LEARN!

eLearning Micro Session: Active Listening

The importance of ongoing professional learning cannot be emphasized enough. But, finding the time to learn is never easy to come by in our field. Educators everywhere feel the tension of learning and time - we got you!

As a human-centered learning organization, we decided to try our own small test of change to address the question: If we design bite-sized professional learning sessions, based on relevant topics, available at any time, would leaders find the learning experience time efficient while also time worth?

We’re proud to share with you our first eLearning Micro Session: Active Listening. Why Active Listening? We’ve curated research on how Active Listening is a key element to building relational trust. Relational trust is a core resource in transformational reform.

Dive into this 10-15 minute eLearning Micro Session to learn about the four different kinds of listening styles. Our session offers not only research, but also practical ways to strengthen your active listening muscle.

As you engage with the micro session we encourage you to share with your colleagues what you learned about yourself as a listener. They, too, can engage in the session! Then you can collaboratively share, learning about each other’s listening styles while building relational trust as a collective. Enjoy the journey!

As we continue to design eLearning Micro Sessions, we’d love to hear from our users! What topics would you like to engage with and learn more about? Fill out our quick survey here!

REFLECT!

Keep the Momentum Going

As Spring rolls around, we many times live in two worlds at the school - wrapping the year up and planning for next year. “Wrapping up” doesn’t mean we stop the work. We pause, reflect, celebrate and plan ahead.

In January we shared thinking about breaking your School Improvement Plan into 90-day chunks. Doing this with the goal of identifying successes and building on those bright spots. So, at this point in the year, let’s spend some time reflecting:

• What small changes did you make in the 90 days?

• What was the impact of your intentional planning?

• How are you celebrating the wins?

• What will you plan for and do in the next 90-day chunk?

Take your successes - the impact you have seen and felt - and keep the momentum going as you engage in planning for the next 90 days and the coming school year.

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” Vincent Van Gogh

BE BOLD!

Taking Strategic Risks

For some, we’re entering the final countdown of the school year,  “Only ____ more days to go!” Let’s shift our mindset and take on the last several weeks of the school year with audacity. Ask yourself, “How can I be bold and take strategic risks, trying something new I’ve wanted to do?

Audacity is the willingness to take bold risks.  

Taking risks can reignite your energy and passion, build your confidence and serve as an example to others. What might taking risks look like?

• Changing the seating arrangement

• Reimagining professional learning meetings

• Increasing student voice in curriculum and instruction

What is the story you want to remember for the 2024-2025 school year? At this point in the year  we find ourselves in a perfect position to end our year with the story of audacity. For the next few weeks we encourage you to reimagine one aspect of your work. What will you do to be bold and audacious? Make it count!

To drum up some courage, watch this video and be inspired for boldness.