Spring Possibilities 2022 – Newsletter
Spring is on the Way!
January was a bumpy ride for many as we navigated Covid both in our personal lives and at work. We know that your caring and compassion for your students are the reason that schools have been able to stay open. We hope that you have been able to do what you need to do to take care of yourselves and feel supported in your workplace. In the words of Monique Gray Smith, “You hold me up. I hold you up. We hold each other up.” You Hold Me Up, Orca Book Publishers, 2017.
Note: add our email address to your contact list so that you don’t miss any of our emails (in your spam folder)! info@practicalpossibilitiesconsulting.com
What’s New?
- Upcoming Workshops
- Educator’s Community (beginning March 2, 2022)
- Possibility of the Month
- Book Nook
Upcoming Workshops
Check out our Upcoming Events page to stay in the loop.
- February 18, 2022, we are presenting at the Richmond School District Annual Conference.
- May 14, 2022 BCTF New Teachers’ Virtual Conference
- April 29, 2022 Alberta Council for Exceptional Children
Free On-Demand Workshop: Topic 1 – Creating a Community of Regulated Learners
Two workshops in one – recently combined and updated!
Register for free to join the Educator’s Community and download the UPDATED lessons and resources to get started or watch the updated recorded workshop
Educator’s Community for Regulated Classrooms
Join us for our welcome meeting, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 3:30pm (30 minutes)
- Support & Mentoring (a substitution for the proposed action research project)
- Get your questions answered.
- Share your successes.
- On-going access to the downloadable, updated, colour resources and lessons as they are finished.
Join Zoom Meeting #1
Meeting ID: ——- Passcode: ——
Also, join our private Facebook group, Educator’s Community for Regulated Classrooms
Possibility of the Month
Possibilities are practices or strategies that work! They are either research-based or have stood the test of time and have the desired outcome.
One of the best things about teaching is that you get to begin fresh with the same people every day for 10 months. That means we have lots of new beginnings. Each day provides a new opportunity to connect with your students and check-in with them.
Morning Rituals and Soft Starts
Morning Rituals
A morning ritual is an interaction between the members of a class, which is based on a mutual understanding and provides a moment to say “I see you and I am glad that we are here together.” Morning rituals can be between students and the teacher such as greeting your students individually, either at the door or as they get ready to begin their day or between class members, for example passing an object from person to person in a circle and saying “good morning.” There can be endless variations, however the important aspects are that students know what to expect and it provides an opportunity to create and strengthen an emotional bond. It is very important that students are not expected to practice difficult skills or actions which make them feel uncomfortable. Everyone should feel welcome and safe.
Soft Starts
Soft Starts are non-academic, student-chosen activities that allow them to begin their day either by interacting with each other or by taking some time alone to settle themselves. It also gives the teacher and other adults in the classroom valuable time to connect with students and each other. Centre time activities can be used for a soft start, as can outside play, running, walking and chatting, card games, drawing, fun math bins or sensory bins. Students should have the choice of who they participate with. Consider having easy breakfast food available or allow students to eat their snack early. Some teachers have found it helpful to allow children to come into the classroom early, especially if they have problems waiting or if it is raining! Soft Starts also make it easier for students who are often late to join in. Softs Starts usually last about 15 minutes or until after the morning announcements are over.
Book Nook
You Hold Me Up
by Monique Gray Smith Illustrated by Danielle Daniel
This beautiful picture book speaks to our hearts. Monique Gray Smith, a B.C. author and internationally known speaker on Reconciliation presents a way to build connections that everyone can understand.
