- Focus on culture and climate in the school and community.
- Train and support all staff regarding trauma and learning.
- Encourage and sustain open and regular communication for all.
- Develop a strengths based approach in working with students and peers.
- Ensure discipline policies are both compassionate and effective (Restorative Practices).
- Weave compassionate strategies into school improvement planning.
- Provide tiered support for all students based on what they need.
- Create flexible accommodations for diverse learners.
- Provide access, voice, and ownership for staff, students and community.
- Use data to:
- Identify vulnerable students, and
- Determine outcomes and strategies for continuous quality improvement.
For more information on the book and about the Compassionate Schools Initiative in Washington, contact Ron Hertel, 360-725-6042, ron.hertel@k12.wa.us.
"The Heart of Learning and Teaching: Compassion, Resiliency, and Academic Success"
Staff from the Student Engagement and Support section of OSPI and the Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University in Bellingham have co-written a 246 page handbook entitled "The Heart of Learning and Teaching: Compassion, Resilience, and Academic Success" as one resource to be used by those schools wishing to adopt a compassionate approach to learning and teaching. In addition to the book, a prepared PPT and script presentation for training purposes can be found under "Resources."
The purpose of the handbook is to inform, validate, and strengthen the collective work of educators to support students whose learning is adversely affected by chronic stress and trauma. This handbook provides information about trauma and learning, self care, classroom strategies, and building parent and community partnerships that work.
It includes many case studies and vignettes from classrooms across Washington as well as an introduction to the Compassionate Schools Initiative.