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Start With 
STRENGTHS: 
change the lens 
change the STORY 
The FORCE Society 
‘in the know’ Series 
August 27, 2014 
CC Image from Ethereal World https://flic.kr/p/4BDBPS 
Chris Wejr 
www.chriswejr.com 
@chriswejr
"I come to you humbly not to tell you 
what to do on your journey but to share 
with you what I have learned on mine” 
Wab Kinew 
cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo by Thompson Rivers University: 
http://flickr.com/photos/thompsonrivers/8518479289/
What Matters
Our stories shape 
who we are
Stories about ourselves 
Video: http://vimeo.com/66058153
Talking about 
our kids 
What STORIES 
are we telling? 
CC Image from Marzia https://flic.kr/p/524Dsy
“Connection is 
why we are here. 
We are hardwired to 
connect with 
others 
-- Brene Brown 
cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo by Andrew: 
http://flickr.com/photos/30235101@N06/3344044448/
Stories 
Strengths 
Interests 
Confidence 
Engagement
“We don’t know who we can be… 
until we know what we can do” 
-- Sir 
Ken Robinson
The Stories of 
our Students
The Story of 
Amy 
CC Image from Don Kennedy https://flic.kr/p/bn4FAs
CC image from Brad Flickinger https://flic.kr/p/b9wDhg 
Is our children’s work at school both a reflection of 
who THEY are and what WE want them to do?
Exploring who they are… 
creating their stories 
CC Image by Wonderlane https://flic.kr/p/cDeCGs
Agassiz 
Centre for 
Education 
New 
Stories 
From Vancouver Sun
Blog: http://bit.ly/NrekwQ
STRENGT 
H S 
d e f i c i t s
It is not always about overcoming a perceived 
deficit. 
It is often about embracing a lesser-known 
STRENGTH. 
CC image from Mystery.Indigo Photography https://flic.kr/p/8Z5PqW
Differences 
are NOT 
deficiencies 
Simon Ibell
Each child has a gift... We 
need to see and nurture these 
gifts so they emerge and 
flourish throughout an 
individual’s life. 
CC Image: http://flic.kr/p/bhvabR 
-- Lorna Williams
Our students’ strengths are not 
carrots to be dangled to get them to 
comply… they are valuable resources 
to be tapped and embedded in their 
learning. 
CC Image from ChrisCook04 https://flic.kr/p/87cZ6L
Where STRENGTHS are embraced
A School Built on Strengths
What we see… 
Depends on what we look for. 
CC Image by Ryan Haddad https://flic.kr/p/inZ5S
Learning 
from 
Liam 
CC Image from Joe Athialy https://flic.kr/p/87N9p5
CONFIDENCE
“To shift a cycle from 
decline to success, 
leaders must restore 
people’s confidence” 
--Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Back up to where 
they are… 
and get em on a 
winning streak 
Tom Schimmer 
CC Image by US Army Garrison Red Cloud https://flic.kr/p/jfcWi4
Make it worth the effort. 
Narrow the gap. 
CC Image by Theodore Chenhttps://flic.kr/p/32egeo
Got grit? 
CC Image from az https://flic.kr/p/87VgbN 
Resiliency craves 
confidence…
Winners 
and Losers? 
Rethink how we honour 
cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo by lee: 
http://flickr.com/photos/leecullivan/3948336553/
Change the streak. 
Change the story. 
CC Image by Ladyvee9 https://flic.kr/p/8dwV21
ENGAGEMENT 
changing the stories
Outdoor Education 
CHOICES 
Innovation Days 
Genius Hour 
Passion Projects 
Inquiry 
Project-Based 
Learning
CC Image from Stephen Topp https://flic.kr/p/dxPo8M 
Home-School Communication
Embrace the TEAM. 
Pull Together 
CC Image From United Nations Photo https://flic.kr/p/63GTKW
The Strength 
of Dom
Changing the stories 
“With a piece of chalk” http://youtu.be/mBZAFJ-Q6Mw
Connect With Me 
www.chriswejr.com 
About.me/ChrisWejr 
@chriswejr 
chriswejr@gmail.com

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Start With Strengths - Change the Lens. Change the Story

  • 1. Start With STRENGTHS: change the lens change the STORY The FORCE Society ‘in the know’ Series August 27, 2014 CC Image from Ethereal World https://flic.kr/p/4BDBPS Chris Wejr www.chriswejr.com @chriswejr
  • 2. "I come to you humbly not to tell you what to do on your journey but to share with you what I have learned on mine” Wab Kinew cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo by Thompson Rivers University: http://flickr.com/photos/thompsonrivers/8518479289/
  • 4. Our stories shape who we are
  • 5. Stories about ourselves Video: http://vimeo.com/66058153
  • 6. Talking about our kids What STORIES are we telling? CC Image from Marzia https://flic.kr/p/524Dsy
  • 7. “Connection is why we are here. We are hardwired to connect with others -- Brene Brown cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo by Andrew: http://flickr.com/photos/30235101@N06/3344044448/
  • 8. Stories Strengths Interests Confidence Engagement
  • 9. “We don’t know who we can be… until we know what we can do” -- Sir Ken Robinson
  • 10. The Stories of our Students
  • 11. The Story of Amy CC Image from Don Kennedy https://flic.kr/p/bn4FAs
  • 12. CC image from Brad Flickinger https://flic.kr/p/b9wDhg Is our children’s work at school both a reflection of who THEY are and what WE want them to do?
  • 13. Exploring who they are… creating their stories CC Image by Wonderlane https://flic.kr/p/cDeCGs
  • 14. Agassiz Centre for Education New Stories From Vancouver Sun
  • 16. STRENGT H S d e f i c i t s
  • 17. It is not always about overcoming a perceived deficit. It is often about embracing a lesser-known STRENGTH. CC image from Mystery.Indigo Photography https://flic.kr/p/8Z5PqW
  • 18. Differences are NOT deficiencies Simon Ibell
  • 19. Each child has a gift... We need to see and nurture these gifts so they emerge and flourish throughout an individual’s life. CC Image: http://flic.kr/p/bhvabR -- Lorna Williams
  • 20. Our students’ strengths are not carrots to be dangled to get them to comply… they are valuable resources to be tapped and embedded in their learning. CC Image from ChrisCook04 https://flic.kr/p/87cZ6L
  • 22. A School Built on Strengths
  • 23. What we see… Depends on what we look for. CC Image by Ryan Haddad https://flic.kr/p/inZ5S
  • 24. Learning from Liam CC Image from Joe Athialy https://flic.kr/p/87N9p5
  • 26. “To shift a cycle from decline to success, leaders must restore people’s confidence” --Rosabeth Moss Kanter
  • 27. Back up to where they are… and get em on a winning streak Tom Schimmer CC Image by US Army Garrison Red Cloud https://flic.kr/p/jfcWi4
  • 28. Make it worth the effort. Narrow the gap. CC Image by Theodore Chenhttps://flic.kr/p/32egeo
  • 29. Got grit? CC Image from az https://flic.kr/p/87VgbN Resiliency craves confidence…
  • 30. Winners and Losers? Rethink how we honour cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo by lee: http://flickr.com/photos/leecullivan/3948336553/
  • 31. Change the streak. Change the story. CC Image by Ladyvee9 https://flic.kr/p/8dwV21
  • 33. Outdoor Education CHOICES Innovation Days Genius Hour Passion Projects Inquiry Project-Based Learning
  • 34. CC Image from Stephen Topp https://flic.kr/p/dxPo8M Home-School Communication
  • 35. Embrace the TEAM. Pull Together CC Image From United Nations Photo https://flic.kr/p/63GTKW
  • 37.
  • 38. Changing the stories “With a piece of chalk” http://youtu.be/mBZAFJ-Q6Mw
  • 39. Connect With Me www.chriswejr.com About.me/ChrisWejr @chriswejr chriswejr@gmail.com

Editor's Notes

  1. Schimmer winning and losing streaks and how to shift the streak. not so much about beating others but streaks of successes, failures. “learned helplessness,” repeated failures teach people not even to try. Low confidence suppresses creativity and risk taking… and can create anxiety If we can create small success, we can snap the streak. Success breeds confidence, confidence breed success Not too low, not too high. Find the sweet spot of confidence. We know students who are on losing streaks… how do we get them on a winning streak
  2. Start them off with a real success and build from there. Suz – pitch where they can hit it and challenge from there. If we see streaks of setbacks with no success… need to break this. Success in another area? I suck at math –Gabby – grade 6 – struggled with anxiety. Would not even try… crumpled up papers, arms crossed. Differentiated. Worked with younger students teaching math. Changed the way I taught and assessed. I backed up to where she was. I avoided numbers, x’s and checks – just feedback. she was teaching the grade 5’s… had the confidence, enjoyed math. We changed the streak… and changed the story.
  3. As humans, before we act – have a choice – is this worth the effort? Likelihood of success determines amount of effort people put in If the gap between the goal and what we think we can accomplish is too large, we often move on. Brakes in my car… look this up… not worth it. Replace toilets… I can do that. Meet kids where they are and help them build small successes so they can see that it IS worth their effort. With effort, they can SEE and FEEL success. Not about being a cheerleader. Authentic success.
  4. There is a ton of focus on grit – the stick to itness to overcome hurdles and obstacles. Concerns with this. All we have to do is work harder? While I think determination and struggle are so important in education – it is difficult to stick with anything or bounce back without confidence. Start with what they know… build confidence from there. Embrace struggle. Build resilience. Not about telling kids they are great. We need REAL successes. Growth mindset. – Carol Dweck – intelligence can be developed with effort. Nothing is fixed when we are born Helps to create a story and Identity as LEARNERS.
  5. Education is not a zero sum game. If we believe that all children can learn, all children have strengths… how do things like Awards fit into this model? What stories do traditional awards create? How many students have skills and strengths that do not go honoured? Do not get acknowledged? Rethink honour. honour - automatically go to awards that often happen at the end of the year? Just because I say we shouldn’t have awards does not mean all kids should get some prize in education. Rethink honour, go deeper than awards – honour our kids by embracing and showcasing their strengths Lets work to make it less of a game for our students. Honour who they are… honour what they do. More often and for more students.
  6. Do our assessment practices in school build confidence? Would we mark and grade at home with our kids like we do at school? DO we encourage a growth mindset? Get em on a winning streak of small successes… start with their strengths, build confidence, then challenge and embrace the struggle and growth. Confidence + strengths + interests of our students… we get more engagement.
  7. How we teach and the conditions we create are what makes the difference.
  8. Tap into strengths and interestsof teachers and students Slow down – take the time Go through each off the ideas CHOICES - Canoe building, CSI, Glee club, flag football, stop motion video, readers theatre, lego architects, bird watching A quote from a parent… I know on Wednesdays I don’t have to ask “what did you do in school?... They just tell me”
  9. Mutual stress What is our first contact with parents? How do our parents feel when they see the school’s number come up or when the teacher or principal approaches them? How does the teacher or principal feel when a parent approaches? Are we sharing the positives? Take the time. Make the effort. Build the relationship.
  10. Are we embracing the strengths and expertise of our students’ team? Strength of student? Family? Extended family? ALL staff?
  11. Met Dom in my visit to the school when he was in grade 4 Asked for him to be in my grade 5/6 class. Was stubborn, withdrawn, reluctant learner met with my principal – what is he good at? Didn’t know – all I knew was that he would not do any work. FIND OUT Met with Dom one recess. Lived with his grandma (mom was too young when she had him), took a bus 2 hours each day Loved music – both loved Johnny Cash Was a drumming leader in his community… BOOM. Set up our FNSW to work with him at recesses. Asked if he would play in front of class – declined but then talked into it. Sang and drummed, beads of sweat… huge roar of applause. Other joined in... Played in in front of our class each Monday. Played in front of our school for every event. Formed a group – Sacred Connection. Part of the Pre-Olympic performance. Drummer with all the adults in a Pow-Wow we had at our school. Friendships grew… he did the learning tasks in class! last day of school… he missed the bus. We found him in the class crying. Huge hug. Did not want the year to end. Now 16, Dom spoke at the local Erase Bullying and I spoke to Surrey Supt Jordan Tinney – Dom was the highlight.
  12. Dome continues to lead. Sings and Drums for Kent school events. We all have a story of someone like Dom. How do we do this more often?
  13. Teach me. strength’s are acknowledge… they rise up. When we bring in the strengths we can change the stories of our students. We know some students are better are at school than others… but do we have processes in school that ignore some strengths and highlight others… Strength-based nursing – McGill University