On November 27th the KCDSB spent the Professional Development Day with Dr. Emily Wang, Director at Hull Child and Family Services and Denise Manderson, Program Director for Hull School.
The team spoke about rational approaches in the classroom and the connection to relationship-based school communities. The speakers provided insights into the brain and how it operates, as well as strategies to support self-regulation so students can access the thinking part of their brain, learn more effectively and retain information.
Sue Devlin Mental Health Lead helped organize the event. "It's important for us to remember the positive impact we have on a child in shaping their view of the world. Small, positive moments can have a big impact on students. We have the capacity to regulate students through our relationships with them regardless of their experiences outside of school."
Students come to school with invisible suitcases. When a student is dysregulated, they only hear 20 percent of what the teacher is saying. The experiences that students have outside of the school can cause them to behave in ways we don't understand. "If we can change our paradigm shift," says Sue, "we can support our students and build relationships that heal students and support their achievement, mental health and well-being."