Good morning to all educators committed to reconsidering "behavior issues" and rebranding them as opportunities to invite someone in to conversation and connection. These are the moments for us to line up actions with all the things we say we believe.
As folks are designing behavior policies, codes of conduct, and expectations this time of year, it is especially important to remember the end goal and desired tone or flavor you want a classroom or school to have.
Focus too much on outcomes you do NOT want, and that's exactly what you're going to get. Children want to be happy. They are wired to love.
Every year, I see children hopeful and ready to learn, wanting to be excited to see friends again, to be in a familiar place with adults they know care about them.
Every year I see adults scrambling to get rituals, rules, and routines in place because, "children need structure". Now, I don't wholly disagree with this. I DO feel though that everybody wants to feel they have a sense of control over their own lives.
We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by asking students, "What do WE want OUR school to look, sound, feel like?" Why not co-create optimal, fun, creative learning spaces with them?
We know that the more controlling adults become, the more unhappy students will be, and less learning will be the unintended, yet inevitable outcome.
You know the old saying, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Sometimes it feels like we are all crazy...we probably are...
But why not try something crazy and new-- something that shouldn't be radical, but is...involve students more via advisory boards and classroom conversations that truly seek out, value, and make space for their wild, off-the-wall, but maybe brilliant ideas.
Maybe, just maybe that kid who folks labeled a "Troublemaker" *cough #cleartheair cough* last year--could positively impact your school in beautiful ways you never thought were possible.
Remember...some kids just know how to "do" school better. Are you empowering or oppressing by perpetuating systems that ensure theirs are the only (or majority) voices that get heard?
I hear that voice whispering, "...but we incentivize good learners by giving them leadership roles". Okay, but what are you incentivizing? Conformity? Compliance? Is the "leadership role" performative? Do they hold any REAL power?
I don't know you're lives, but I do know kids deserve more than what we see in a lot of places. So, instead of throwing that hashtag on here, I'll just say that we need to do better if we want to see better. Keep pushing and loving one another. We got this. ❤
