Start With Strengths - Change the Lens. Change the Story

Start With STRENGTHS:change the lens

change the STORY

The FORCE Society‘in the know’ Series

August 27, 2014

Chris Wejrwww.chriswejr.com@chriswejr

CC Image from

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"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

CC Image from Marzia https://flic.kr/p/524Dsy

What STORIES are we telling?

“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

StrengthsInterests

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 AmyCC Image from Don Kennedy https://flic.kr/p/bn4FAs

Is our children’s work at school both a reflection of

who THEY are and what WE want them to do?

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Exploring who they are… creating their stories

CC Image by Wonderlane https://flic.kr/p/cDeCGs

AgassizCentre

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New Stories

From Vancouver Sun

Blog: http://bit.ly/NrekwQ

STRENGTHSdefi 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

CC Image: http://flic.kr/p/bhvabR

Each child has a gift... We need to see and nurture these gifts so they emerge and flourish throughout an individual’s life. -- 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.

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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

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CC Image by Theodore Chenhttps://flic.kr/p/32egeo

Make it worth the effort.Narrow the gap.

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

ENGAGEMENTchanging the stories

CHOICES

Passion Projects

Innovation Days

Inquiry

Project-Based Learning

Genius Hour

Outdoor Education

Home-School Communication

CC Image from Stephen Topp https://flic.kr/p/dxPo8M

Pull TogetherEmbrace the TEAM.

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 Mewww.chriswejr.com

About.me/ChrisWejr

@chriswejr

chriswejr@gmail.com