Professional Development for Flourishing Classrooms

These staff learning ideas support implementation of the book Flourishing Classrooms: A Deep Dive into Proactive Wellness for Grades 7-12 at the school, family of schools, or district level. Connect with me to adapt any of these ideas in support of other areas (e.g., assessment, restorative practices, mathematics).

General Staff Learning Considerations

See the introduction and safety chapters for more on building a positive foundation for staff learning.

Wellness is for everyone. Well-being is not only for student and staff, it's a completely interdependent endeavour. The wellness of any one group rises and falls with everyone around them. Teachers and school leaders who try activities personally (even when they don't share explicitly with others) are sharing wellness indirectly. As each stakeholder group flourishes, their lived experience injects authenticity and power into any sharing efforts.
Balance "add-on" and integrated approaches to wellness. The book keyword “integration” allows filtering off 77 activities that are integrated into the existing fabric of teaching and learning.
Differentiate entry points and learning. The introduction of the book offers four basic pathways to approaching the book based on educator readiness (from those who struggle with well-being right up to wellness champions). Allow choice in which domain(s) are a focus. Look for the varying time required, trust level required, and other activity keywords (e.g. mindfulness) to further differentiate for personal needs or interest.

Constantly seek feedback, including using anonymous feedback channels, on any learning experiences. See the book introduction for more details.
Keep learning active by inviting early adopters to contribute to sessions and ensuring there is active practice of wellness strategies at every session.
Set goals and assess them. Align learning outcomes with school/district goals strategic plans. Assessment of staff learning, classroom implementation, and changes in wellness (or all three) can be incorporated.

Guided implementation of in-class wellness, over time (not a one-shot PD).
2-10 learning sessions (1 hour, 1/3 day, or 1/2 day) with in-between time for in-class implementation.
Teachers can get individual support and coaching during implementation.
Sending teachers in school teams adds powerful synergy and collaboration.
Sessions include sharing, feedback, and troubleshooting time.

full-cycle, iterative, monitored, multi-school, collaborative teacher inquiries with teams of teachers implementing wellness activities in the classroom
Co-learning, co-planning (lesson), co-teaching and co-observation (in-class), and co-reflection (repeat for each teacher in the group)
Deeply transformative learning and implementation combined.

The author can travel in-person or join online to support any learning with system leaders.
Schools may receive a copy of the book to review while giving an overview of wellness possibilities.

Full day release for exploration and learning around student and staff wellness.
Include the wellness lead teachers to plan and deliver the session.
Follow-up to gauge implementation and determine support needs.

Blend active learning and an inspiring, motivating experience that spark excitement to implement.
Participants receive a copy of the book to refer to during the session and for eventual personal use or sharing.
See sessions for titles and topics available now.

Incorporate activities from Flourishing Classrooms on a system wellness calendar, district-wide well-being forum, or school announcements.
Include wellness activities as part of committee meetings or other learning events, not just as a warm-up or break but with integration as part of the work and learning.

Connect with Human Resources staff, who have resources to support employee group well-being. They can help plan sessions and arrange professional learning for employee groups. The book fully supports wellness for not just students, but all employee groups (and the school community).
Collaborate with curriculum and other program leaders in support of social-emotional learning, mental health literacy, and other wellness related topics.

Use a bulk order to provide the resource to an entire staff.
Choose from one or more learning approaches above to create a comprehensive staff learning plan in support of implementation.