Reflecting on Relationships
“No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship”
– Dr. James Comer, Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale University
As the EXPLOREteams start to design their NEXTschool, they will be looking at the high school experience through the lens of the Relational System which focuses on who takes part in the learning experience, the emotional and motivational aspects of learning, as well as who we learn from, with and who we teach.
Questions such as what type of role(s) might teachers take in the ‘high school for the future’? Is it the role of coach? Or facilitator? Is it more like being an orchestral conductor? Or a gardener? What role might students have in the learning process? Will they have a voice? Do they have choice? And how might teachers work together? How might we remove the artificial yet entrenched silos often found in schools? And what kinds of relationships do NEXTschools have with parents and with the community?
There is much to explore in the relational system and NEXTschool designers need to be intentional about the structures they put in place in order to build and continually strengthen relationships and school culture. They will also need to ensure ongoing training and support to students, teachers and parents alike, as they work to develop the appropriate mindsets and skills to live and work together in a true learning community.
Here are the specific essential components of the Relational System to be integrated into the school-based models:
Below are some resources that we hope will percolate conversations and help our EXPLOREschool participants (and all educators) as they start to design their schools to be the best they can be at “engaging students and preparing them for the world ahead…”
- Watch this video about the structures and culture that build strong relationships at Pearl-Cohn High School in Nashville
- Read this article: What does research tell us about the importance of teacher-student relationships? (Whitaker, 2018)
- Read this summary about: SchoolTalk: Rethinking What We Say About – and to – Students Every Day (Pollock, 2017)
- Check out this video: Why student voice is important?
- The Power of Protocols (McDonald et al., 2013) – a practical guide for the “teacher as facilitator”
- National School Reform Faculty – resources and training that promotes effective collaboration and communication among educators
- Instructional Rounds – a form of professional learning where “educators develop a shared practice of observing, discussing and analyzing learning and teaching”
Please continue to reflect on relationships and share other relevant resources by emailing us at nextschool@learnquebec.ca
https://hosted.learnquebec.ca/nextschool/2018/12/06/reflecting-on-relationships/NEXTschool'No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship' - Dr. James Comer, Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale University As the EXPLOREteams start to design their NEXTschool, they will be looking at the high school experience through the lens of the Relational System which focuses on who takes part in the learning...lizfalco liz@lizfalco.caAdministratorNEXTSchool
