Dr Helen Street’s Post

Which would you rather be? Schools are dynamic, ever-changing environments which often means we are fire-fighting. We have to react in the moment - let's face it, children can be unpredictable! This causes panic, stress and an 'on the hoof' response. But there are some areas of school life where you can be proactive and addressing staff wellbeing is one of them. Desmond Tutu said: 'There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they're falling in.' This is so true in education right now. What can you do proactively to support your staff's wellbeing and prevent them falling in the river? How can you operate from a place of preparedness, calm and peace of mind? Go upstream with the Resilient Living Programme - a meaningful and transformative toolkit to support your staff in both their professional and personal life. Knowing and understanding that their wellbeing is always with them will help them to navigate the cumulative stresses and strains of school life with resilience and avoid them reaching breaking point. Now THAT's true staff wellbeing in action! If this resonates with you, why not visit my website for more information: www.lifeisalesson.co.uk #reactive #proactiveapproach #staffwellbeing #meaningfullife #lifeisalesson #schoolleadership #schoolleaders

Thanks so much to Hibernia College for inviting me to open their Health & Well-Being online conference last week. My presentation was titled 'Placing Well-Being at the Heart of Teaching' and there were around 400 student teachers in attendance. I focused on the importance of prioritising well-being in the classroom, through focusing on nurturing positive relationships and promoting emotional regulation. We looked at lots of practical ways to do so, based on my own experience, and as always, underpinned by principles from Positive Psychology. And remembering to practise self-care on a daily basis too. I usually work with in-service teachers, so it was wonderful to get the chance to share these ideas with student teachers just before they embark on their career in the classroom. With so many challenges to children's well-being, it's more important than ever to place it at the heart of teaching. When we do so, children can then reach their potential in other areas, including academics. I opened my presentation with a quote I love from Frederick Douglass - 'It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken adults'. Those words always remind me of the most important and precious part of my role as teacher - giving children a sense of self-worth and self-belief, so that they can reach their unique potential and flourish and thrive, despite the inevitable challenges of life. Teachers have the power to have such a positive impact on the lives of students - but we need to remember to prioritise well-being first! We can't fix everything, but that shouldn't distract us from doing what we can. #wellbeingineducation #wellbeingfirst #positivepsychology

Addressing this problem takes more than well-intentioned gestures, such as annual care packages or single-day well-being fairs. Instead, school leaders need to create and sustain a safe and supportive work environment every day of the school year. This involves changing structures, policies, and practices that impact teachers’ daily lives to address some of the root causes of stress. The goal is to foster and sustain a work environment that is more welcoming and conducive to personal and professional growth. 8 STEPS TO CREATE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT 1. Start with educators’ voices. Trying to address educator well-being without educator voice is a losing proposition. The first step for creating a more supportive work environment is to engage staff in discussions. Staff’s input and insights will help you develop a road map. Ask your staff to develop a list of glows and grows pertaining to their current work environment. The glows are the structures, policies, and practices that are working for them now—you want to keep those! The grows are recommendations about changes they would like to see. As you lead this activity, it’s good to emphasize the need for realistic and sustainable changes. For the other 7 steps, read the article by Shai Fuxman, a mental and behavioral health expert, who leads initiatives promoting the positive development of children and youth at the Education Development Center. https://lnkd.in/guCFGyRn #emotionintoart #motivation #motivational #motivationalspeaker #motivationalspeaking

Embracing Trauma-Informed Practices in Education I recently had the privilege of completing a 20-hour professional development course on Trauma-Informed Practice for Coaches with The Centre for Healing. This experience has reignited my passion for supporting young people, especially those who are often labeled as difficult, intense, or complex. A trauma-informed approach shifts our perspective from asking “What’s wrong with you?” to “What’s happened to you?” This compassionate lens is crucial as we strive to create environments where young people can become agents of their own growth and development. In the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns, traditional schooling models are proving insufficient. The global disengagement of children, rising dysregulated behaviors, and escalating classroom challenges are contributing to unprecedented levels of teacher burnout. It’s clear to me that a wellbeing approach to teaching and learning must be deeply rooted in trauma-informed practices. Labels can hinder a child's growth and turn into self-fulfilling prophecies. Therefore, it’s essential to reflect on our classroom practices and behaviour patterns (particularly when supporting the neurodiverse). We should ask ourselves how our actions affect our learners and the school culture. Inclusion for everyone starts with introspection and a commitment to understanding the impact of our behaviour on our students. Learning and wellbeing are inextricably linked. As I continue to reflect on my own patterns of behaviour, I am mindful of my role not just as a teacher and coach, but also as a husband, father, and friend. Let’s champion trauma-informed approaches in our schools and create environments where every child can thrive. #education #inclusion #inclusiondiversity #Neurodiversity #wellbeing #teachertalk

Pre-School Leaders, Let's Unite for Healthier Futures! 🌍📢 Steering the ship of a pre-school is not just an endeavor—it's a responsibility, especially as we reflect on World Health Day. Our task is monumental: nurturing young minds while ensuring their holistic well-being. 💪🌱 What's the most challenging aspect for you? Whether it's incorporating health education into the curriculum, advocating for mental well-being, retaining dedicated staff, or strengthening family-community ties, your insights are invaluable in carving pathways to progress. Today, let's engage in a vibrant discussion across three vital sections: well-being in education, overcoming operational hurdles, and crafting enriching environments. Be it through improved health-focused resources, more comprehensive staff training, or staying abreast of policy shifts aimed at fostering healthy lifestyles — your experiences and victories in these areas are the blueprint for our collective advancement. As we share and support one another here, we not only solidify our fraternity but also enhance the impact of our programmes on children's health and education. 🌟 If you're seeking a new direction professionally, discover invigorating opportunities at www.clearlyeducation.com. Join the dialogue in honor of World Health Day with a like, a comment, or by sharing your unique narrative. Together, we can elevate our practices and celebrate the vibrant health and immense potential of our littlest learners! 💡 #WorldHealthDay #EarlyChildhoodEducation #PreschoolManagement #HealthEducation #CareerOpportunities

Which would you rather be? Schools are dynamic, ever-changing environments which often means we are fire-fighting. We have to react in the moment - let's face it, children can be unpredictable! This causes panic, stress and an 'on the hoof' response. But there are some areas of school life where you can be proactive and addressing staff wellbeing is one of them. Desmond Tutu said: 'There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they're falling in.' This is so true in education right now. What can you do proactively to support your staff's wellbeing and prevent them falling in the river? How can you operate from a place of preparedness, calm and peace of mind? Go upstream with the Resilient Living Programme - a meaningful and transformative toolkit to support your staff in both their professional and personal life. Knowing and understanding that their wellbeing is always with them will help them to navigate the cumulative stresses and strains of school life with resilience and avoid them reaching breaking point. Now THAT's true staff wellbeing in action! If this resonates with you, why not visit my website for more information: www.lifeisalesson.co.uk #reactive #proactiveapproach #staffwellbeing #meaningfullife #lifeisalesson #schoolleadership #schoolleaders

Attention School, College, and University Leaders... Throughout the rest of the summer holidays, I'll be sharing tips on how to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for your neurodivergent staff. Let’s begin with two key actions that set the tone for neuro-affirming practices: 1. Accessible Information: Ensure staff have easy access to information about reasonable adjustments and the Access to Work scheme. Make details about past accommodations readily available on intranet sites, in staff rooms, and in new starter information. 2. Timetabling Considerations: It’s not too late to revise timetables for the upcoming academic year. Consider neurodivergence when planning teaching contact hours. Can you allow decompression time between lessons? If that's challenging, consider scheduling all lessons in one classroom to reduce fatigue and minimise the stress of moving between unfamiliar rooms. As someone who is dyspraxic, I found being timetabled in different rooms and on different floors very stressful. I would often forget my way to classrooms, even if I had visited them several times before. Neurodiversity-affirming policies and practices should support both neurodivergent learners and the neurodivergent teaching workforce. Failing to recognise and support either group means your organisation is not truly neuro-inclusive. If you'd like to learn more about effective neurodiversity policies and practices, please reach out to me at a.odwyer@neurodivergentinsider.co.uk. Happy Monday! #Neurodiversity #NeurodivergentTeachers #Inclusion #School #College #University

Special end-of-year promotion for schools: Many schools are facing challenges around inclusion and negative press coverage recently. This, coupled with the end-of-year workload on teachers who are marking exams and preparing lessons for the new year, can create significant stress. We understand the increased mental burden teachers face with students becoming disengaged as the academic year wraps up. Tolu Wellspring can help you ensure teachers don't experience burnout during this demanding period. Additionally, we recognise the importance of teachers employing inclusive practices for students from all backgrounds, genders, and abilities. We are flexible and happy to adapt our approach to your specific needs. Research consistently shows a positive correlation between a positive school climate and student achievement, teacher satisfaction, and reduced absenteeism. Our training programs aim to empower your school to cultivate this environment. We also offer September INSET day training sessions, which you can book now to avoid disappointment, to equip returning teachers with the tools and strategies to inspire students for the new year and prioritise Wellbeing and Inclusion. For further information, please visit our website: www.toluwellspring.co.uk or contact me directly at tolu.afelumo@toluwellspring.co.uk. We'd love to discuss your specific needs and how Tolu Wellspring can support your school's development goals. #schools #socialmedia #burnout #wellbeing #inclusion #teachertraining #teacherworkshop #workshop

𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 -The Educator's Guide to Thriving in a Changing World 💪🌱 As educators, we play a pivotal role in shaping young minds and hearts. In today's rapidly evolving world, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 for personal and professional growth. Our latest blog post delves into the importance of resilience and provides 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 for nurturing this essential quality in both ourselves and the children we guide. Resilience is the 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 from adversity, and it's a critical skill for navigating life's challenges. By focusing on enhancing protective factors within individuals and their environments, we can foster resilience rather than simply removing obstacles. The post 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 for educators to build personal resilience, such as prioritizing self-care, engaging in professional development, and embracing reflective practices. Additionally, it offers 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 into creating safe, supportive classroom environments that encourage problem-solving skills, model resilient behavior, and nurture strong relationships. At the heart of our approach is the 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹, a powerful visual tool that illustrates the six strands of protection essential for fostering resilience: caring and support, high expectations, opportunities for meaningful participation, positive bonding, clear boundaries and expectations, and teaching life skills. Ultimately, our resilience as educators is intrinsically linked to the resilience of the children in our care. By prioritizing our well-being and professional growth, we create a stable, nurturing environment that allows children to thrive. Together, we can cultivate an educational landscape where resilience flourishes, setting the foundation for a 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. 👉 Read our full blog post at https://lnkd.in/dn_28cdH and join us in this journey of growth and transformation. #ResilienceInEducation #EarlyChildhoodEducation #EducatorWellbeing #GrowthMindset

Earlier this school year, I traveled to Chicago and visited Intrinsic Schools, one of our partner districts. I observed some excellent teaching from Orlandus Thomas (OT), Paul Julion, and Eleanor Abreu in health classes and had an opportunity to talk to students. We love hearing students share about the impact Lessonbee has had on their health and habits. Check out this testimonial from 10th grader Elias at Intrinsic Schools Downtown Campus. His teacher Coach OT asks, "Having used Lessonbee for the last two years, what are some of the features about Lessonbee that you like about it for health?" Elias shares, "For health, I like that it [Lessonbee] gets more in depth with the certain contents of health. There's mental health, emotional health, physical health, there's a bunch of different types of health. It gets very in depth with mental health. It talks about what leads to good things, bad things, and just normal things. It also has helped me problem solve even better. It gets more in depth with emotional health, what can cause us to have certain emotions and why we have these emotions. We even talk about just regular physical health, how we can stay fit, we can still have certain type of different bodies but still be fit and healthy. The last two years, I've just been able to have good, healthy habits using Lessonbee, and I do enjoy it." If you're looking for a transformative solution for your students' health and habits in 24-25 or even for summer school or credit recovery, let's connect. We support teachers so kids in grades 5-12 get the relevant, modern health education they need and deserve. #health #wellness #healtheducationheroes #teachers #k12 #edtech #healtheducation #mentalhealth