is always associated with poison or toxins. It is harmful and unhealthy. So, when a school's environment "goes toxic" whose job is is to cure it? Who is responsible for this outcome? How did it get to be that way? And, does it matter why it's that way or is it more important to figure out what to do to turn things around? I've been in toxic school environments that seem to get worse before they get better. Often, this starts out with teachers feeling that they are not being respected by the administration. Then, teachers start talking to each other because, more often than not, this is the only outlet they have to check their perceptions about what's going on. Sometimes teachers will feel like they're alone in their feelings or like there's something wrong with them. So, one brave soul will test the waters by bringing up a concern in c...

Lately, I've been thinking about modelling and its place in the classroom. I've also been thinking about how we often don't model the behaviours, strategies, etc that we want our students to demonstrate because we are in a rush to move through the curriculum or because we figure they should get it if we tell them what it looks like. The power of modelling is underrated and I've begun to adopt it with a zeal. Well, maybe not with a zeal, but certainly I've stopped more often than not to demonstrate and then have students practice while I observe. This helps me to plan next steps. This may sound like it takes a lot of time but, in the long run, it saves time.  So, I've been thinking that by skipping this step we are doing our students a disservice. In a future post, I will expand on these ruminating thoughts. I would love to hear how you model desired behaviours and strategies to your students.  Cross posted to  A Slice of Life - Challenge...

At a September back to school session on school culture, our director asked each of us to reflect on the following question:  What will be your most important contribution to the culture of our school this year? I found this question so intriguing at the time that I decided to write a public response on my blog...that I never finished and therefore never made public. I n light of  recent challenging personal and professional events, it's time I finish my response to this question and, in turn, reflect on whether or not I've been successful in taking up the challenge offered by my director.    At the time and in the space I found myself, the answer to this question was quite simple:  be positive.  Perhaps, this is too trite and therefore meaningless but after a full year reflecting on what gives me joy in all aspects of my life, I have found that the simplicity inherent in being positive - looking at the bright side - resonates well with the road I'd ch...