Zooming In on Connecting Through Conversation with Erika Bare and Tiffany Burns
Tiffany Burns on the left, Erika Bare on the right
Outline
Introduction and Background of Participants
Melissa Milner introduces herself as the host of the Teacher as podcast, highlighting its growth and encouraging listeners to rate and review it on Apple Podcasts.
Erika Bare introduces herself as a superintendent in Southern Oregon, detailing her 20+ years of experience in education, including roles as a special education teacher, high school assistant principal, elementary principal, and Director of Student Services.
Tiffany Burns shares her extensive experience in education, including teaching at various levels and her current role as an administrator since 2012. She mentions her recent sabbatical to write a book with Erica.
Erika and Tiffany discuss their collaboration on a book titled "Connecting Through Conversation: A Playbook for Talking with Students," which they have been using for professional development across the country.
Meeting and Collaboration on the Book
Erika and Tiffany met during a program to become administrators, where they formed a strong bond over their shared love for students and educators.
They discuss the genesis of their book idea, which emerged from their experiences as first-year administrators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Erika recounts how Tiffany's effective strategies for rebuilding connections with students during Zoom meetings led to the realization that they needed to write a book on the topic.
Melissa Milner praises the book for its practicality and immediate applicability, suggesting it could be used for professional development and book studies in schools.
Vision and Structure of the Book
Erika and Tiffany explain their vision for the book, aiming to provide practical tools for every educator, including teachers, paras, administrators, office staff, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers.
They emphasize the importance of creating a culture where every student feels cared for, loved, and included.
The book is designed to be a quick, conversational read with practical strategies that can be implemented immediately.
Melissa shares her experience of using the book's strategies in her classroom and suggests using the book for staff meetings and book clubs.
Key Pointers for Connecting Through Conversation
Erika and Tiffany outline three key ideas for building connected relationships: listening well, having trust, and treating everyone with dignity.
They discuss the importance of recognizing when to talk and when to not talk, especially when students are experiencing big emotions.
Tiffany emphasizes the need to treat every student with dignity by acknowledging their identity and making them feel valued and included.
Erika highlights the importance of honor your commitments and apologizing well when mistakes are made, to build trust with students.
Implementing the Book's Strategies in Schools
Melissa and Erika discuss the potential use of the book's strategies in schools, including using the book for professional development and book studies.
Erika mentions the availability of a free downloadable book study guide on their website and offers a discount code for bulk purchases.
Melissa shares her school's approach to connectedness surveys and the importance of creating a positive school culture.
They discuss the balance between external motivation (e.g., yays) and intrinsic motivation (e.g., care out loud) in fostering a positive school environment.
Conscious Choices vs. Impulses
Erika and Tiffany explain the difference between conscious choices and impulses, using Tim Feeney's teachings.
They emphasize the importance of helping students recognize and make conscious choices, especially in high-stress situations.
Tiffany shares a technique called "I'll know you're ready when" to help students make conscious choices and avoid power struggles.
Erika and Tiffany discuss the importance of modeling and reinforcing positive behaviors and the role of care out loud in building connections with students.
Behavioral Approaches and Mindset
Erika and Tiffany discuss the importance of separating behavior from the student's identity, using the care out loud behavioral approach.
They emphasize the need for a growth mindset, where behavior is seen as something that can be changed and improved.
Tiffany shares a story about her son using the say it and run technique, highlighting its effectiveness.
They discuss the importance of providing students with clear expectations and avoiding power struggles by walking away after stating the expectation.
Final Thoughts and Resources
Erika and Tiffany reiterate the importance of connection in education and the need for intentional efforts to build connected and caring environments.
They mention their online course, which includes short videos and discussion questions, as a resource for professional development.
Melissa suggests the idea of a podcast for Erika and Tiffany, and they express interest in the idea.
The episode concludes with Melissa thanking Erika and Tiffany for their time and contributions, and they discuss the potential for future collaboration.