Professional Learning for Busy Educators

There’s a saying some educators use: “The best classroom management strategy is an engaging lesson plan.” That may be true, but there are often a few students who act out in class no matter how well the teacher prepares. Dearborn says when she started using compassion to help her students behave in school-appropriate ways, she had far more success. She often found that punishments embarrassed students and caused them to resent her deeply, damaging their relationship.

Two days ago I broke down. I was in my office and I had just gotten off the phone with an individual and it sent me over the edge. I started crying. I’m a superintendent. I’m not supposed to cry. I’m supposed to lead with conviction. I’m supposed to have strength and show this strength at all times. Crying is a sign of weakness. At least this is the perception right?

I think it’s crap. Yesterday as I was crying. I closed my door, and I had a moment. I was stressed and overwhelmed with anxiety. I had had enough. I cried. I’m an adult. I’m a superintendent. I’m human.

I’m not telling you this for sympathy. I’m sharing this story so that maybe somebody out there can find hope in it. I’m sharing this story so that maybe someday we will realize that mental health issues in adults is just as real as mental health issues in students. I’m sharing this story because I want people to understand that it’s ok to be human. To laugh, is to be human. To cry, is to be human. I don’t care who you are or what your position is, it’s ok to feel. You don’t need to mask your feelings to show masculinity.

As always, participating in IMMOOC Season 4 has been a very valuable experience. This week’s prompt of; How are you working to make the world a better place by creating more thoughtful, compassionate, creative, and skilled individuals? really spoke to me. This question in many ways captures what I see as our end goal and ultimate mandate as educators; helping to support our students in becoming the most compassionate, creative and skilled individuals they can be to prepare them for their future.

There are many stories about people who have made a difference that come from individuals or groups that have experienced hardship as they strive to overcome those hardships. For your child, this might be what inspires them to action, but it doesn’t have to be. Everyone has the potential to make a difference in their own way. Some children and adults feel comfortable raising their voices in a loud way, while others prefer a quieter approach. Making a difference might mean speaking up or taking action when you see an injustice, doing something to take care of the environment, letting someone know that you care about them, or playing an active role in your community in other ways. By exposing your child to many different role models in real life and in stories, you can show your child examples of the many ways people can make a difference. Learning about others through stories can help children learn about what is possible and give them opportunities to practice thinking about other people’s feelings and learn words and actions they can use as they reach beyond themselves.

Teaching your child compassion is also an opportunity for you to grow as well, as you strive to be the role model you would like your child to have. AS you continue to have conversations with your child aimed at building compassion, consider the following strategies:

Four simple ways to model and promote compassion, which is especially important for students with adverse childhood experiences.