Yep! It’s true, we are often expected to offer professional development at the worst times possible. For example, in August, the week before students come back; in January when staff are mentally still on winter break; and in May when everyone has at “left” for the summer.
As a result of this poor timing, you experience that sense of dread that comes from knowing that you are expected to stand in front of a group of educators, wearing a smile on our face that hides what you know deep down. You know the truth! You know, no matter how good you are, or how much you care, 90% of what you teach these beautiful, generous, devoted educators will never make it to the classroom. It will never help their students.
In reality, it may even leave them more frustrated than when they began.
And as I’ve said 100 times, it’s not about your knowledge or skills, or your preparation. You are good, really good and you work as hard as anyone. And you know what really works. More time, sustained coaching, opportunities to commune, share, co-create and collaborate…Not a three-hour firehose about the district’s new curriculum, or a rundown of how badly scores suggest children are failing.
In fact, most of us know that getting to a change in practice is a complicated process, impacted by tons of variables. And from my perspective, the variable or element often unaddressed in professional development is the building of the emotional intelligence of educators.
Research from interpersonal neurobiology, appreciative inquiry, positive psychology, and resonate leadership, just to name a few, provides substantial research to support efforts to raise EQs, at least as much, if not more, as efforts to raise IQs.
So just how does one design and deliver professional development and learning that leads to higher EQs, that integrates the educator’s heart, mind, and body, that leads to a wholeness…and eventually to a change in practice?
Well if you follow my blog, you know there isn’t a one-size fits all approach; however, there are many strategies from finding your superpowers, to triggering the positive emotional attractor, to turning down the shark music.
In this post, I share additional strategies that stem from a collaboration with Drs. Julie Causton and Kate MacLeod from Inclusive Schooling. In particular, below, you’ll find a few simple steps you can take, using our 21 day event, to raise the EQ of your staff.
As a result of your efforts, staff will receive professional development (no matter when it is delivered), which will raise their EQ and give them the ability to engage in responsive relationships, the capacity to teach critical life skills, and the bandwidth to buffer and reduce stressors for those they serve.
Let’s get started!
Step 1: Access our 21 day event for inspired educators. Then, each day for 21 days, you will receive practical strategies, resources, and a lot of love to help you infuse new creative energy into your work. The event is organized around three inspiring themes: creating happier classrooms, boosting student engagement, and building more connections in your classroom, schools, and communities.
CLICK HERE TO REQUEST 3 OF OUR PROVEN STRATEGIES DOWNLOAD
Step 2: Embed the strategies and resources shared into your informal exchanges with staff (e.g., incorporate humor and joy into some part of your weekly emails, remind one another of ideas during conversations you have in the hallway, reproduce activities in monthly newsletters and post to bulletin boards).
Step 3: Carve out at least a few minutes during each staff meeting and/or professional development and learning event and invite staff to share how they are using the strategies and resources to be as creative, engaging, and joyous as they can.
Here’s what one Assistant Superintendent did in her district.
She started by purchasing the 21 day event for her staff. Then, each time she gathered with them, she used a simple “whip-around” technique to have cross-grade level educators report out. Staff were invited to share which strategy from the 21 day event they had tried, and how it had impacted the climate and culture of the classroom and their relationships with students and families.
That’s it…it’s really that simple!
Now it’s your turn, we invite you to join our community of inspired educators today!
All of the strategies and resources we offer are evidence-based, grounded in recommended practice, and designed to create more inclusive, engaging, and happier classrooms. Throughout the 21 days we will also share inspirational quotes, guidance for self-reflection, and printables that can be shared with your friends and colleagues.
As this is an online experience, you will have the opportunity to interact and learn from other inspired educators, as well as receive support and nurturing directly from us inside our online discussion group. Once you register you will have access to the 21 days of content… forever! This means that we encourage you to engage in this experience at your own pace. Then, when you complete all 21 days, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, which can be credited as 3 hours of Professional Development with administrator approval.
We hope you’ll join us, and at a minimum, go here to request our free download with three proven strategies. These will help begin to raise your own EQ and the EQ of your staff!
“This was the best professional development I have EVER done with my staff!” — School Superintendent