The next 6 keys for schools which will promote excellence are:
8. Daily assessment of learners using teacher-made tests, oral classroom assessment, observation of behavior or exhibitions.
9. Consistent assessment of programs, not individuals
10. Use of assessment results for decision making: In outstanding schools, assessment results are actually used, and school and classroom decisions of teachers and administrators are based on how well programs and behaviors accomplish goals.
11. Selection of materials/resources based on quality and appropriateness, not based on cost
12. Ongoing, consistent staff development: Workshops may include topics such as decision making skills, problem solving skills, leadership skills, and communication skills.
13. Two-way, non-threatening communication between school administrators, district administration and teachers which promotes a climate for innovation.
As a principal or a teacher, how can I ensure that my school is moving towards excellence? The following 13 factors are keys to excellence for any school. In part 1 we will look at the first 7 keys:
1. Commitment to long range, continuous improvement: Parents and school employees have a shared understanding about achievable educational outcomes.
2. Clear, explicit goals: Where are we going with this school?
3. Everyone must be involved in improving education. This includes teachers, educational support personnel, parents, administrators, students, the school board, district administrators, and civic groups.
4. Teachers, parents and learners believe that all children can learn: A general belief exists that all students can achieve under the right conditions
5. Adequate space, supplies and support services are available, e.g. Psychological and social work services are available
6. The school is an overall learning environment for employees and learners.
7. Barriers are identified and removed by educational personnel, learners, parents and administration. Barriers are removed through a cooperative problem solving process.
Apart from confidence, being true to yourself, and adaptability, the following attributes have shown to be characteristic of emotional well individuals:
4. Kindness
Most of us are familiar with the golden rule Jesus gave in Matthews: "Do unto others what you would like them to do to you." Being kind to the people around you is a sign of emotional wellness. Our children also learn by our example. It doesn't matter whether the person you are dealing with is important to you or not, you treat everyone with dignity and respect just as you want everyone else to treat you. This is one of the most important life skills we can teach our children.
5. Being grateful
Emotionally well people know how to appreciate the good things that come their way. The are slow to criticize or complain. These people focus on the good of others and will thank you every chance they get for the things that they should be grateful for. Let us live with thankful hearts - what we are is pure grace, what we have is only borrowed.
6. You know what to value
Finally, emotionally sound people know their priorities. They know that they should value people before material things. Most of us are stressed out worrying about how to earn more money to spend. But if you know what to value, you will put spending time with the ones you love at the top of your list of to-do things each day.
Happiness and contentment are something we all would like to have, not just for ourselves, but also for our children. The beginning of new year is always a good time to reflect and set goals for the new year. Let's have a look at six personality attributes of emotional well people, while at the same time pondering how we can develop these attributes in our children.
1. Confidence
Do you need other people's approval to be happy? People who are emotionally secured do not need the approval of other people to be happy. As long as they know that what they are doing is right, they stand for what they believe. This kind of attitude brings confidence to the person to face anyone and anything that comes to their life. Building our children's confidence through praise and encouragement, therefore, has far-reaching consequences even into their adulthood.
2. True to Self
Do you hide so-called negative emotions such as anger, grief or envy? To be emotional stable, it does not mean you are free from negative emotions. In order to be called emotional sound, a person has to stay true to himself or herself by acknowledging emotions and expressing them freely. The sooner negative emotions are realized, the easier they can be dealt with. Don't deny your child's feelings of anger or sadness, but instead acknowledge your child's emotions and help him/her to deal and cope with the emotions.
3. Adaptability
Adapt or die? :-) Yip! Change is part of life, and an emotionally sound person is flexible to the changes that happen around him or her. People like this can face any event that comes their way and acts appropriately without losing their sense of self. They can be who they truly are but are willing to compromise for the sake of what is best for everybody. By approaching changes with a positive attitude, our children will learn from us to embrace change and not fear it.
To be continued .................
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