Caring Connections

Many of us already find time within our hectic schedules as teachers to show care for one another. Whether it be through short conversations we have before the school day begins or the moments together during a lunch break, we prioritize short interactions with others. But did you know these short interactions impact and are essential for our health and wellbeing? Supportive relationships between colleagues are one of the most essential levers in supporting teacher wellbeing during times of conflict. Even short interactions can impact the experience and wellbeing of teachers. Dedicating a little bit of time each day to showing kindness and care for each other can improve the workplace and improve teacher wellbeing. This means that prioritizing all relationships in our school buildings and beyond - not just those between teachers and students - is essential for supporting wellbeing at school. If you’d like to find new ways to connect with colleagues on a regular basis, consider using the following activity to show care to others and build a caring school community.

1. Connect with a colleague at your school and set aside time to have a brief conversation each week. Feel free to choose a colleague you know well, or someone you’d like to get to know better/support. This can happen any time during the day, for example: before school, during a break, at lunch, or at the end of the day.
2. During your conversation, encourage opportunities to show care to one another. This may look like discussing events throughout the week, sharing challenges and opportunities in your classroom, asking questions about life beyond school, or simply sharing how each of you are feeling and coping with that week or day.

• What did it feel like to intentionally use conversation to show care to your colleague?
• When in the day were you able to build time for conversation?
• How might building relationships in brief moments support your wellbeing? How might it build a community of care within your school?
• Are there structural opportunities when you might build in time to connect with colleagues (e.g., staff meetings, TLCs, etc.)