Why We Go Back to School

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By Aleta Margolis , Founder and President

It’s already mid-August, and that means school is starting soon. For some of us, it has already started. We go back to school because, well, it’s time to go back. We go back to school for other reasons too, and it’s worth taking a moment to articulate those reasons.

During Inspired Teaching’s professional development sessions, we often ask, “Why do children go to school?“ The answers range from, “because it’s the law” to “to learn and grow“ to “for the free breakfast and lunch” to “because kids’ parents make them” to “to build the skills they will need for leadership roles in their communities, and our country.”

The simple question,?“Why do we go to school?”?tends to generate dozens, sometimes hundreds of responses. There are many reasons we — both students and teachers — go to school, and it’s worth taking some time to think about why, beyond the fact that it’s time to turn the page on the calendar.

I’ve been writing a lot about?School Connectedness, as a powerful antidote to the mental health crisis that is still affecting so many young people. School Connectedness doesn’t happen automatically just because kids and teachers show up in the building.?School Connectedness is something that requires thoughtful planning and preparation, and focused attention on our students’ needs as well as their strengths.

In the coming weeks, my colleagues and I will be joined by national education experts to have?conversations about School Connectedness, and to discover concrete strategies teachers can utilize in order to make school a place where students, and teachers, feel needed, wanted, and valued.

We’ll hear from?Trabian Shorters, CEO of BMe Community, about how words matter, and how to implement asset framing as the foundation of school connectedness.

We’ll hear from Ann B. Friedman, CEO of?Planet Word Museum, about how to use written and spoken language to create connection.

We’ll hear from Dana Mortenson, CEO of?World Savvy, about how building global competence is a path to building connection with those in your community and beyond.

What if we went back to school to establish meaningful connections, and fuel our sense of?belonging?

Wishing you a week, and a year, ahead filled with meaningful, intentional connections with everyone who makes up your school community.?

Resources

ABCDE of Learner Needs Guidebook

A detailed, research-based, standards-based, treasure trove with specific guidance and concrete action steps for teachers, school leaders, parents, and all thoughtful adults who want to make sure the children in their care can thrive. This Guidebook includes links to classroom activities, printable reflection and planning sheets, posters for your classroom walls, and a whole section designed to be shared with families.

Download your copy here: https://inspiredteaching.org/abcde-learner-needs-guidebook/

Professional Development

Tuesday, August 22, 7pm EST: ABCDE of Learner Needs

Discover new ways to address challenging behavior by tapping into what students need in order to be motivated to learn.

In this Institute we will:

• Analyze positive and negative learning experiences in the context of learner needs.
• Using student examples from your classroom, explore the ways in which asset framing can offer insights into meeting needs.
• Practice using reflection tools designed to help students and teachers assess where their needs are and aren’t being met.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/677063393837