From Conflict to Collaboration: The A+B+C+D Formula for Positive Discussions

September 4, 2024 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

From Conflict to Collaboration: The A+B+C+D Formula for Positive Discussions

Season 6 Episode 80

Check out this episode to learn four steps you can take to make sure you have positive discussions around topics that might be full of conflict!

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

Have you ever engaged in an argument with someone about an educational issue? As teachers, we are constantly involved in discussions about education with our coworkers. It is the nature of what we do. But have you ever wondered how to stop arguing and engage in positive discussions?

While many of discussions in meetings are civil and productive, there are just as many that are unpleasant and unsettling.

Today, we explore ways to keep education conversations passionately positive instead of overwhelmingly negative. We’ll share an easy mnemonic you can use to make sure to avoid upsetting educational conversations and to add more of the positive conversations about teaching and education to your life. We all need more passion and positive discussions in our lives.

Introduction:

Education today is full of controversies. Our whole world is. Education, in particular, can draw a lot of controversy. From large controversial system issues, like how to teach reading or school vouchers, to smaller arguments over everything from handwriting to cafeteria caloric counts, there is always the chance that you will end up in a conversation about education that goes south fast.

While most of these discussions are civil and productive, some are just downright unpleasant and unsettling. You know the kind- you want to duck away, run away or look around for an invisibility cloak just to get out of the conversation. This is especially true when the person you are talking with appears to be settled into their convictions and aren’t even listening to what you are saying.

Examples of Negative and Positive Discussions

Paula: I would bet many of our listeners are nodding their heads right now. Just like the rest of you, I’ve have had my share of educational conversations over my years of teaching. The worst are those when someone derails the conversation from the beginning to steer it in a way that they want it to go so their side of the issue is the one that is at the center of the conversation.

Michele: As a reading teacher and reading specialist, I have had so many difficult conversations about reading. Often times, reading issues are not understood, somebody hasn’t read the research, they don’t understand what reading is all about. It is not about one skill, there are many reading skills that are combined when we teach reading well. Today it seems that we are focusing on phonics and phonics only. Let me be clear, I am in favor of teaching phonics, but it is NOT the only thing we should be teaching.

Paula: You have all probably witnessed firsthand how this negativity can happen between teachers. You know how that goes. One person starts complaining, the next agrees and the whole conversation becomes a list of grievances. By the end of the conversation, it can almost feel like the person who has the most misery tallies wins. I leave those discussions often angry or exhausted.

Michele: I get it that sometimes people just need to vent. Usually with our teacher friends or our teacher community, it is a safe place to vent. But when it becomes an ongoing negative discussion, it is no longer productive.

As part of our work, we often get to be part of discussions with educators who are passionate teachers and strong advocates. Not too long ago, we met with a few teachers to discuss an educational issue that was a hot topic, and that we all had strong feelings about.

One of two things could have happened. The conversation could have become passionately positive or overwhelmingly negative. We chose to be positive and all participants left the discussion feeling better than when we entered. It wasn’t pure luck that the conversation went that way. It was intentional.

So, we explored why that meeting, and others like it, went so well. That is where we came up with the formula we will teach you today.

We followed an algorithm-of-sorts for keeping discussions passionate and positive:

A + B + C + D= Passionately Positive Discussions

A= Always talk to the right people. If you want to be energized, pull people into the discussion who are both passionate and positive. The more positive voices in the conversation, the less likely negative voices are to speak up. You have heard us talk about negativity bias before but it is real and a conversation killer. If you look for the negative, you will be sure to find it. If you have enough positivity in the group, even those with less enthusiasm will feel the influence of the others and be inspired.

Paula: I happen to be a part of a team right now where everyone is passionately positive. Other times in my career I have been on teams that were not so positive. One person or two will bring the whole team down. In all ways possible, in all of your life, try to surround yourself with passionately positive people.

Michele: I just want to add that it doesn’t mean that we don’t want to hear differing opinions, or that we don’t care about people’s experiences, or that we don’t want to hear about the negative things so that we can fix them. It just means that those things we are listening to don’t deride everything else. It doesn’t turn into “poor, poor, pitiful me” or, “look at the terrible situation we are in and we can’t get out of it” kind of situation. You have to be able to hear the dissenting voice but keep the discussion around it positive.

Paula: Also, don’t surround yourself with just everyone who agrees with you. People can be positive and not agree with you.

B= Be clear about expectations. Establish ground rules for your discussion. It’s fine to start out the discussion by saying, “Let’s keep this positive. We’re all passionate about this topic AND we need to remember that we will get nothing accomplished if we turn this into a complaint session.” Being proactive and stating optimistic expectations upfront will be worth it. It is much more difficult to try and turn around a conversation once it has become hostile or depressing.

Paula: It’s like if you are in your class and one kid starts tapping his pencil very loudly. If you haven’t set the expectation that they shouldn’t disrupt others by doing things like tapping their pencil, to point it out then you are publicly singling out that student. The same is true in a conversation with your colleagues. If someone starts complaining and you haven’t set an expectation such as “let’s keep this positive”, and then you call them out publicly, things are going to to go down hill.

Michele: As you talk about that, I am thinking about how rare it is for leaders to start a meeting with setting expectations and setting some ground rules. When I think about some of the greatest leaders I have worked with, I realize that is exactly what they did. They set the task and how to go about it and they reminded people of some things like being civil. That’s a good way to focus.

Paula: You wouldn’t think you would have to do that, but it is really important because we are all so passionate about what we are doing. We are educators, this is our identity. If someone attacks our ideas or beliefs, it is really easy to react and not stop and think and then respond. But, if the expectation is don’t react, think, take a breath and then respond, that could change the whole conversation.

C= Concentrate on solutions. Recognize the problems and what led to them are there and they are real, but focus your passion and energy on the solutions. Too much dwelling on the problems can drain the group’s energy. Solutions, brainstormed by passionate advocates, are usually full of momentum, excitement, and promise. We love find and talking about good solutions.

Paula: I was teaching a pre-service teacher once who would go out and teach and come back after her lesson and she would say, ” Oh my gosh, Im freaking out, I’m freaking out…”

We taught her to shift her mindset to “don’t freak, solution seek”. She was able to come back into the classroom and say “ok, I’m solutions seeking.” It changed how her peers reacted to her. They didn’t know how to help her when she was “freaking out” but they could help with solutions. It became our class motto: “don’t freak, solution seek”.

Think of committees you might have served on at work or in your personal life, the ones that become complaint sessions. They are not likely to have time for seeking solutions. However, those that concentrate on solutions feel like a good use of your precious time. You don’t have a lot of time to sit around and complain. You need and want solutions.

Usually in the meetings where there is complaining, little gets done. When there is brainstorming filling those moments instead, a lot gets done.

We love this quote from motivational speaker Ralph Marston, which puts things into perspective. “Every moment spent in negativity is paid for with something truly priceless. That something is life.”

D= Don’t forget the food. If you want a positive discussion, bring food. There is a feeling of comradery when we share food around a table. Plus, it seems we are all a little more at ease with a chocolate or an appetizer or some snack in our hand.

Having a bagel or some treat at a breakfast meeting can set a positive tone. For example, we put candy on the tables at our workshops. People are always really happy because they don’t expect it and it is a special little treat. They always tell us how much they liked it.

All of these elements combined amount to an educational discussion that is passionate and positive.

This works best if you do all of these pieces. Since it is an equation, imagine that one of them is a 0. That one 0 drains from what could be a great sum.

We know it is a lot to remember all of the suggestions we gave here today. We suggest that you pause and quickly jot down the A, B, C and D so you don’t forget them. If you already forgot, no worries. We review them in the recap at the end of the episode so stick around for another minute.

Conclusion:

We end with this quote from Mahatma Gandhi “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”

We would argue that this same rule applies to conversations about education. Don’t let anyone walk through your education conversations with their dirty feet or sticky hands.

Choose passion and positivity and you can’t go wrong.

What additional components would you add to our algorithm to make educational discussions more passionately and positive? Please share with us, we love when people share ideas and follow up so please share with us. Are there specific educational topics that you avoid because they get negative or certain topics that you really turn into uplifting conversation? Tell us what they are so we can share! We also use your ideas for future podcast episodes.

We wish you many positive conversations in your near future.

Recap:

Following the A + B + C + D mnemonic will keep your discussions passionate and positive! Always talk to the right people. Be clear about expectations. Concentrate on solutions and don’t forget the food! If you do all of these, you won’t leave the space open for negative or unproductive educational discussions.

Quote:

“Every moment spent in negativity is paid for with something truly priceless. That something is life.”

Ralph Marston

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Inspired Together Teachers Blog: Don’t Freak Solution Seek

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Inspired Together Teachers Network Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Learning

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

If you are dedicated and caring but often overwhelmed and exhausted, join us at Inspired Together Teachers. We’ll give you inspiration, strategies and tips that help you navigate life’s challenges as a stronger, more confident, and more joy filled person, both in and out of the classroom.

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Co-hosts Paula Schmidt and Michele Vosberg are award winning educators with the experience and skills to help teachers thrive in life and work. They’ve taught at all levels, worked with thousands of teachers, and conducted workshops around the world. They are also the authors of the #1 best-selling book The Inspired Teachers Journal: A Weekly Guide to Becoming Your Best Self.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

The Best Teacher Resources You May be Missing! Ep. 66

May 29, 2024 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

The Best Teacher Resources You May Be Missing! S. 5 E. 66

Check out this episode to find the best teaching resources you might be missing!

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

We are always looking for ways to make our jobs easier and better. We want students to learn in the best way and we want to keep our sanity and protect our time in the process. As teachers, we are always on the hunt for resources. We look to websites, books, social media and other resources to help us. We buy templates and scour social media for ideas.

But what if we told you the best resource of all is already in your school building every day?

Stick around as we explore the best teacher resources you may be missing!

In this episode:

As always, this is a summary of the discussion. On the podcast we also share examples and stories. For the best experience, please listen to the episode.

Introduction:

We all need resources to do our jobs better and in a more timely fashion. Just look at Teachers Pay Teachers. We recently read that in the last year alone, two in three U.S. teachers downloaded a teaching resource from TPT. There are over 7 million resources there. That alone tells us how often teachers are looking for resources.

Today, we will explore some of the most common ways that teachers obtain resources. We will ultimately convince you that the very best teacher resources you have are those that are at your disposal daily…other teachers that you know and work with regularly.

Pros and common problems with teacher resources:

Teacher Resources: Books

Books are a common resource for teachers. We love books. They are often based on research. They are vetted. Someone put lots of thought into them. They are a great source for ideas. You can understand the big picture of what you are teaching and also, the how and why.

Books can be expensive, and those costs can add up quickly. It also takes time to find and read books.

Another downside with books is that they can become outdated quickly. New information is found or added. New versions of books can be costly, if you are even aware that there is a new version.

Teacher Resources: Websites

Websites are easy to access. Website information is often free or the materials are available at a low cost. In this category we include Teachers Pay Teachers, websites created by teachers and websites that are run by national organizations. For example, did you know NASA runs a website for kids called SpacePlace that is stocked with videos, images, craft ideas and activities that teachers could easily incorporate into their classrooms for free?

The Smithsonian and other major museums also have excellent sites for teachers.

A major issue with websites is that they are not always vetted. Someone can be creating materials that are actually wrong and no one is fact checking. You need to really know the source and make sure it is reliable and valid. This can take a lot of time as you can go down lots of rabbit holes in looking for a resource that you want.

Also, there is no guarantee that the materials are aligned with your curriculum standards. One teacher in Wisconsin was fired for using a TPT resource which was determined to be misaligned with curriculum standards.

There are good things available on websites, but be careful.

Teacher Resources: Social Media

There are many different social media sites by and for teachers, and many teachers around the world are posting information on these sites. There are certainly potentially good resources available through social media.

Again, using social media can be a time suck. Scrolling can be fun and engaging. Also, you don’t know if the ideas and information really work or if the teacher just says it does to get more likes and follows. Teachers can make a lot of money off of social media. They rarely share their fails so you have to wonder if everything they are sharing is actually a resource that they use and is effective or if it was just shared for the views or for potential affiliate sales.

Basically, proceed with caution on these resources. Teachers can share wonderful things, but you do need to be careful.

Teacher Resources: The Teachers You Know and Work With

We have said it before and we will definitely say it again, but teaching is a very isolated profession. We are often doing things in our classroom that the teacher across the hall is doing as well, but we just haven’t had time to compare notes, ideas, resources, and strategies.

Have you ever considered that the teacher next door might be your best resource?

Your colleagues will be honest.

Of course this also involves you being honest and a little bit vulnerable, going to them and expressing when you need help. When something is effective, they will tell you. If something doesn’t work they will probably share that with you as well.

One caution, just because it didn’t work for one person, doesn’t mean it might not work for you. You can learn from their mistakes, but you have different students and a different teaching style and things may work differently for you.

Your next door teachers are easily accessible and responsive.

You can walk across or down the hall to talk to them or pick up the phone and call them easily. This isn’t an option with website authors, books, or the people you are watching on social media. After using those other resources, you may be left with questions that are unanswered. When teachers are easily accessible to you, it can become a two sided conversation rather than a one way sharing of information.

The teachers around you want to see you succeed.

Most teachers want to see their colleagues succeed. If you haven’t found a teacher in your building or your life yet who wants to see you succeed, keep searching. Schools are stronger and happier when teachers work together.

You can easily swap materials with colleagues.

You don’t need to go and buy all the things if you can share with the teacher across the hall. Swap out bulletin board materials with your bestie who teaches at a different school in the district. Have a make and take lunch break with another teacher on your team and then you can swap the resources you’re making when you both need them. Making resources with another teacher is a whole lot more fun than doing it on your own.

You can brainstorm the best way to create and use materials and ideas with your teacher friends.

There is nothing better than a great brainstorming session where you get excited by building off each others’ ideas. Capitalize on that brainstorming energy and excitement.

Conclusion:

Schools are better when the teachers are better. Teachers working alone and having their own materials and ideas are missing out on the greatest resource which is each other. Working alone doesn’t make schools better. Most teachers are natural helpers and learners. Be each other’s best resources- you deserve that!

We end with this quote from author and educator Robert John Meehan, “The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other. Without collaboration our growth is limited to our own perspectives.”

Recap:

We are always looking for resources to be better teachers and to save us time. We look to websites, books, social media and other resources to help us. But ultimately, we have the best resources right at our fingertips. That teacher next door, the teacher down the hall or your bestie who is a teacher – these people are actually the best resource of all! When we maximize our teacher resources, we also maximize our time, energy and happiness.

Quote:

Robert John Meehan “The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other. Without collaboration our growth is limited to our own perspectives.”

Robert John Meehan

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Facebook Teacher Warriors Group: Teacher Warriors Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Teachers

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

Build Your Star System of Support E. 20

July 12, 2023 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Build Your Star System of Support S.2 Ep.20

Listen to this episode to learn why you need a star system of support and how teachers are better when they work together.

Show Notes:

Good bye dream team- hello star system! In this episode we’re going to describe why the superstar teacher is a myth. You can be a superstar, you just can’t be one alone. Teaching today is tough and we need more than a dream team. What we need is an entire constellation because together, we can all shine more brightly.

You’ve probably heard of or used the phrase “dream team” or better yet, you actually work with a dream team! We all need a system of support in our lives. Today, we are going to expand our idea of support. But first, let’s talk about the superstar teacher. Maybe you are one, or you know one, or you wish you were one.

The solo, inspirational, hero, teacher is a myth.

American Society teaches us that it is our individual efforts that help us to thrive. We love a good hero story. We revere story of the struggling person who pulls him or herself up by their bootstraps and achieves great things. We covet being the best- the top of the class, the fastest on the team, and honor the individual pursuit of excellence.

In school, we are judged and graded on our individual work. Yet in life, our success is often interconnected with that of others.

We’ve seen the myth of the individual hero in teaching. Our favorite teacher movies honor the solo teacher who works hard and through their personal efforts, often a great sacrifice to their personal life, changes a student, a class, or an entire school. The stories are inspiring, but often, not realistic.

These teacher movies focus on the lone teacher and things they do to inspire their students and bring about change.

What you don’t see is all the other people behind the scenes, sharing the load and helping that teacher. Let’s face it, it might not make for a good movie, but it is the way things work in the real world.

There are huge benefits in working together.

In his book Big Potential: How Transforming the Pursuit of Success Raises our Achievement, Happiness and Well-being Shawn Achor busts the myth that we achieve our best through our solo work as we work hard and strive for success.

Achor’s research suggests that we need to stop trying to do everything alone.

Here are some key findings:

Working together allows us to find more energy, share resources, and lessen our stress. Those are three HUGE problems teachers today face.
We are also smarter together. We are stronger and more creative. We are also more resilient.
Strong teamwork is even connected to measurable better health.
When we work together, we not only raise the performance of the group, but we also increase our own potential.

Strong teamwork leads to better success and more personal happiness.

Teachers need the benefits of working together.

Teachers today are desperate to reduce stress and increase resilience. Resilience grows when you have a strong support system of people who believe in you. Another reason is that teachers need more time and energy and a better balance in home and work lives. We can accomplish more if we work together and share the work.

Being surrounded by people who will lift you up is a game changer. The more people we have to share stress and offer solutions, the lighter our personal load will be.

“The more you help people find their light, “Achor says, “ the brighter you both will shine” (p.18).

Achor also says, “We all have the power to make others better. And when we commit to using that power, there is no limit to what we can accomplish” (p. 54).

You may have heard or used the phrase “dream team.” Achor calls this system of support a “star system.”

Achor’s research consistently shows one strong conclusion:

“You can be a superstar; you just can’t be one alone. What you need is a star system, a constellation of positive, authentic influencers who support each other, reinforce each other, and make each other better.” (p.68).

In work and life, Achor shares, the way to win is to create a star system, a group of people whose members “assist each other, carry each other on their shoulders, and make each other better” (p.68).

How can you build a star system of support?

Recognize the talents and gifts of yourself and your colleagues.

We each have talents and gifts. It is easy to take our own talents for granted. We think, if I can do something easily, everyone must be able to do it easily. In reality, others struggle with things that come naturally to you. Likewise, others do naturally what you struggle to do.

Recognize what it is that you do well. Do you relate well to students? Do you have a great sense of humor and use it effectively in your classroom? Are you very organized? Do you connect well with parents? Do you use technology successfully?

How can you help a colleague by using your strengths? Look for appropriate times to share your special knowledge or skill with others.

Do you know the strengths and gifts of others at your school?

Respect the various strengths that each person brings to the group. If someone likes to keep the conversation focused, assign them the role of group facilitator. If another person has a strength with organization, allow them to prepare the materials for the meeting and handle follow-up contacts.

Take time to learn the strengths each person brings to your school. Then, embrace and build upon those strengths.

You can also create a star system by finding shared dreams and vision.

It is easy to see the ways we are all different. If we focus only on our differences, it is difficult to build community.

Look beyond the differences with your colleagues. There are human attributes you share. Perhaps you are all working to help a particular student achieve. Perhaps you share the vision of how to transform your school. Perhaps you are united in the face of a district challenge.

When we look past our differences and into our shared dreams and vision, we can use that synergy to help us create better classrooms and schools.

Imagine what the world would be like if we saw everyone, no matter their age, gender, ethnicity, ability, religion or political beliefs, as a co-creator of a shared dream. The world would be a better place.

Brene Brown says, “It’s hard to hate people close up.”

Finally, you can create a star system by being intentional about and not feeling guilty about sharing the work.

Just like you can’t look at one person and say “that’s a dream team”, you can’t look up in the sky and see one star that makes up an entire constellation. It is a group effort. Even if one person has to shine a little brighter at one time or another, each person is still a part of something bigger, it has to be a group effort.

Recently a team member on the women’s Belgian track team was injured. The team risked getting disqualified from an important meet. A shot putter agreed to take one for the team and ran the hurdles. She was not a hurdler, and actually stepped over the hurdles rather than jumping over them. Her efforts, even though she came in last, kept the team from being disqualified and actually gave them two points towards the final score.

When we share our talents, find a shared dream or vision, and share in building greatness in our school, we are using our community to help us thrive.

How can you create your own personal star system of support?

We all need different types of support. find people who can support you in the following ways:

Someone who cheers you on

Someone who you can confide in

Someone who can mentor you

Someone who motivates you

Someone who stretches you

Someone who brings fun

Someone who believes in your dreams

Someone who loves you unconditionally

Know that in true reciprocity, you are also likely performing these same roles for others in your life.

Your system of support is important, now more than ever.

We end this podcast with a comment sent to us by a teacher. We included it in our book, The Inspired Teacher’s Journal: A Weekly Guide to Becoming Your Best Self. Our book is full of quotes and advice from teachers. Here’s a shout out to Dani Way-Lawler, a high school special education teachers for her quote:

“Find your Teacher People and love them hard. Teaching is hard and wonderful all at the same time. No one can do it alone. Find those people who will cry with you, let you vent, laugh with you, help turn crazy ideas into reality, support you, build you up and celebrate victories with you. Hold them tight. They are the ones who will tell you that you can do it, even when you don’t think you can.”

You can be a superstar, you just can’t be one alone. Find your people and together you can create a star system of support.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Big Potential: How Transforming the Pursuit of Success Raises Our Achievement, Happiness, and Well Being by Shawn Achor

13 Inspiring Teacher Movies

Quote:

Shawn Achor

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Facebook Teacher Warriors Group: Teacher Warriors Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Teachers

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

Inspired Books: Big Potential

July 27, 2022 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Inspired Books:

The Best Personal Development Books for Teachers

This post starts a new series on our blog called “Inspired Books.” In this new series, we will share books that inspired us in some way. These are books that helped us live better, to be less overwhelmed, more productive, and happier. They are also books that helped us to grow in skill, whether personally or professionally.

We also love children’s and young adult books, and we will also include posts of some of our favorites in those categories. Lastly, we both belong to book clubs and are avid readers of fiction. We’ll share our favorites of the year with you as well because sometimes you just have to read for enjoyment!

You can find all of our book discussions by searching “inspired Books” in the search bar.

Inspired Books: Big Potential

One of the best personal development books for teachers we have read is Big Potential: How Transforming the Pursuit of Success Raises our Achievement, Happiness, and Well-Being by Shawn Achor.

Teachers may already know of former Harvard researcher Shawn Achor from his books on Happiness including The Happiness Advantage and The Orange Frog, both of which have been widely used in schools, and from his TED Talk which has been viewed over 15 million times.

The solo inspirational teacher is a myth

In Big Potential, Achor busts the myth that we achieve our best through our solo work as we work hard and strive for success. Society teaches us that it is our individual efforts that help us to thrive. We covet being the best- the top of the class, the fastest on the team, and honor the individual pursuit of excellence. We are judged and graded on our individual work. Yet in life, our success is often interconnected with that of others.

There are huge benefits in working together

Achor’s research suggests that we need to stop trying to do everything alone. Working together allows us to find more energy, share resources, and lessen our stress. We are smarter together. We are stronger and more creative. We are also more resilient. Strong teamwork is even connected to measurable better health.

When we work together, we not only raise the performance of the group, but we also increase our own potential.

“The more you help people find their light, “Achor says, “ the brighter you both will shine” (p.18).

Strong teamwork leads to better success and more personal happiness.

Teachers need the benefits of working together

Teachers today are desperate to reduce stress and increase resilience. Resilience grows when you have a strong support system. Teachers want more time and energy, and a better balance in home and work lives. Being surrounded by people who will lift you up is a game changer. The more people we have to share stress and offer solutions, the lighter our load will be.

“We all have the power to make others better. And when we commit to using that power, there is no limit to what we can accomplish” (p. 54).

You may have heard or used the phrase “dream team.” Achor calls this system of support a “star system.”

Achor’s research consistently shows one strong conclusion

“You can be a superstar; you just can’t be one alone. What you need is a star system, a constellation of positive, authentic influencers who support each other, reinforce each other, and make each other better.”

This is a message that speaks strongly to us. At Inspired Together Teachers, our goal is to build a community of teachers who can come together to grow and learn, to support each other, and work together for the benefit of everyone. As the tag line in the heading of blog says, “We’re better together.”

In our list of best personal development books for teachers, Big Potential ranks in the top. It is definitely worth a read.

Our best,

Achor, S. (2018). Big potential: How transforming the pursuit of success raises our achievement, happiness and well-being. New York: Currency.

How to Strengthen Your Inner Teacher Warrior

May 3, 2019 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

What is a teacher warrior? Are you one?

The phrase “teacher warrior” came to us through a teacher with many years of experience. She recognized that there is a need for good information for beginning and early career teachers, who have been the main focus on the Thriving Young Teachers Blog. But she also expressed a desire and a need in the world for support for the experienced teacher who is in the trenches day after day, year after year, fighting the good fights, doing the difficult work and balancing the challenges of school and home for the long term.

“We’re teacher warriors,” she said, and thus named the experience. We’ve been talking about “teacher warriors” ever since. We even created a workshop just for teacher warriors!

There will always be a need for information and support for early career teachers. We love this community and an important part of our mission is to help beginning teachers to succeed and to thrive in their new role. We want them to fall in love with teaching as much as we did.

Being long-term teachers ourselves, we also understand the need to focus on the personal needs and challenges of experienced teachers who, because of rising demands and lack of support, risk burn-out. Teacher warriors face challenges from administrators, parents, and students themselves. They also face on-going criticism from the general public who often sees their job as glorified babysitting, an easy job with summers off.

We certainly can’t solve the problems of the teaching world with a post. But we can bring attention to some of the needs teachers have and highlight a few things teachers can do to strengthen themselves. Every professional needs ongoing development, support and an environment where they can thrive. We can’t always control things, but we can learn to control what we can and minimize the negative effects of the things we can’t control.

It is a tall order. We get it. That said, here a few things that teacher can do to strengthen their inner teacher warrior:

Build a support network.

Teachers know the value of their support network. That’s why many teachers are very close with their teams and colleagues. Some teachers have supportive administrators, others don’t.

Every faculty has naysayers and negative people, and many times these people are the most vocal. Teachers should try to avoid the negativity, whether that means avoiding the teacher’s workroom or reducing your contact to a very negative person.

Find your teaching soulmates. They are there somewhere in your building. They might be the ones with their door shut while they quietly do their own thing. They might teach a different subject or grade. Your teaching soulmate might even teach in another building or district. We have formed a bond though we live in different states.

Wherever you find them, schedule time with your teaching supporters. Maybe it is drinks after work, regularly texting each other or a long conversation on the weekend. We often attend a conference together, giving us a day or two away from our busy lives. Teachers are busy, you will have to make time and attention to your support network a priority. That weekly early Friday AM coffee together might give you the strength you need to get through the week.

Don’t forget supporters at home.

The non-teaching people in our lives can be our supporters too. Sometimes you might need to ask for support, other times just recognize support when it happens. For example, when your three- year -old asks for a story, lean into the experience. Use the time as a place to breathe deeply and relax, spending quality time with your child, rather than as one more demand placed upon you.

Sometimes it is okay to have cereal for dinner. If you’ve had a rough day, give yourself a break. Order the pizza. Yes, it is not organic, home -cooked goodness. You can have that tomorrow. What would make your home life more supportive of you? How could you get it?

Create an Environment Where You Can Thrive

Some people are very sensitive to sounds and smells. Some people love a lot of things; craft materials and books everywhere feel homey and comfortable for them. Others feel most comfortable in a minimalist space. Some people need more light than others. Many teachers loved to be highly organized with lots of matching containers. Others just shove things on the shelves and forget them.

Teachers usually don’t get to choose their rooms, but they can design those spaces. When planning how your students will experience the space, don’t forget to consider what makes you most comfortable in a space. You don’t need a Pinterest worthy space, but you do need a space where you can feel comfortable.

Creating a physical space where you can thrive doesn’t have to take a lot of time and money. We have outfitted spaces with lamps and tables from thrift stores. We’ve covered windows and bulletin boards in fabric remnants. We’ve begged, borrowed and repurposed furniture from the school basement repository. Whatever you choose, don’t spend your days in a space you dislike.

Learn to speak up.

This is a hard one for many teachers, who tend to want to please others and get along with everyone. Speaking up sometimes means going against the grain. It might mean conflict. Many teachers don’t want to be seen as “difficult” or are afraid of being judged by others if they speak up about something that might not be a popular viewpoint. Even worse is when a group of teachers share a viewpoint and still no one speaks up against something they believe is wrong.

Experienced teachers are the ones who can often credibly express their ideas. Experience gives you knowledge and wisdom. You have something to say that the world needs to hear. If the ones who know the answers don’t speak up, decisions are often left to the ones who don’t know how to do it but are willing to make a decision anyway.

Do your homework. Gather the facts. Speak respectfully in the appropriate time and place, but if it is an important issue, speak up. Finding your voice is empowering. You’ll feel stronger for it.

Take charge of your own personal and professional development.

No one will care about your career development as much as you will. Once upon a time, districts gave hefty allowances for teacher to attend trainings based on their needs as a teacher. We even got professional magazine subscriptions and allowances for books for our own professional development.

In most districts, those things are long gone. Training has often evolved into a one-size-fits all day of in-service. Trainings tend to evolve around district priorities and often highlight how to use the newly purchased curriculum. These trainings may be necessary and helpful, but they don’t focus on your specific needs.

If you want to grow, you will likely have to take some initiative. Choose that new book on strategies to read over the summer. Watch Ted Talks about mindset or motivation. Choose trainings, college courses or degrees built around your needs as a teacher. You’ll be sacrificing your personal time and maybe money, but in exchange, you will be strengthening your skills.

As life-long learners, we believe that staying engaged in professional development is a key element to our success. It invigorates us, gives us new ideas and allows us to spend time in the company of other like-minded educators. In the long run, it is worth it, and strengthens us both personally and professionally.

What do you do to strengthen your inner teacher warrior? We would love to know. Drop us a comment in the comments section, send us an email or comment on Facebook.

Our best,

We are hosting a live workshop for teachers! If you are within a few hours of Madison, Wisconsin, we would love to have you join us for our Find Your Inner Teacher Warrior Workshop. Get more information and register here. We have designed a fabulous event with great speakers and we hope to see you!

From Conflict to Collaboration: The A+B+C+D Formula for Positive Discussions

Season 6 Episode 80

Check out this episode to learn four steps you can take to make sure you have positive discussions around topics that might be full of conflict!

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

Introduction:

Examples of Negative and Positive Discussions

A + B + C + D= Passionately Positive Discussions

Conclusion:

Recap:

Quote:

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Share this:

The Best Teacher Resources You May Be Missing! S. 5 E. 66

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:

Have you ever considered that the teacher next door might be your best resource?

Your colleagues will be honest.

Your next door teachers are easily accessible and responsive.

The teachers around you want to see you succeed.

You can easily swap materials with colleagues.

Conclusion:

Recap:

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Share this:

Build Your Star System of Support S.2 Ep.20

Listen to this episode to learn why you need a star system of support and how teachers are better when they work together.

Show Notes:

The solo, inspirational, hero, teacher is a myth.

There are huge benefits in working together.

Here are some key findings:

Teachers need the benefits of working together.

How can you build a star system of support?

Recognize the talents and gifts of yourself and your colleagues.

Do you know the strengths and gifts of others at your school?

You can also create a star system by finding shared dreams and vision.

Finally, you can create a star system by being intentional about and not feeling guilty about sharing the work.

How can you create your own personal star system of support?

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quote:

Share this:

Inspired Books:

The Best Personal Development Books for Teachers

Inspired Books: Big Potential

The solo inspirational teacher is a myth

There are huge benefits in working together

Teachers need the benefits of working together

Achor’s research consistently shows one strong conclusion

“You can be a superstar; you just can’t be one alone. What you need is a star system, a constellation of positive, authentic influencers who support each other, reinforce each other, and make each other better.”

Share this:

It is a tall order. We get it. That said, here a few things that teacher can do to strengthen their inner teacher warrior:

Build a support network.

Don’t forget supporters at home.

Create an Environment Where You Can Thrive

Learn to speak up.

Take charge of your own personal and professional development.

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