Why hello #saskedchat. This will be my first one on #twitter280. Oh all the answers I no longer have to shorten! Feels like I'm typing to take up space. Hey I'm Patrick, I teach most days. Quite excited for the conversation tonight. Wow, this seems to never end! #Somanycharacters
A1. The ones where the other party really doesn't want to have the conversation, and chooses to act out instead of dealing with the situation at hand. #saskedchat
A1. Those which I have had no warning or prep time for! Always difficult.. it would never cause me to close my door but unexpected visits and conversations are hardest. . #saskedchat
A1: Ones that challenge parents. Sometimes their perceptions don't match school reality, and sometimes they need to realize that their choices aren't doing the best for their children. #saskedchat
I used to find myself at fault for that, I have to follow a new rule now. Always assume the best of any interaction, you find you're happier and less bitter. #saskedchat
They are, I've had to remind myself that, on those conversations specifically, it is alright to take my time and respond slowly. Not everything is solved with speed. Still hard though, always second questioning. #saskedchat
Acknowledging the systemic weaknesses of our industrial educational system with its limited resources and high demands is a struggle when parents legitimately challenge us about their child's needs. #saskedchat
A1. We all know that when a family is involved in their child's education, there can be positive benefits. But as a novice teacher, having a conversation with a parent about their child can be tough! #parentalengagement#saskedchat
A2. Not sure if these are strategies, but always trying to understand the root of someone's perspective. Also, using non-violent communication strategies. #saskedchat
A2: I find it best to be direct, yet it is essential to be kind. Always maintain the other person's dignity. Make expectations clear, but never be a bully. #saskedchat
Q2. Assume the best of any conversation and intention. Remember that everyone at the table is bringing something and themselves with all the crap and baggage that has gathered around them. What's said is not always about you, or even the situation at hand. #saskedchat
Q2: Building relationships with coworkers, parents, community members from the start so that those convos will be easier to bring up. Communication is key! #saskedchat
A2: I like to rehearse what I will say a few times in my head prior to having the conversation (if possible). Ensuring to listen as well as talk is a good rule too. #saskedchat
Q2. Assume the best of any conversation and intention. Remember that everyone at the table is bringing something and themselves with all the crap and baggage that has gathered around them. What's said is not always about you, or even the situation at hand. #saskedchat
Truth. At the least, try not to assume what their intention is, or assume that their intention is negative. Well, at least until proven otherwise. #saskedchat
A2: Listen. Nod. Think. Listen. Think. Listen. Then respond as respectfully and as tactfully as possible, without being untrue to yourself or others. #saskedchat
It works, but lately I've found that it has become so common place that some people feel as if they are being talked down to, or considered "too fragile" to be talked to. #saskedchat
Absolutely true. And also, the world is changing rapidly, and the school experience that most of us (including parents) had is quite different from the ones that students have now. #saskedchat
Try not to zone out and think about that video game that is waiting for you at home... listen... think about video game... feel guilt... listen... think about video game... feel happier... think about problem in positive light... actively respond. #saskedchat
A2. Write it down... question format... give it the 24 hr. rule... re-visit your questions and then give the person your questions on paper. No pressure. Hope for a response. Repeat as necessary until you obtain a response. Have compassion! Have empathy! #saskedchat
I have found that often our fears of what we think might happen are greater than what actually happens. Sometimes we make a mountain out of a mole hill. #saskedchat
It's funny. I feel as if every #saskedchat participant has some real scenario in mind when they are answering these questions tonight. It almost feels like this a common place occurrence in teaching ;-).
One of the greatest parts of having a difficult conversation is NOT to listen with the intent to reply but with your full attention on what the other person is saying! #saskedchat
The mountains often created by our shyness about being honest. Conversations don’t always go well, our meaning is not always clear. We just need to acknowledge that. #saskedchat
A3. It leads to avoidance of the situation/issue which makes things worse, which can further create more issues to deal with down the line. All of a sudden BAM! What began as an acorn is not a full tree with many branches to follow before you get to the root problem. #saskedchat
Perhaps the fear never goes away, we may just have to live without fear. On the other hand practice makes perfect so keep confronting your fears and having the conversations it should get easier. #saskedchat
Compassion and Empathy are so crucial to what we do as educators! A good friend always reminded me that this was a work of the heart! (@KatieWhite426!) #saskedchat
A2. Write it down... question format... give it the 24 hr. rule... re-visit your questions and then give the person your questions on paper. No pressure. Hope for a response. Repeat as necessary until you obtain a response. Have compassion! Have empathy! #saskedchat
A4. Have good support with at least one colleague or people outside of the school. Able to speak generically enough that they can give feedback generally leads to being more confident and able to deal with various conversations. #saskedchat
A3. Fear is often about confrontation. Knowing that we are just human beings trying guide our young people helps me to realize that being honest and forthright will only serve our Ss and ourselves.Compassion and empathy trump fear as the other person feels the same! #saskedchat
A3: Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death... And for teachers, we are afraid of so much. Doing too little. Pushing too hard. Offending people. Being unprofessional. Being seen an easy mark. Or inflexible. & there r so many errors 2 fear we can b paralyzed. #saskedchat
A4: Remember the reason the conversation is needed: presumably to benefit kids. Think of a way to make the conversation more comfortable or to end it on a positive note. #saskedchat
A4: We have to keep putting ourselves in those uncomfortable situations and learn through that discomfort. It will get easier! That usually works for me anyways! :P #saskedchat
Full disclosure, I’m using voice recognition on my iPad and the words don’t always come out right. I’m Nother hand it’s makes it so much easier to fill up all of my 280 characters. 😂😂😏😜 #saskedchat
A3). In 'Critical Pedagogy,' Kicheloe argues that education is inherently political. Many teachers often deal with issues of equity & social justice, and if we as teachers do so under a veil of fear, then we can have not difficult conversations effectively #saskedchat
A4. Speaking of fear, it's been on my mind doing hard things lately. First blog post in a while is about the fear of sharing resources online. https://t.co/pjzgHaEfY4#saskedchat
A4: Always put students first, apply your best effort and have pure intentions. There will be challenges, but pure intentions usually win the day! #saskedchat
I find it's like long drives. If I drive 4 hours each day, it feels like nothing after a month. But, if I take a month off from those drives, the first 4 hour drive later is a royal pain. Sometimes it's hard to get back into the rhythm again. #saskedchat
Certainly. Compassion and empathy are essential pieces in teaching-learning process. Teaching is a profession that benefits from, nay depends on, both the head and the heart #saskedchat
Henry Giroux argues the same thing - that teachers are often silenced by institutional fear from moving into areas of social justice and equity and not having those difficult conversation. #saskedchat
But sometimes we have to be careful about gathering allies, we don't ever want to appear to be ganging up on one specific person/parent/child. #saskedchat
A4. Have conversations often. Not just the difficult ones ...remember our code of ethics!!. It was designed to bring us together as teachers in SK.. never to divide us. Don't avoid ... it will eat you alive. #saskedchat
I'm trying to remember that a lot of classes I don't get to teach seven or eight times. Sometimes those that have the amazing classes have had years to perfect, I can't compare to that. #saskedchat
A4. Realize the urgency. Understand it is our responsibility to create the space to have difficult conversations in our classrooms, communities, and homes. Teach our students to care as much about their neighbours as they do members of their own family. #saskedchat
I find this ironic because often my reluctance was engaging students in charter conversations sanctioned by our curriculum. Think of the recent criticism in the legislature put forth by our minister of education. #saskedchat
A5: #saskedchat , of course. And hopefully from administrators and colleagues. I try to think of others, who faced worse situations more bravely than I, and then try to emulate, in a small way.
A5. I find that any teacher removed from the scenario can be a good sounding board as long as the goal is to seek a solution or understanding. Anyone who will listen and give impartial feedback is good, just as long as you can be ethical while talking about it. #saskedchat
This is why it's important for Ts to support one another - in some instances having crucial conversations is very difficult and can be incredibly stressful #saskedchat
They can, everything is dealt with better when it is one on one I find. Sometimes you do need the support, but sometimes you just need understanding. #saskedchat
A4). To overcome fear of having difficult conversations, educators need to focus on the future/ bigger picture, control emotions, be seen to be respectful & stick to the facts #saskedchat
Hey, so I have an issue with @kellywchris, he changed his twitter handle and it's messing with me. How can I convince him to change it back? #saskedchat
A5. Remember the fine line between advice/sounding board and gossip from colleagues and admin. Going to admin first is always an alarm for me... broken record but Ethics.. Ethics.. . Ethics. #saskedchat
A6. Be patient, be impartial, and listen. Sometimes we don't share exactly what the issue is because we don't know that's the problem. Give ethical advice and try to avoid it from becoming a pure-vent fest. #saskedchat
So you're saying that I shouldn't have this conversation because he is being professional. Okay, I GUESS I can avoid having that conversation. #saskedchat
A5) Some conversations, such as those involving racism, sexual orientation, politics, etc, may potentially strain working relationships, or the teacher may feel uncomfortable to handle. But there are PD & other resources such as @UMich_CRLT's https://t.co/poZwpP3R9y#saskedchat
A6: Be a safe space. Let them vent. Don't judge by the first thing said; sometimes it takes a while to dig deep. Don't judge at all, actually. Don't give advice unless it's requested. #saskedchat (Okay, those 140 plus letter might be useful after all.)
A6: As a bunch have already mentioned, actively listening can be a big help on its own. There doesn't have to be an immediate answer or solution. #saskedchat
A7. Head-on, with respect, directed solely at a resolution with compassion and empathy. Ask questions and be present. Never avoid. It's about students and we must be healthy and present for them... #saskedchat
A7: Active listening. Our school elder teaches us that there is a reason we have two ears and one mouth. We need to listen twice as much as we speak. #saskedchat
A7: Breathe and remember that it doesn't DEFINE you. Humans always have differences. It's how we handle them that separates winners and los...uh ...in the interest of being politically correct let's say courageously challenged? Lol #saskedchat
#saskedchat is looking for guest moderators for December. Sign up to moderate a topic of your choosing - we'll help with the details! https://t.co/I2rxjlpnhY
A7. Be empathetic and willing to listen first. Let them get what they need to say out first, them respond in a sensitive, caring, truthful, and ethical manner. #saskedchat
A8. Teach them a few skills, we tend to think they know how to deal with this, but most of them don't. Even if it's just a few small tips. There is a reason bullying is a bigger problem than it used to be. #saskedchat
Too often we can't see the Big Picture because our focus is so detail-oriented that we forget that being different and being willing to have difficult conversations is a good thing. #saskedchat
A8: Model how it might look. Discuss conflict resolution and clear communication strategies. Give them opportunities to role play and practice in a low risk situation so they can more easily do it in real life. Lots of connections to Health curricula! #saskedchat
Thanks @stangea. That is a fantastic 'Made in #Sask' example. The irony is the double-edged nature of the controversy around educ minister's speech. On the one hand, fear can lead to teacher silence. On the other hand, act by a brave student led to minister's apology #saskedchat
A8. Funny you should ask as my Ss are dealing with a lack of skills to resolve conflict... help on this one!!! Grade 5 has a wide and varied sense of fairness at times. #saskedchat
A8: By teaching them various strategies on how to solve conflicts with each other. A lot of conflict resolution opportunities come up in the classroom and with play inside and outside at recess (if you teach elementary) #saskedchat
A8: With younger students, as LRT, I spend a fair bit of time walking through problems solving conversations with students. Using real conflict scenarios for learning. #saskedchat
Helping students develop the skills to have difficult/crucial conversations is important - helping them find their voice and share it appropriately is so important. #saskedchat
A8: Model how it might look. Discuss conflict resolution and clear communication strategies. Give them opportunities to role play and practice in a low risk situation so they can more easily do it in real life. Lots of connections to Health curricula! #saskedchat
The more the better. I'm absolutely convinced it is something we need to go out of our way to teach. Try to avoid the cliche "Hot or Cold" conversations, focus on empathy and understanding. #saskedchat
