Universal Practices encompass intentionally designed strategies that promote a profound sense of belonging, connection, and engagement for every student. Aligned with the shared vision for readiness, classrooms adopt a common language and rituals, reinforcing the vision. The talent pipeline, comprising hiring, onboarding, professional learning, and evaluation, embraces a cohesive set of universal practices, fostering a unified and supportive educational environment.
Statements Depicting the Ideal Pursuit of a School
- Universal practices are designed to foster a sense of belonging, connection, and engagement for every student.
- These practices align with the shared vision for readiness.
- Classrooms adhere to a common language and shared rituals, reinforcing the vision for readiness.
- The talent pipeline (hiring, onboarding, professional learning, and evaluation) embraces a shared set of universal practices.
Key Resources
Quotes
“Any ritual is an opportunity for transformation”- Starhawk
“I deliberately created space for you. I want you here.”- Thandiwe Mlauli
“The only way to get students to open up to us is to show we authentically care about who they are, what they have to say, and how they feel.”- Zaretta L. Hammond
Reflection Prompts
- Which previously excluded students, or students lacking consistent engagement, might benefit from universal practices? In what ways do you see them benefitting, and what would be the evidence of this success?
- Identify 2-3 strategies and supports within your school community where there is potential to adopt universal practices to promote student ownership of learning and focus on the skills students need to feel a sense of belonging.
- Are the environments and practices on your campus (classrooms, extracurricular and common areas, virtual spaces) set up to be most welcoming and accommodating for your students or for the adults?
All Toolkit Resources
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Open Lines of Communication: Hold Authentic Spaces to Gather Feedback and Have Brave Conversations
Open lines of communication to create brave spaces for your staff, students, and community to share their excitement, hesitations, and to crowdsource the genius in the room. These protocols support organic conversations as you navigate changes or challenges.
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Authentic Connection: Positive Endings Riddle Activity
Riddles are another fun way to engage your team and leave people wanting more as they leave the team meeting. It’s a great way to get the conversation going and you can even ask your team members to come to the next meeting to see who was able to solve the riddle.
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Authentic Connection: Positive Endings Mindfulness Activity
Taking a few minutes at the end of your meeting to come back to your breath or to practice some gratitude is a valuable use of time. This is going to leave the group feeling calm, content and ready to take on the rest of the day. Taking a moment to de-stress as a group…
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Authentic Connection: Positive Endings Shoutouts Activity
There are many ways that you can end a meeting on a positive note, shoutouts are just one. Shoutouts show your employees their work and efforts are both noticed and valued. Make sure that you’re also encouraging the rest of the team to give their colleagues shoutouts because this is going to build a stronger team…
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Authentic Connection: 10 Things in Common Opener Activity
This introductory icebreaker is an extremely effective way of encouraging cohesion and building solid inter-departmental relationships, leading to a happier, more committed and engaged workforce.
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Authentic Connection: Guess Who Opener Activity
While this activity functions as an icebreaker, it’s best for deeper team-building for established teams. This is a classic team-building exercise for groups of three to 10 people who have met or interacted before. It’s a fun way for teams to get closer and bond more.