Why Mattering Matters

Posted on January 18, 2022 Written by

“People are the backbone of education, yet the challenges in recent years, coupled with frequent external criticism, has defined the teaching profession more as a problem to be managed rather than a calling to be celebrated.” (Donlan, Wilfong, 2021).

This article takes a look at the important concept of “mattering,” and why it is essential that principals understand and implement it. The article is not only a foundational resource on the topic, but also offers practical strategies and tips on implementation.

In the words of the authors, “Teachers want to feel they matter, both individually and as part of a larger team that has the capacity to make a difference. Teachers also want to feel they are significant to others in meaningful ways.” Helping this happen can have a significant impact on the success of your school.

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SEL Skills That Impact Academic Success

Posted on January 4, 2022 Written by

According to a study of students in eleven countries (including the U.S.), curiosity and persistence are the strongest predictors of academic success in math and reading. The study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is the first major global assessment of students’ social and emotional skills, and it looked at five key areas:

  • Task performance (such as persistence, and self-control),
  • Emotional regulation (such as optimism and reaction to stress)
  • Collaboration (like empathy and trust)
  • Open-mindedness (such as tolerance, curiosity, and creativity)
  • Engagement with others 

One of the most surprising findings was that across countries and socioeconomic backgrounds, 15-year-olds showed lower social-emotional skills than 10-year-olds did. This may have significant implications for those who work with teenagers.

This article (complete with graphs) outlines the findings. More information on the study itself can be found here.

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For Inspiration …

Posted on December 21, 2021 Written by

With a strong, informed leader, a dedicated staff, and the right curriculum, meaningful school transformation can be a reality … even in the most challenging circumstances.

This short but powerful video tells the story of an inner-city elementary school in New Jersey where 60% of the students performed above grade level in math in 2019 — up from only 3% in 2014. And during the same period, there was an increase from 4% to 50% in reading performance.

In the words of principal, Susanna Tagoe, “”When you see our kids in action, and you see how much brilliance and how capable they are, then you understand not to limit them.” And she reminds us that “A zip code does not determine your ability.”

As we prepare to enter this new year, may you be inspired by the success of this school in the face of overwhelmingly negative odds.

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How to Minimize Stress

Posted on December 7, 2021 Written by

Most people realize that stress has a negative impact not only on our mental health, but also on our effectiveness and productivity. Principal and teacher burnout are very real problems!

In the last post, we looked one method for reducing stress by shrinking our priorities to focus on those that meet five specific criteria. In this post, we’ll explore several additional suggestions to help alleviate stress.

As this article points out, “School leaders are in one of the most precarious balancing acts in the history of public education. They must keep educators focused on providing high-quality learning … despite mandatory COVID testing, email notifications of potential exposures, and omnipresent media coverage of the pandemic. This balancing act is complicated further by teacher shortages and the cumulative impact of asking teachers to help cover job vacancies. All of this leads to an incredible amount of stress for administrators and teachers alike, which must be mitigated to avoid burnout.” (Robbins, 2021)

The author then goes on to offer several suggestions for reducing stress (both for administrators and teachers) that were gleaned from educational leaders across the country.

Hopefully you will find at least one idea that will help you deal more effectively with the physical and emotional fatigue that often comes with the job.

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