What exactly is the right way to kick off the new year? Some people think we should spend a 2–3 weeks getting to know each other, playing icebreaker games and focusing purely on relationships. I tend to think this deprives students of a clear mental construct of school as a place where we get stuff…
Blogs and newsletters like this one arrive in my inbox with pretty high regularity these days – even though I’ve become more discerning about what I subscribe to and unsubscribe from. Still, I don’t read them all. None of us do. And so, I’m delighted every week when I see that a decent percentage of…
They say that misery needs company. And while I’m not suggesting that any teachers or students come to schools with miserable intentions, watching those who are struggling congregate in groups is something we’ve all witnessed. When staff are struggling and congregating to blame students, parents or leaders for their woes, we often refer to them…
I find it curious that we so readily associate responsibility with time. It’s a simple equation – commit a serious crime and get a longer sentence. We often replicate that approach in schools where, depending on the seriousness of the offence, students receive longer suspensions or more detentions. And that’s all fine if you’re game…