T is for Teacher, Sarah Mercer’s session

Usually when I attend a conference , it is the plenary session that I find difficult to follow with. Yet ,Sarah Mercer’s blenary session at this iatefl 2017 was one of the best sessions I attended.

She talked about psychologically wise teachers who do 3 key things
A- They develop positive relationships

B- They focus on positivity and growth

C- They nurture their own professional well-being

It is only when we start developing relationships with our students does the learning occurs. Empathy is to be encouraged through small conversations, listening without interruption and a bit of self discourse(share something about ourselves)

psychologically wise teachers always encourage growth of positivity. Sarah mentioned that we as teachers are often negativity bias. How ment times did we say I am rubbish at this and that yet fail to say I am really good at that. It is when we focus on positivity that we reach excellence. And when we focus on what we lack and try to work on that we reach the average only.

She asked the crowd to discuss I am really good at ??  to change the I am rubbish at?

Sarah also touched on the two mindset that i mentioned previously in the following link
In one ear and out the other, feedback why bother?

 

The third thing psychologically wise teachers do is tha they nurture their own professional well-being. Which means they look after themselves

 

 

 

T for teachers, this is how Sarah views iaTefl’s T

You cannot pour from an empty cup

If we are happy we are successful not the other way round