This question is posed each Fall, to each adolescent in our school. A go-to-person is one caring adult for one adolescent. There are countless benefits to establishing a culture of go-to-people. The primary objective: reduce a sense of anonymity, foster a sense of belonging, and establish community. It's as simple as A-B-C.
Go-to-People know the importance of personal connectedness, because they see the results of their investment. Research on schools investing in connectedness note:
improved academic achievement
reduced in failing grades
fewer office referrals
less vandalism
improved attendance
fewer alienated students
an increased sense of purpose and sense of impact for teacher advisors
more student-centered and self-directed learning
a better school climate permeating the building
Unfortunately, there are those unwilling to make an investment, and it doesn't cost a dime.
The answer, right in front of them: Go-To-People.
Why don't schools see the value in go-to-people, and just "take the plunge" into this work?
We think connectedness must be:
sophisticated.
expensive.
vetted by experts.
learned through extensive training or professional development.
The truth is, none of this needs to be true. There are teachers in classrooms and in schools who are already doing this work, and they're seeing the results outlined above. How hard is this to do? As I often say about learning something new, "even a principal can do it"!
Here are three ways to become a Go-To-Person, and make the investment in connectedness:
Learn C.P.R.
Successful middle schools are those in which adolescents "feel known" and "know they're known". C.P.R. (a community conversation protocol called Circle of Power and Respect) is one way to do this. Kids pay attention to how teachers allocate classroom time. A teacher who intentionally and routinely carves out time in the school day to build a sense of community will have students who notice, and note it's importance.
The Greeting teaches students to respectfully greet someone unconditionally.
Daily News helps students shift thinking, as they transition from home to school.
Sharing provides time to talk about daily issues as well as challenging topics.
Activities connect students in ways that promote voice and common ground.
Seated in circular formation promotes the success of these routines to foster belonging and invite thinking towards "go-to-people". Everyone's voice is of equal value in the circle.
Conduct Teacher-Student Interviews
Most people think, "there's not enough time to foster connectedness or to be a go-to-person" Little do these people realize, investing a few minutes each day, will save time, energy, and will cast votes for a safe and positive classroom and school culture. Devoting a few minutes each day to conduct one-on-one student interviews will help them, and you.
A few questions we ask of each student:
What has been your favorite topic to learn about in middle school? Why?
What has been your most memorable school activity since you've been at our school?
What has the most memorable book you've read since you've been at our school?
What do you dream of doing after middle school and after high school?
What advice would you offer to a new student on being successful in middle school?
Have fun!
School does not necessarily have to be the same as we remember it. In fact, if we ask around, we're likely to find people's greatest memories as students were times when the adults seemed...human. Fortunately, educators are human. So we're headed in the right direction. Prioritize Be showing your human side when the times are right. Smile, stay loose, and have fun. Board games, team building activities, and service activities are three ways to bring people together.
What do go-to-people and community building have in common? They understand that, it takes an adult with the courage to learn, make mistakes, and even fail once in awhile to do both. By experimenting with ideas like these, show a willingness to practice forging meaningful personal connections.
Ready to reduce anonymity, foster belonging, and establish community?
Commit to being a go-to-person.
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