democratic Classroom Leadership
What is democratic Classroom Leadership?
This interactive workshop engages educators to explore hands-on restorative strategies to build democratic classrooms for all learners. By shifting from a “power-over” to a “power-with” framework, educators learn to co-create a learning community with their students where all can find a place of belonging. Educators learn to operationalize culturally responsive teaching resulting in students taking ownership of their learning in unprecedented ways: ELL students acquire language and content with greater facility; all students build 21st Century skills–collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. Workshop participants learn a strength-based pedagogy that recognizes agency in all kinds of students, creating a space for them to become engaged leaders in the classroom and beyond.
Who is it for?
Open to K-12 educators and administrators and college level educators of all content areas.
Key Takeaways
Structures for a Culture of Equity and Culturally-Responsive Practices
Address and discuss issues of identity, race, equity and inclusion so we can more effectively address our own biases (internalized superiority and/or oppression), resulting in students showing up as more whole human beings with their identities intact. And, raise awareness of how students can become active change agents for equity in and outside of the classroom.
Understanding behavior from Anti-Oppression Lens
Learn to understand the student’s beliefs behind the behavior in their striving to find a place of belonging. Learn the four mistaken goals of behavior and how you can turn negative behaviors (“confrontational”, “annoying”, “withdrawn”) into positive opportunities for leadership.
Class Roles & Place of Belonging
Share ownership of and responsibility for the class, teaching and community with students. Build a sense of belonging and purpose for each person.
Class Agreements & Collective Accountability
Create a process in which students collaborate to build curriculum and assessment norms, class-room environment and shared ownership of upholding those agreements with “loving accountability” for their community—moving the teacher from management and “control” to leadership and influence. Move beyond reward & punishment; learn to use restorative practices including natural & logical consequences, encouragement; i.e.: methodologies based on mutual respect (“power with” not “power over”).
Class Meetings/Restorative Circles
Establish a weekly circle to work out all “behavioral”, classroom climate issues (i.e.: opportunities for human growth and connection), to build authentic relationships (student : student and student : educator) and to become a unified team.
Community Building on the Positive
Create a powerful team in which all students are integral to the whole; use Theatre of the Oppressed to build group integrity, cooperation, collaboration and empathy. Enable true student leadership to emerge in classroom community. Learn how to build on the positive while downplaying mistakes and the negative. Learn how to invest in relationships and receive invaluable academic and social-emotional returns on your investment.
Culture of Critical & Systems Thinking Essential for Interdependent Cooperation
Facilitate community learning (a stake in the commons) in which students learn and practice leadership skills to address critical 21st century global issues.
Dual Language & Multilingual Immersion Strategies
Enable students to gain optimum comfort with languages by weaving community and content and integrating curriculum from students’ cultures and lived experiences.