There is no cat in my school library, but there are plenty of books and LOTS of coffee! In their exploration of the effects of a positive mindset on school culture, Conyers and Wilson suggest 4 strategies for promoting practical optimism. Practical optimism…practicalities that back up a genuinely positive approach to the day to day. Their four strategies include:
- Feeling good by doing good
- Sharpen your focus on a positive outlook
- Frequently say two simple words: thank you
- Move your body to boost your mind
These all have merit but it is the first strategy – feeling good by doing good – that has caught my interest. It reminds me of the importance of my library being a warm, inviting and safe space for students and teachers – a third space – as Lori Korodaj refers to it in her 2019 article for Scan.
The importance of adopting a positive and proactive stance in relation to student and teacher wellbeing has been front and centre for our library team this term. Students are exhausted and teachers are spent – with no less than 15 events over the 9 week term in the Junior School. And we have seen this demonstrated in the library with a declining standard of student behaviour during teacher led borrowing sessions. From Year 2 boys racing through the senior non-fiction shelves, to Year 4 disturbing senior students in study periods by crawling under tables, we have struggled, at times, to maintain our positive outlook when we see particular classes approaching the front doors.
However, being able to do good by allowing the class teacher to step back for 45 mins and hide in the office with a cup of tea or coffee, and some chocolate from the secret stash has given us the opportunity to contribute to building a positive mindset in our school. We can’t change the mindset in other areas of the school. But we can sure make our space somewhere students and teachers look forward to coming. You’d be surprised how willing teachers are to put their feet up and read through and review picture books that have just been delivered – even through the tears!
A cup of coffee, a book and a bit of a break. Simple servant leadership that builds teachers up to face what’s left of their day. I hope it’s infectious.
References:
Conyers, M. & Wilson, D. (2017, March 6). The effects of a positive mindset on school culture. EdCircuit. https://edcircuit.com/effects-positive-mindset-school-culture/
Korodaj, L. (2019). The library as ‘third space’ in your school. Scan, 38. https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/professional-learning/scan/past-issues/vol-38–2019/the-library-as-third-space-in-your-school
Image credit:
Cats, Books and Coffee. https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=411679&picture=cat-coffee-book-poster (used under CC0 1.0 Universal)