exSELlens

97% of educational leaders are unaware of it! It's similar to fish being unaware of the water that surrounds them; they don't even consider swimming a skill. For them, it's instinctive, but for us, mastering it requires practice! The same principle applies to our HIDDEN POTENTIAL—it's hidden! We may not be aware of it, but it's our superpower! Once we recognize it, we can harness our potential and transform not only our lives but also the lives of our colleagues, our students, and their parents. This change reverberates throughout the entire community! When we become aware of it, the 'COACH EFFECT' initiates, and we model change for everyone. Hundreds of school leaders have taken the 2-minute assessment and identified their hidden strengths within the 4 Powerful Pillars of Educational Success! Curious to discover the hidden potential of your educational organization with our revealing quiz results? →→→Take the Scorecard here: https://lnkd.in/d469bdjW It’s free and only takes 2 minutes.

“𝕭𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖊𝖊 𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉’’ -𝕲𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖍𝖎 👉 Kids learn by OBSERVING, not by listening. If we want to foster self-regulation in our students, it starts with US. Self-regulation is cultivated through modelling—our ACTIONS speak louder than any words. If we want our children to develop these crucial skills, there is a simple FORMULA: →→Model Self-Regulation: As educators, managing our own emotions effectively sets the tone for the entire classroom. A calm, composed presence inspires students to do the same. →→Set Clear Expectations: Consistent rules and routines provide a sense of security. When students know what to expect, they feel more in control, focused, and ready to learn. →→Encourage Emotional Literacy: Help students identify, label, and express their feelings. This builds their self-awareness and fosters empathy and connection among peers. →→Teach Mindfulness Techniques: Incorporate simple practices like breathing exercises and body scans to help students manage stress and stay centred throughout the day. →→Create a Calm Environment: The physical space matters—soft lighting, organised areas, and calming routines can significantly enhance a student’s ability to self-regulate and focus on learning. By being calm in their storm, our students will learn to be calm in their own storms. Are you going to commit to modelling the behaviours you wish to see and create classrooms where every child feels supported and empowered to succeed? Want more strategies on Social and Emotional Learning? Download our Free SEL Blueprint: “5 Proven Strategies to Spark Student Engagement.” https://lnkd.in/du88CRPj

Do you relate? As the teacher or the student? I recently walked into a classroom and saw a familiar scene unfold: a teacher, visibly stressed, trying to discipline a student who looked utterly confused. It took me back to my own school days. 🤔 I remember sitting in class, feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the pressure to behave perfectly. When the adults around me were stressed or upset, it only made things worse, like being caught in a whirlwind of emotions I couldn’t quite understand or control. Fast forward to today, I realize how often we expect children to regulate their emotions without realizing how much they rely on us for guidance and example. 🤔🤔🤔How can an unregulated adult regulate a child? It's not our fault! That's what we picked from our role models and teachers! Anyone would fall into this trap! Because this is exactly how it happens! Kids pick what they observe and not what we tell them. →And self-regulation is a skill that can be cultivated through modelling not through theoritical instruction →→By cultivating self-regulation, we create environments where children feel empowered to develop these skills themselves. →→→If we are calm in their storm, they will eventually learn to be calm in stroms!

Forget Everything You Thought You Knew About Discipline Remember the days when being "disciplined" meant sitting still, being quiet, and following a strict set of rules? Well, it turns out that might not be the key to really helping our kids thrive. Instead, what if we flipped the script? 🔄 Imagine a classroom where kids learn to understand and manage their feelings and actions, in other words to MANAGE THEIR STATE! It’s not about the teacher keeping order, but about kids mastering the art of self-regulation. It's like teaching them to navigate a ship on their own in the vast ocean of life. 🚢🌊 This isn't just about making school life easier; it's about setting up our kids for real success—equipping them with the skills to face any challenge, academically or personally. And guess what? It's working. The shift from "be disciplined" to "learn to self-regulate" is transforming classrooms. 🎉 What do you think? Could this change the game for our future generations?

Tiny SECRET revealed 👇👇 I know you want to vote for all of them! But the one you're going to choose reveals your LEADERSHIP style. It’s NO SECRET that students thrive in environments where they: →Feel Valued - Knowing their input and presence are appreciated. →Receive Feedback - Constructive insights that guide their learning journey. →Feel Supported - Assurance that help is there when they need it. →Feel Connected - A sense of belonging within the classroom community. →Make Choices - Opportunities to make decisions about their learning paths. →Experience Fun - Learning that is enjoyable and engaging. What few leaders in education know is that what they are inclined to choose for their students demonstrates their leadership style as well! If you're curious to find out more about your leadership style and your hidden strengths, take our scorecard and rate yourself against 4 major educational areas. →Know your metrics. →Know your style. →Unlock your winning strategy. Take the scorecard now: https://lnkd.in/d469bdjW and get ready for the new school year!

Would you ever try to fix your car without removing what's not working? So why do we go into class trying to fix our students' cognitive capacity without removing what's  blocking it? Creating a safe space for exploration and self discovery can open doors to deeper learning and personal growth The easiest practices that have allowed me to change teaching gears are: 1. Active Listening 2. Building Trust 3. Validating Feelings 4. Artistic Expression Looking for more resources? Download our FREE SEL Guide: https://lnkd.in/du88CRPj

Delegating decision-making is like delegating your WORKOUT—you're never going to see the results for yourself. Decision-making is like taking your BRAIN to the GYM. 🧠 Initially, your muscles fail, but the more pain you endure, the better the results. When you push your muscles a bit harder than the previous time, they ache and break, which is a sign of growth. The same applies to decision-making. The mistakes you make indicate that you've stepped out of your comfort zone and stepped into unknown territory, paving the way for new experiences and achievements. ⁉️No matter your age—be it 5, 15, 25, or 45—you'll go through the process of building this muscle through failure and mistakes. As parents and teachers, we might think we're protecting our kids by making decisions for them because we "know better" or are "more experienced." However, this approach robs them of the power to make their own decisions and the pride and sense of achievement that come with it. Plus, it postpones the muscle building process for later on in life, where making non-aligned decisions  is more costly both EMOTIONALLY and FINANCIALLY. If you want to train your students' decision-making muscles before it's too late and avoid the more painful consequences of wrong decisions later, there's a simple process that can guide them on this empowering journey: 🎈Identify the Challenge 🎈Guide Their Research 🎈Connect to Their Values 🎈Analyse Potential Outcomes 🎈Encourage Feedback and Reflection 🎈Help Them Make the Decision 🎈Repeat the Process This pathway → empowers your students to become confident decision-makers → equips them to handle life's challenges independently. Are you going to try it? Let me know if it works for you! PS: If you found it useful, Save this post for later

Teacher: “The grades dictate that we should press the RED button.” Dad: “The RED button? This is not what I have been dreaming of for my kid. The BLUE button is going to give him a bright future.” Kid: “What? Wait… I don’t like any of them! Mum??!! What do you think?” I see so many parents trying to help their kids make the crucial decision of career choice. It's not their fault. They think that if they don't intervene, their kids will fail in life. At the same time, teachers feel the obligation to take the burden off their students by giving them the options that they believe are the best fit based on their students’ test scores. It's not their fault either. That's what they have been told will make them more reliable teachers. The truth is that none of us can make this crucial decision for any student. Our own filters and understanding of life are totally different from the young ones' filters and the context they are going to be living in after 10 years. At the same time, teenagers haven't been equipped with the right skill set and mindset to make well-informed and aligned decisions for daily situations, let alone career choices. One of the most crucial life skills we can teach our students is the ART of MAKING DECISIONS. Making smart choices is essential, and guiding students in this process can significantly impact their personal and academic growth. As educators, we need to break this disempowering chain and create environments that empower students to make informed decisions. Decision-Making Skills are Vital for Every Student for →Building Confidence →Encouraging Independence →Enhancing Problem-Solving →Promoting Responsibility →Developing Critical Thinking Read my article on Smart Decision Making here: https://lnkd.in/dZbJntVd #SEL #TEACHERDEVELOPMENT

Here's exactly how to become TIME EFFECTIVE in your teaching without spending money on resources. Teachers always tell me ‘What is my role, if it’s not to prepare the worksheets and the highly detailed lesson plans?’ I say ‘ Have you thought what you are MISSING, when you are looking at the lesson plan instead of your students? The KEY to time effective lesson PLANNING is ONE: Focus on making your students INTERESTED rather than making your lesson interesting. HOW? Here are my 4 steps that will SAVE you tons of TIME so you can invest in what really matters …. YOUR actual STUDENT Here's the pathway I use: Chunk Instructions → Break down lengthy instructions into smaller, manageable chunks. Demonstrate → Become what you teach Use Templates and Guides → Provide templates that scaffold learning, not replace it. Set a Clear Final Goal → Frame the learning activity with a clear and attainable final goal. This pathway → empowers your students to take charge of their learning. → reduces the time you spend on lesson preparation → increases student engagement → fosters accountability → guarantees deeper connection to the material. Are you going to try it? Let me know if it works for you! PS: Repost this and I'll send you my latest SEL Blueprint ‘5 Proven STRATEGIES to spark Student ENGAGEMENT’

⚒ IKEA didn't say "Where will people find the TIME to assemble the furniture?" 💡Obviously, they know something that we, educators, DON’T know…… 🛠 They know that having people BUILD the items THEMSELVES would give them a sense of PRIDE and OWNERSHIP. I have scratched so many DIY items while assembling them but still they are proudly standing in my office and my house. No complaints, no returns, no back and forth emails…..just pride for being given the opportunity to hone my tinkering skills and a sense of achievement for being able to sweat over something I hadn’t created before. They are my OWN scratched masterpieces. 🔦 Now imagine your students in that context. When students design their own learning experiences, learning just happens. This kind of learning, though, doesn’t only boost their academic growth but also their prosocial and emotional regulation skills. What are your thoughts?