Being Connected!! The second of the school's new values

If we are being both connected and courageous  ( te hono me te maia) :

We realistically need to look at our situation through a different lens. What are learners really needing right now? They need to fill happy and settled and some sort of normal routines being put back in their lives. 

They have been and still are being courageous by coping with what they have been through. They have now spent almost 10 weeks back at school where they are still be courageous and also connected: resilient, being part of a community, visible and included, sociable and flexible.

The past couple of years have been a challenge for our learners. And it continues to be. 

Through working with Devs and the new team to continue to develop the school wide concept and statement of collaboration I feel this will be a supportive tool for the learners so they can continue  to  build on their ability to be courageous and connected.  No one knows what lies ahead so in helping them to develop the skills of collaboration we are also helping to set them up with the resilience to be a life long learner and have the skills in their kete to cope with life after school.

To support my learning on the strategic goal around collaboration, I am also wondering how the use of Lego play and therapy,  role modelling and use of ENGAGE games, may enhance the children's knowledge and understanding of collaboration. Through these supports they may gain an insight into  what collaboration looks, sounds and feels like. The staff  are modelling the school valuesof courageous and connected

Soooooooo..

To align with my overarching goal, my other hunch is with the use of certain supports, children can learn the tools for collaboration with peers and familiar adults. 

These activities are chosen carefully so that they are happy and motivated to learn. 

For example we have played:

Musical chairs. Why? 

The children go to parties, but how do they react when they lose?

In a safe environment we support them around loosing, repeat, practice and don't judge.  
One child went from being very upset at not wining, to now saying it is ok to lose!! (It took a term of playing musical chairs about 3x a week)

However when we played:

Pass the parcel

The rules were shared and discussed. The discussion focused around is it ok to win, is it ok to lose?

The game was played and the end results were fantastic. The specific child did not win, did say it was ok to lose and also said well done to the winner! He was able to transfer his learning.

He also went on to transfer his learning to a race over an obstacle course. He lost 2 times, but his behaviour was great.

His and our next step is for him to transfer his learning to situations outside of school.