REFLECT!

Core Values

What are your Core Values? Oftentimes, our values are implicitly present. How do we explicitly identify our core values to guide our work on a daily basis? Let’s take some time to explore and identify our Core Values. There are many protocols, thinking routines and activities that support us in doing this.

One process that we appreciate is Elena Aguilar’s “Identifying Core Values.” It is a straight-forward and meaningful way to explore what truly matters most to you in your personal and professional life. Click on the link and engage in the three-step process.

Once you identify your Core Values, write them down. Keep them front and center - a sticky note on your laptop, a sticky note on your mirror, a notecard on your desk. Return to your Core Values regularly and with intention. Build the habit. Notice where your values surface in all you say and do. Aguilar shares, “once I own them, my values become a way of being.” And when values become a consistent way of being, others will see them as well.

Here are some reflective prompts that can support you in keeping  your Core Values at the center of your work.

Reflective Prompts

• How do your Core Values come to life - thoughts, words, actions?

• How readily can others notice your Core Values in action?

• What happens when you find your Core Values not coming to life?

EXPLORE!

How Do Your Words Reflect Your Values?

Words and language are a powerful part of our lives, conveying what we think, believe and feel. What we value as humans. They have the power to uplift or tear down, transform or cast blame, energize or deflate, inspire learning and growth or keep us stagnant. But very often we don’t stop to think about the words we are using and how they might be received. 

Stop and reflect on the words you use everyday and how they represent your core values. What are the messages conveyed through word choice and delivery? How do they shine a light on what you value?

As educators, words and  language are a critical tool. Words create the culture and the quality of the experiences in our classroom, school and district. 

Let’s explore a few examples. 

• A teacher says to a parent, “She actually had a good day today.”. This seems like a common phrase, but have we ever thought about its impact?  What is the impact of the word “actually”? 

• On the wall of a classroom the  poster reads “Classroom Agreements.” What values does the word agreements convey to the students and the classroom community?

• Think about the impact of these two statements on a student who arrives late:

• • “You’re late, again.” 

  • “We’re glad you’re here! How can we work together to ensure you are on time tomorrow?”

Our challenge to you is to take a step back and analyze the language you use in your interactions throughout the day. Words have impact - intended and unintended. Think back to your identified Core Values, how do your words reflect your values? 

ACT!

Values In Action

Whether you’re a Leader or teacher, planning for the school year is approached with a focus on students and successful outcomes.. In the planning, we think about the big picture, reflecting on the values that center us and remind us of our “why.”

Let’s go back to Elena Aguilar’s Core Values exercise and reference the Core Values you identified. With those values in mind, how do you explicitly plan for culture, environment, relationships and learning so that your thoughts show up in both words and actions? At the school level, what do the policies and systems reveal about your values? In the classroom, how are your values translated into the learning space and how the learning community engages with one another?

As a human-centered organization, Abeo returns to two texts written by Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple that have inspired and challenged us to live up to our core values. 

• Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity

• Teaching with Dignity: How to Cultivate Classroom Ecosystems Where People Thrive.

Using the core values of belonging and dignity, the authors share research about both of these concepts and their role in creating conditions that affect how people perceive themselves and others in community. These texts provide powerful examples and techniques that demonstrate how core values can be foundational in planning for and implementing a positive student experience. 

As a team, Abeo strives to ensure that Our Principles are reflected in how we think, in what we say and the actions we take. They keep us “on the balcony,” reminding us regularly to stay true to our values when engaging with adult learners. We know that when values are clearly defined and used as a lens for decision-making, values and actions are aligned.

We encourage you to find inspiration in reading Cobb and Krownapple’s books. As you read, make connections, and find ideas and techniques to put your core values into action!