Transcript Come promuovere un clima positivo nella scuola

Stay@School
Thematic Area 2: Communication
Introduction
 Basic information about communication (I-messages, non verbal
communication)
 Rules for conducting a conversation with pupils and parents
 Process of a conversation
 Achievement of realistic aims
 Documentation and evaluation of the meeting
Sections
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Prevention: ways to avoid early school leaving
Early intervention
Preparing for conversations with pupils and parents
Carrying out conversations
After the conversation
Prevention
 Attention and interest of the class teacher for pupils’ problems and
absences
 Promotion of a positive learning class climate
 An open, encouraging and friendly attitude of teacher towards
students
 Lessons that meet pupils’ needs
 Social integration of pupils by promoting group dynamics
Early intervention
 A written or computerised attendance system
 Good lines of communication between school and parents
 Contacts between class teacher, single subjects teacher,
headmaster, school social workers and school psychologist.
Preparing for conversations
with pupils and parents
Models to avoid misunderstandigs that could disturb communication:
Sender-Receiver Model by Schulz von Thun (2004)
Transactional Analysis from Berne (1961)
Communication tools
You can exercise communication trying to put the following theories into
practice:
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active listening
I-messages
giving and receiving feedback
non verbal communication
questioning techniques
meta communication
Carrying out conversations
wih pupils and parents
There are six phases of a cooperative conversation:
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preparation
starting a conversation
deepening the conversation/understanding the problem
looking for solutions
creation of an action plan
finishing the conversation
Conflict management
 Behaviour Patterns by Lippmann (2004)
 Colleague Supervision by Mutzeck (2005)
 Responsible Thinking Process by Edward Ford(2004)
Reaching an agreement
At the end of a conversation it is important to write down:
 aims
 strategies
 consequences of achievement or failure
Example
The following example for goal setting focuses on the student. He/she
can fill in this sheet on his own or together with a teacher. The aim is
to prepare for a conversation about an education agreement with a
teacher and possibly with parents.
 Student ________________________________________________
 Time span for the agreement _______________________________
Example
 Which goals do I want to reach within the agreed upon time span?
Goal 1: ______________________________________________
Goal 2: ______________________________________________
 What can I do to reach the goals?
Regarding goal 1: _____________________________________
Regarding goal 2: _____________________________________
 What can / should others do so that I can reach the goals?
Regarding goal 1: _____________________________________
Regarding goal 2: _____________________________________
After the conversation
 Decide whether the goals have been achieved or if they need a
renegotiation
 Don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance
Preparing for and organizing of
comeback to school
It’s highly important to prepare classmates on how to deal with a truant
pupil who comes back to school
because
a positive experience on the first day at school might counterbalance
the pupil’s previous negative experiences.
Teacher behaviour
Thimm (1998) comments as follows:
“ A first step to foster the attendance of a pupil in class is to take his
statements seriously and to convey the acceptance of himself as a
person. Therefore interrogations, cynical remarks or other types of
exposure must be avoided. … It has to be communicated to the pupil
how important he is for the class and the importance of what he has
missed “
Early support in networking
 Teachers cannot solve all the problems of difficult pupils, but should
know who they can turn to.
 Literature indicates that the cooperation with social workers within
and beyond school is important in overcoming truancy.
 Network can enable a fast dialogue in fighting early school leaving.
Thanks for your attention!
Paola Fiammelli