What's REALLY going on...?

Hello, teacher friends! I noticed that Dr. Gabor Maté (pictured above, author of WHEN THE BODY SAYS NO) spoke recently in Auckland, New Zealand. It led to a frantic search for a possible opportunity to hear him speak in the US, but, at least for the foreseeable future, it is not to be. Hopefully soon!

This quote grabbed me and shook my teacher senses. The student behaviors I respond to with the most energy are somehow lodged deeply inside who I am as a person. THERE IT IS: Our own thinking and needs often keep us from searching for what's best for a kid because we have our own brain challenges, biases, and trauma. Every human's behavior is guided by something we can't always see. In fact, there is a universe of invisible things that guides the actions of every one (us! and) of our students--from the one "you never have to speak to" because "they're always doing the right thing" (frankly, the ones I worry about the most!) and the ones that are always demanding our attention. The mindset shift from our first thought being "this kid is BAD today!" to "I wonder what I can do to help this kid get what they need right now" is a challenging and lengthy process. I don't yet do this consistently, but I have seen growth. Over the last few months, I've gotten closer to peace with the struggles of my students than I ever have. How do we learn to learn to reframe words like "misbehavior" and "disorder" into conversations with kids that show unconditional, genuine care and compassion?

I firmly believe that if a child feels safe and successful at school, they will enjoy at least one thing about it. If they enjoy it, it will empower them to thrive for a lifetime. On the other hand, if they learn from us that they are "bad" or do "bad things", they learn that they are somehow incomplete and that our support for them is either (a) conditional (as long as they're being good); or (b) guided by the understanding that they are dysfunctional in some way. Which will, of course empower the cycle of behaviors, consequences, missed opportunities for connection, etc.

How do I start? I invite you to join me in this exercise:

Then, use these forms to track your responses: RTF PDF DOCX

Was this useful to or helpful for you? Please consider hearting and star-rating it above, leaving a comment, and sharing it with friends! Thanks for your support!

Happy snacking!

Chef Charles

Head Chef

teacherssnacks.com