Beyond the Survival Kit… Lance Lindblom, Shawna Neighbour, & Sue Saip

Beyond the Survival Kit… Agenda: Intro/ Check-in. Establishing Classroom Ritual/ Routine Behaviour Interventions Fostering Rapport Teacher Presence Tricks-of-the-Trade Building Your Support Team Self-care

Building Classroom Community How are things going so far? What are you doing? What have been your successes? What are your concerns?

Establishing Classroom Rules, Rituals, & Routine

Establishing Classroom Rules, Rituals, & Routine Suggestions: Greeting at the door. Consistent entering classroom routine. (Morning/ Recess/ Lunch) Visual Schedule. Visual + Verbal + Written Instruction. Transitions. Safe-Learning Spaces.

Establishing Classroom Rules, Rituals, & Routine Suggestions: Continued… Front loading. Student Input/ Classroom Contract. Line-ups. P.E. Expectations. Classroom Jobs. Exiting/ End of day routine.

Establishing Classroom Rules, Rituals, & Routine Stay Consistent!

Establishing Classroom Rules, Rituals, & Routine Fair in not necessarily equal…

Behaviour Interventions Whole Class Interventions: Class Community Individual Safety & Connection then… academics. Repeated review of expectations. Avoid shaming students at all costs… Pink Box Slips. Check-In/ Class Meetings. Clear Cause & Effect. Reward Systems. NOTE… Whole class reward for individual success… But, do not punish group or remove reward based on actions of an individual or group of individuals. 6 Minute Expert Activity: Strong Voice. 3-1 Ratio. Exit Strategy: “I’ll catch up with you later.” Mystery Student.

Behaviour Interventions 1-to-1 Interventions: Self-Check (Attunement and Affect Management). Conferencing. Reflective Listening. Hold the space. Avoid shaming at all costs! Collaborative Problem Solving. Plan B. Behaviour Plans. Student Contracts. Student as Team Member. This all involves student input in order to be effective.

Behaviour Interventions

Fostering Rapport Authenticity as Building Block for Rapport: Limited safe self-disclosure. Avoid over-sharing… Whole-Class Strategies: Class Meeting/ Talking Stick. VIP Opportunities for play. Sharing-Is-Caring Games.

Fostering Rapport 1-to-1 Strategies: Know your student (Trauma informed lens: Basic needs met?). Conferencing. Reflective Listening. 2 x 10. Teacher’s Assistant. Home-School communications. Touch base about the positives. Non-Verbal Communication. Smile.  Safe Contact.

Teacher Presence Assertive & Authoritative vs. Passive & Authoritarian Strong Voice Student input with Teacher final say (Democratic Dictatorship…)

Tricks-of-the-Trade Side-by-side communication. Boys: Don’t demand eye-contact… Staggered Line-up + Line-up Order. Embedding Names Conversationally. Choosing Teams - “Most fierce opponent” Avoid Team Captains… Visual Timers. Document Mediation (Validation + Accountability…). Teach to your Passion. Giving Students Lifelines. Do not tell kids “you’re not hurt” or “you are lying” Don’t shy away from tears… Check For Understanding. Paraphrasing. Processing Time. (1 minute wait time). Celebrate Successes.

Building Your Support Team Don’t Be Afraid To Seek Support/ Assistance! Collaboration with others strengthens your practice. Who can you rely on? Counsellors Other Classroom Teachers Your YCW’s & EA’s Your Principal

Building Your Support Team How can these people help? Counsellors: Supporting students who appear to be struggling/ at-risk/ in crisis. Providing resources that can assist with various social or emotional issues in and out of the classroom. Advocating for student needs with parents. We are here to support you! (However that looks…) We are counsellors for everyone in the building…

Building Your Support Team How can these people help? Other Classroom Teachers: Providing curriculum resources/ examples of success unit or lesson plans. Don’t re-invent the wheel… Recommendations regarding specific teaching strategies for common classroom issues or individual student needs.

Building Your Support Team How can these people help? Your YCW’s & EA’s Working collaboratively with these individuals pays off big time! Actively including YCW’s or EA’s in your classroom activities makes the work you are both doing more effective. Talk to them. Utilize their skills!!! Communication is key.

Building Your Support Team How can these people help? Your Principal Communication line with parents. Can often provide beneficial information about navigating complicated family relationships. Clarification around various protocols. Disciplinary resource. (Use with caution…)

Building Your Support Team Focus your collaborative efforts around team members who are positive! (People you connect with…)

Self-Care

Self-Care Sleep. Recreation. Exercise. Diet. Friends. Family. You-Time… Self-Check: Balance/ Monitor Mental & Physical Health.

Questions