Run by Iowa educators, #IAedchat is on Twitter the first, second, and third Sundays each month at 8:00pm CST. We have added #IAedchat LIVE to the fourth Sunday of the month at 8:00pm CST. This will take place in Google Hangout on Air. We will share the invitation and link to #IAedchat LIVE each month.
Happy Sunday evening to you & welcome to #IAedChat! I’m excited about the discussion tonight on #IAedChat about “Culture builders and culture breakers!”
Q1: First impressions are formed in the first 30 seconds. What do the first 30 seconds tell people about your school’s culture when they arrive at your school? #iaedchat
Q1: First impressions are formed in the first 30 seconds. What do the first 30 seconds tell people about your school’s culture when they arrive at your school? #iaedchat
A1: kind, helpful and knowledgeable. We work hard to convey that our campus is a happy and caring place focused on education and student wellbeing #iaedchat
A1 We are proud of our students (student work proudly displayed), we love our school (school colors everywhere), and we are here to make connections (always someone greeting you)! Come see for yourself at #keyrocks#iaedchat
Q1: First impressions are formed in the first 30 seconds. What do the first 30 seconds tell people about your school’s culture when they arrive at your school? #iaedchat
A1. The entry of our school is beautiful. This tells people we care about the school. Our entrance is also devoid of anything created by kids. We need to change this to show our visitors "our focus is on the kids" #iaedchat
A1: See: One of the first things that people see is our mission statement above the office doors. We say it big! loud and proud! We also have our flags and world map showing where our kids are from- we are so proud of our diversity. #iaedchat@KLAMagnet
A1:When I walk into buildings, I feel most welcomed when I am greeted and provided with instruction on what the school expectations for visitors are. I also think about what doors are open and what is visible in the hallways. #iaedchat
I truly hope that new hires this year had the best first impression with #newhireorientation. #haea really does go above and beyond to make sure it's a positive experience while understanding how overwhelming it can be. #iaedchat
A1: They would see this popular bulletin board as they walk in to our school. They would also see pictures of our students and inspiring messages on the walls. They would see smiling kids, smiling adults, and would hear the buzz of learning. #iaedchat
A1: I look for welcoming, authentic smiles from everyone (office staff, teachers & support staff, students, bus drivers, food service, custodial staff) and that tells me all of the above are cared for, in it together, and want to be there. #IAedChat
A1: Hear & Feel: People will be greeted by our staff and more than likely by students. They will feel connection, purpose and pride in our learning community. @KLAMagnet#iaedchat
A1 - Right now, our school wouldn't portray elementary school in the first 30 seconds. We're working on adding color and "elementary" elements like the bathrooms I worked on this summer! #IAedChat
A1: When people I arrive at our school, it is our practice to acknowledge or greet them and assist with where they need to be. We call people by first name whenever it is humanly possible. Sends the message that each person that enters our doors matters. #IAedChat
A1 That we care about students, will support them in their learning, and desire to partner with our stakeholders to create the best possible learning environment for our Ss #iaedchat
Q1: First impressions are formed in the first 30 seconds. What do the first 30 seconds tell people about your school’s culture when they arrive at your school? #iaedchat
A1. It's tell's people how welcoming your school is when they walk through those doors! Are they greeted by someone at the front desk who is welcoming and smiling? Attentive to their needs? Or do you just stand and wait while they have personal discussions! #iaedchat
1. It has been awesome to be in all the buildings in my district and see all the great people showing that we are here for kids by welcoming them with big smiles, high fives, inspirational displays, and positive messages all around the buildings. #iaedchat
Do you need a policy or SOP for this expectation? Do you need to talk about this in a faculty meeting? Or does modeling the practice lead people in the right direction? #iaedchat
A2: I think the biggest factor that leads to a breakdown of culture is a lack of communication, and once this happens it leads to a lack of trust. #iaedchat
A2: There are many things, but in my experience, the big ones are a lack of voice or questioning of autonomy. Too much to do and not enough resources to accomplish tasks. Poor communication and lack of follow through. Lack of recognition. #IAedChat
A2: Lack of the following: energy, common mission, belief in all kids, communication, colleagiality. Most notable...when we stop laughing together, being together, and dreaming together. #iaedchat
A2: I believe lack of communication and trust are the biggest barriers. When people are unsure, they may fill in the gaps and believe that- true or not. Then trust- we would have a major culture boosts across the board if we all focused on presuming positive intent! #iaedchat
Great question, Nick. I model this each day and people simply started following suit. I also talk about this often when our staff members are all together. Acknowledge and direct. #IAedChat
A2 - As soon as we forget who we are and what we stand for, we allow the negatives to enter and suck the energy right out. STAY FOCUSED, it's not just a honeymoon, it can go all year! #iaedchat
A2 when we lose our "why"-so many obstacles built within our day (time/emotional stress/lack of control/professional demands) but if we band together to be intentionally choosing this great profession, for the great students and families we serve, our why stays evident #iaedchat
A2.2 The leader must bring the energy and positive attitude all day/every day. #iaedchat
Build trust, build excitement, Communicate the vision and you build the culture.
A2: A breakdown in culture can happen when individual teachers or pockets of teachers work in their own bubble. When collaboration between all fails, the culture will also decline. #iaedchat
A2. How teacher's are relating and open to parents and engagemeent, everyone in your school is responsible for culture from janitors to volunteers! Attitude, positivity, growth mindset, Ss leadership through voice and choice, T leading, etc. #iaedchat
Through discussions with 100s of school administrators. I have found those without a "clear vision" usually have a crystal clear vision in their minds...the vision is communicated poorly or not at all. #iaedchat
Unfortunately, sometimes a person has no choice but to do their own thing when no one is piloting the ship. Sometimes it is sink or swim-even when you don't want to. #iaedchat
A3 when it gets tough, you enter a kindergarten room...is there anything more positive in the world than 5 year olds? Seriously though, seeing kids excited about the opportunities and experiences around them has to give you your why back! #iaedchat
a3. It is what you choose to see as much as it is your actions. I'm not saying you ignore negative things, but you don't dwell on them. Focus on and celebrate the positives.
#iaedchat#theDogThatYouFeed
A3- Through an amazing TLS team! Although I am the leader of the building, it takes everyone working together, holding each other accountable to achieve the mission. #iaedchat
A3 we have to model that positivity ourselves and make it a priority. Create opportunities for the staff to have fun during PD or outside of school, celebrate a day by doing something special just because #iaedchat
A3: As @Mrs_KFisher said, always start with your 'Why' and keep the focus on the goal of the building. If we can steer the conversation in the right direction, we can all be on the ship together, even when things get tough. #iaedchat
A1 In @danpbutler building @EpworthElem you cannot get in the door without a smile when meeting Kellie. I’ll guarantee anyone who has tried has failed. #iaedchat
A goal of mine for the past two school years has been to be positive 100% of the time. This often left me feeling alone....but I really believe in being the positive. It has spread...more teachers have noticed and are on board with me!! #iaedchat
A3. "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming" Remain positive. Stay true to the vision. Keep the focus on the kids, Celebrate whenever and wherever possible.
#iaedchat
A3: Send gentle (or forceful) reminders that a positive culture is a breeding ground for success for students. That’s why we’re here. Set everything else aside. Find a tribe that believes this is the way to a positive culture. #IAedChat
A3: Try to lead by example and maintain a positive attitude. Best to be optimistic and assume good. Avoid negative conversation and gossip. Keep working. #iaedchat
A3: You make the positive so loud that you can't hear the negative. @gcouros
and remember that change starts from within. We can control our response. Our reaction is our choice! Focus on passionately pursuing your personal and collective mission. #iaedchat
A3- Through an amazing TLS team! Although I am the leader of the building, it takes everyone working together, holding each other accountable to achieve the mission. #iaedchat
A1 In @danpbutler building @EpworthElem you cannot get in the door without a smile when meeting Kellie. I’ll guarantee anyone who has tried has failed. #iaedchat
Culture IMO is when everyone can bring their own goods to the table, and (even though it can be work) are definitely able to enjoy each other’s company with the kids in mind! Why I love where I teach! #iaedchat
A2: Lack of the following: energy, common mission, belief in all kids, communication, colleagiality. Most notable...when we stop laughing together, being together, and dreaming together. #iaedchat
A3: I am a talk it out and find a solution (or discuss a plan of action). Our jobs are hard. There are things we can control and those that we can't. Ignoring the #negativity does nothing..I'm not a huge fan of #rosecolored glasses anyways. #iaedchat
A3: Positivity! Spread it through many ways throughout the staff as a whole. Remind everyone why they are here at what we are trying to accomplish. #iaedchat
A3: Positivity! Spread it through many ways throughout the staff as a whole. Remind everyone why they are here at what we are trying to accomplish. #iaedchat
A3. I feel that I need to be that positive light shining. I need to remain positive and not get weighted down by the politics that can happen. I need to lead us forward on the path that will help all students succeed. #iaedchat
A3: Try to figure out the source of the negativity. Can you help? Do they have a legitimate point or concern? If yes, serve them. If no, serve the others that deserve a positive workplace and address the negativity. #iaedchat
A3: Social investment in each other is one of the most proven ways to remain happy in the midst of challenges. We need each other more than ever. I try to model this from top, turning to my team when I am struggling. Please don't forget, we are all on the same team. #IAedChat
A3 We have to continuously affirm those members of the organization who are actively seeking to grow their own learning, engaging in purposeful collaboration, & implementing best practices to support S learning. Our attention must be focused on accenting the positive #iaedchat
A3: "Live by this credo: have a little laugh at life..." https://t.co/wIj4QkAQrv via @BrainyQuote Times will get tough, but look for the things to celebrate and you will find them! Everyone has their hearts in the right place. #iaedchat
A3: I think I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again- verbally recognize people for what’s going right! Help people see and feel their value. Once their cup is full they can then help fill others’ cups as well #iaedchat
A goal of mine for the past two school years has been to be positive 100% of the time. This often left me feeling alone....but I really believe in being the positive. It has spread...more teachers have noticed and are on board with me!! #iaedchat
A3 Th eonly one you can control is yourself. When I have been in a negative culture I had to just commit to doing the work, doing what was right by kids, their families, and doing what is right by my collegues. It plays out. #iaedchat
A4: T’s and S’s have opportunities to be celebrated for showing good character and teamwork. Our S’s hear about their greatness from their T’s and daily on the announcements and our T’s hear it from our leadership team & from peer shoutouts each week #iaedchat
A4: We kicked off the school year with a back to school assembly in which staff did a group dance to welcome all back. We have monthly assemblies praising academic and social successes. #iaedchat
A4 we believe in community and treat each other as family...anything and everything that is celebrated by a family is celebrated at school! Once you show your kids who you really are...it is amazing how quickly they show you who they are! #iaedchat
A4: We start each of our meetings with celebrations from each of our SI team members (personal or professional). We don't always get to see each other, but it's a great way to celebrate the work that each of us do. #iaedchat
We have positive comments and celebrations to start our meetings, students and teachers are celebrated for their kindness support and hard work. We also support the success of others. And we celebrate holidays and events with dress up days and student and staff comps #iaedchat
Yes! People love when they get recognized for what is going right. We often focus on the negative. Focusing on the positive is a great way to shift the culture. #iaedchat
A4: EVERYTHING! Small to big celebrations are worth celebrating. What may not seem like a big deal to one person may mean the world to another. Celebrate! #IAedChat
A4: We celebrate positive behavior although that's not something that is a huge challenge for us. We celebrate when goals are met. We celebrate kids and their learning. We celebrate the awesome staff we work with. #iaedchat
A4 - Students are celebrated through PBIS whenever they model being caring, positive, or upstanding citizens. I created a staff shout out board to share great things in the lounge. I also have a cheers for peers section in my IC weekly communication. #IAedChat
A4 - Fall and spring awards assemblies are designed to recognize any and all accomplishments made by students and staff throughout the year. We also have an Optimist appreciation dinner where any student can be caught doing something good and be recognized. #iaedchat
A3: Positivity! Spread it through many ways throughout the staff as a whole. Remind everyone why they are here at what we are trying to accomplish. #iaedchat
A4. The expectation is to Celebrate Everything. Not just celebrate...publicize. When a kid does something positive (and it happens a lot)...we are going to make a big deal about it. #iaedchat
A4: For both Ss & Ts: Character, teamwork,leadership, positivity, family news, work in the community.... just about anything no matter how big or small. #iaedchat
A4 West High does an awesome positive referral system, where teachers/admin can recognize a student and emails to students and parents are sent out automatically. Over 3000 of them last year, the first year of them! #IAedChat
A4. Ss successes, Ss leading, Ss birthdays, Ss acconplishing goals, Ss completely work with projects, experiments! Sharing pics and telling stories! #iaedchat
A4: We set the tone for team meetings with celebrations. This helps everyone around the table remember that students are at the center of our work and that we all need to bring our best for them each day. #iaedchat
A4 West High does an awesome positive referral system, where teachers/admin can recognize a student and emails to students and parents are sent out automatically. Over 3000 of them last year, the first year of them! #IAedChat
A4: we celebrate our students being awesome by presenting “Rebel Bucks” and recognizing the kids periodically throughout the year. Also @Joe_Beckman inspired the #celebratetoast hashtag I try to use in my classroom—little celebrations matter too! #iaedchat
Often they were not TRYING to do anything, it was just who they are. So I think it is worth it to let them know that what they are doing when they are just being themselves is pretty awesome. #iaedchat
A5 tough conversations have to happen, even in the best of cultures...if you can't be honest and transparent, then your culture will eventually crack. Great cultures are built on respect and relationships so tough conversations are possible to move forward from #iaedchat
A5: Purpose and relationships are a huge factor with difficult conversations. No relationship or a disconnected purpose will certainly be a culture killer. #iaedchat
A5: @newfrontier21 says it best...
We have to have courage to have these conversations or we are going to sit at our current level and never improve or move through the challenge. #IAedChat
A5: Tough conversations handled well are essential to a strong culture. You can't avoid serious, important conversations if you expect to improve. #iaedchat
A5: Tough conversations are the foundation of open communication. You may not always like the message, but you can at least respect having the conversation. Avoiding them = losing trust in a building. #iaedchat
A5 if the tough conversations aren’t had then culture spirals into a dark hole and worse yet is if you have those conversations with out compassion, kindness and from a place of caring and growth things may become even more detrimental #iaedchat
A5: to build a great culture everyone needs to be headed in the same direction & sometimes tough convos are required to move the group or an individual forward. If pppl aren’t willing to work through the tough stuff then trust in their abilities crumbles along w/culture #IAedChat
A5:They need to happen.... just in the right setting and mindset. It has to be a conversation, not just one person lecturing or talking the entire time, and some action steps need to come out of the convo at the end, or you have gotten nowhere.
#iaedchat
A5: BC Data Team Leaders had great conversation about this while collaborating around @artofcoaching1 The Art of Coaching Teams. Tough convos are tough when we label them that way. If we go into them prepared without calling them tough, they can gain other labels. #iaedchat
A5: Tough conversations - address the person/issue, not just a group message.
If tough convos are being held, that helps lead to a positive culture. If they’re being glossed over or forgotten, that leads to a break in culture. #IAedChat
A5: If you avoid difficult conversations, you are sending a direct and indirect message that the issue doesn't matter. I have found that when the challenging conversations are done well relationships are enhanced. #IAedChat
A5: When done honestly and professionally, tough conversations could be had and a positive culture can remain intact. It's when they are not done or done in an unprofessional manner, that culture is destroyed. #iaedchat
A5 Tough conversations/courageous dialogue is often a necessity in building a strong culture. There are often practices, habits, and mindsets that we must confront and extinguish in order to make the transition to supporting learning for all Ss & growing our practice #iaedchat
A5: Tough Cs can help build a culture by holding people accountable to the mission and vision of the group. It can signal to all that we are serious about our values #iaedchat
A5 Tough conversations can be either build or break culture depending on delivery. Do so with dignity and respect. If a tough conversation is needed it HAS to be had to continue a positive culture. #iaedchat
A5 - a conversation not had is a conversation being had~Fierce Conversations. Best class ever taken. Don't wait to have a conversation, It can grow like a disease. Fierce just means being present, listening well, & coming to a decision that's in everyone's best interest #iaedchat
A5b: The quality of the relationship and level of trust before the tough conversation is the #1 factor in determining the success of that conversation. #iaedchat
Working with people through challenges or growth is imperative. Avoiding tough conversations that can lead to improvement isn’t fair to that person or the S’s you’re serving. When the going gets tough, the tough need to get going to help create success!
A6: I have used so many and continue to pull from KDI, Stories from Webb, Talk to Me, Culturize, Lead with Culture. There are so many great pieces in those and more... #iaedchat
A6: I read @casas_jimmy book Culturalize this summer, and would highly recommend it. It reaffirmed, helped me think about my own practice and how I can be part of the solution. #iaedchat
A6: One of the best books I have read lately was @AllysonApsey's Path to Serendipity. I plan on leaning on her lessons to keep myself positive and help rebuild our positive culture. #iaedchat
A6: I rely on a lot of @JonGordon11 and @gcouros for culture building and inspiration. Both men provide practical advice and forward thinking to help anyone & everyone stay focused on what’s going right & tools on how to make small changes that will have a big impact #IAedChat
A6: for starters, our principal sends out weekly bulletins that highlight any noteworthy successes and gives us a bit of a positive recharge for the week. I also love @Joe_Beckman videos, and the blog from @gcouros, to name a couple! #iaedchat
A6 - What Great Principals Do Differently - #iaedchat (I share this all the time) - and then it is individuals I have met that I rely on for the needed guidance and once in a while the simple pick me up! #iaedchat
A6.2 When things are really tough. When I need to refocus and recharge. I am off to the early elementary wing. Kindergarten will heal a soul. #iaedchat
A6: Trying this again! I read @casas_jimmy book #Culturize this summer and it reaffirmed many of my beliefs as well as helped me reflect on how I can continue to do better to be part of the solution. #iaedchat
Signing off a tad early tonight to make sure our house is ready for 3 year old preschool tomorrow...I hope they are ready for him! Thanks #iaedchat until next week!
Signing off a tad early tonight to make sure our house is ready for 3 year old preschool tomorrow...I hope they are ready for him! Thanks #iaedchat until next week!
A7: I will stay focused on the 'why' and how I can be a positive leader for those around me. I will continue to build relationships through open communication and I will see feedback on how I can get better. #iaedchat
A7: Challenge to myself and all followers: school culture is often seen as elusive and so tough to change. School culture is built with EVERY interaction that occurs in your space. It is about the behavior of people and how we do things. Every interaction matters. #iaedchat
A7: I’m heading into classrooms this week for lessons so I’ll be sure to recognize S’s & T’s while I’m there & then follow-up with a thank you note to T’s for having me in. I’ll make sure to touch base with all of our new T’s and recognize something that’s going right! #IAedChat
#iaedchat brothers and sisters! If you’re looking for a 5 min video for your middle/high school students here’s one that’s been resonating!
https://t.co/TmgHiFWiD9
#iaedchat brothers and sisters! If you’re looking for a 5 min video for your middle/high school students here’s one that’s been resonating!
https://t.co/TmgHiFWiD9
Thanks to tonight's participants and my partners in moderating @danpbutler and @duffysclassroom! Don’t forget to bookmark our #IAedChat google site which houses an archive of these chats, our live chats, and resources! https://t.co/q8mtcjVIo3
Follow new friends to grow your #IAedChat PLN! We’re off for Labor Day weekend next Sunday, but join us the following week! Go out and make Monday matter and have an amazing week!
We will be back in 2 weeks with #IAedChat. No chat next Sunday...enjoy your Labor Day weekend! Until the next time…Be the Change! Good night, everyone.
