I've been reading the September 2011 edition of Educational Leadership. The theme for this edition is "Promoting Respectful Schools." One article I particularly enjoyed was "What's So Hard About Win-Win?" by Jane Bluestein. Not only does a win-win environment protects everyone's need for dignity, belonging, and respect but it also fosters academic success.
Although some feel that creating a win-win environment is permissiveness and dumbing down the curriculum, it is actually contrary to that. Teachers work hard to challenge all students appropriately. Failings are seen as opportunities to build responsibility and teach positive behaviors so that students can learn self-management and self-control.
It's important to remember that win-win thinking happens slowly and quietly. The following are some ways to start creating a win-win environment:
- Offer choices--when, where, social preference, and/or medium of presentation
- Focus on positive consequences-- as negative consequences, even if they are logical and reasonable, have punitive energy
- Communicate details as clearly and specifically as possible
- Respond to conflict nonreactively--don't take confrontations personally
- Build relationships with parents--contact them regularly about positive behavior or progress and when contacting them about something negative when possible only let them know what is going on and how it is being handled
- Follow-through
Creating a win-win environment complements the Glasser quality school we want as a foundation for Esperanza.
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