Increasing family involvement with school is essential for creating a supportive educational environment. Family involvement supports regular school attendance. Here are 8 strategies to help boost family engagement: Remember, the key to successful parent involvement is maintaining open and transparent communication, offering a variety of engagement opportunities, and recognizing and valuing the contributions of families …
Routines Matter Summer vacation is finally here, and it’s time for some well-deserved fun, exploration, and relaxation. Whether juggling our own kids during summer break, running a camp, or holding down the fort in an early learning setting, we have the opportunity to create a positive and empowering routine during school breaks. In this blog …
Summer Break Success: How Routines Empower Growth and Connection Read More »
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” Maya Angelou In Maine, there are only a handful of days before Summer Break. Educators are winding down lessons, schools are hosting field days, and students are graduating. The end of the school year might be a relief and signal …
Transitions can be hard. How to make them easier. Read More »
Understanding the group process can help you create a positive and collaborative classroom environment where students feel supported and empowered to work together towards their goals. The group process is a series of stages that a group goes through as it develops and functions. These stages include forming, storming, norming, performing, culmination, and adjourning. To …
Whether it’s a tricky commute down muddy secondary roads to the closest bus stop or a bus route cancellation because of a driver shortage, traveling between home to school can be a barrier to student attendance.
Creating strong connections with students is crucial for building a positive learning environment and academic success. Different age groups require different strategies. Younger students benefit from opportunities to play and build independence. Middle schoolers require authenticity and opportunities for self-expression. With high school students, educators should support future goal setting and use real-world examples. Here …
How Does Developmental Stage Inform Connections with Students? Read More »
In the first blog post, we described how to create a community agreement or shared vision for the year. Now is a fantastic time to check in on it. Here are three ways to revisit the vision: Take Pictures: Ask students to take photos of things that are working (or not working). Share photos and …
Three Creative Ways to Check In on Community Agreements Read More »
Create a Collaborative Agreement. Also called a Full Value Contract or Group Norms, a Collaborative Agreement invites all members of a community to express their goals and expected behaviors. In its simplest form: Frame the context with a vision statement or set of core values. Collectively brainstorm behaviors and/or goals that align with those ideals. Organize the brainstorm into positively …
Invite Student Voice and Develop a Shared Vision. Read More »