Question 1:
To reflect on Urgent vs Important, I find myself like many others craving reflective time and focusing on making space for it. I also notice myself gearing my attention on the heart of teaching through relationships and a holistic approach centred on harnessing student agency and curiosity. I’ve joined Cohort 21 to help further develop the long-range plans and programs for school-wide SEL at my school and help empower the entire community with a toolbox of systematic considerations and wellness skills.
Keywords ringing in my ears are: presence, mindfulness, belonging, vulnerability, trust, trauma, healing, interpersonal neurobiology, somatics, community, learning, joy, curiosity, kindness, resilience, consciousness…
How might we develop long lasting impact and leverage the PD sessions we already receive as entire community more?
How might we look at adult SEL as a sparking point to fuel our teachers wellness journey so that we might further support school culture and progress?
What are all the ways we can leverage and carry forward the sessions we received on cultural competency and further individuals self-awareness, social- awareness, self-management, relationship skills, and responsible decision making?
Dan Siegel
Question 2: Which of the Season 11 Strands resonates with you and why?
At the moment, I feel drawn to focus on development of leadership and wellbeing by focus on adult social-emotional learning, so that we can lead by example. I think about my many readings of Gabor Mate’s works, Bessel Van Der Kolk, Daniel Siegel, John and Julie Gottman, Tara Brach, and Bréne Brown before circling back to the system talks Sir Ken Robinson stressed to the world so many years ago. Through speaking to colleagues, the ongoing messaging time and time again is the need to feel emotionally connected, safe, and balanced so that we feel empowered in our teaching and can inspire our students in their learning journey. Like the students, we have been isolated and are still unsure where the world is going. We are also rebuilding our learning journey.
Who else is curious about developing school improvement through a toolbox for wellness centred around our micro-moments?
What are all the ways a toolbox could leverage strategies to amplify compassion’s healing power?
So glad you joined Cohort 21! Looking forward to your posts.
So glad you are part of our group, Megan!
You bring up some great points and the one that struck me the most was centred around focusing on staff well-being so that they can further support the well-being of the entire community. How important it is to make sure we, teachers and staff, are at our best so that we can make our community even better. We are the role models for our students.
I look forward to hearing more about your journey throughout this year. Your students and colleagues will definitely benefit from your Cohort 21 work.
Of course Megan, I am so excited to be joining you this year. We have so much to learn about and apply in our own program. We’ve been on this trajectory for a long time and I am so excited to be able to really focus on this with you. Cohort 21, season 11 is lucky to have your input on this topic.
I love this Megan! It really is a struggle for educators to focus on our own well-being, We take so much time to nourish our students that we often do not find time to work on ourselves. I am learning that it is a “must do” or we will pay the consequences. What will we do if many teachers burn-out before the end of this year? We have kept going, meeting every challenge thrown at us for the past two years. Now that the unknowns are somewhat behind us, we are beginning to realize the toll this has taken on us. Before we can support our students, we must take the time to practise self-care! I look forward to learning more from you!