Draft Session 5 1

Taking A Solution Oriented Approach in Educational Settings

Links and Applications

Session 5

Draft Session 5 2

Recap

Solution Oriented Meetings

• Focus on solution building

• Focus on solution talk

Holding A Solution Oriented Meeting

• Discussion [strengths, challenges…]

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Links to Policy and Guidance

Curriculum for Excellence• Health and Wellbeing• Universal and Targeted SupportGetting It Right For Every Child [GIRFEC]• Wellbeing indicators• PlanningAdditional Support for Learning Act 2004• Supporting Children’s LearningIncluded, Engaged, Involved Part 2 : a positive approach to managing exclusion

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ACTIVITY

• In pairs/threes discuss how Solution Oriented Practice can support the Policy and Guidance which underpins our work.

• Share examples

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Applications in Education

• Classroom / group work

• Direct work with individual children

• Meetings with parents and pupils

• Re admission meetings

• Multidisciplinary meetings

• Staff meetings / interactions

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Class/ Group WorkPEOPLE HAVE THE NECESSARY

RESOURCES TO MAKE CHANGES

• Each individual has a range of competencies which are adequate to deal with the issues they face

• Help the individual to discover their resources don't try to 'help' them with a solution

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Taking A solution Oriented Approach …

Classroom/group Work

• Focusing on pupils’ strengths

• Builds a context of possibilities

• Builds co operation and collaboration

• Opens children up to new ideas

• Produces positive energy for meeting challenges

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Class/group work A FOCUS ON FUTURE

POSSIBILITIES ENHANCES CHANGE

• Using language which focuses on the future, on change, and leaves the problem in the past behind

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Class/group Work Describing learning /achievement as fluid

and capable of change with time, effort and attitude rather than static and dependent on fixed ability encourages pupils to take risks, be less scared of failure and rise to challenges (C.Dweck)

• Two stars and a wish• How pleased were you with that out of 10?• What would make one better?

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Class/group WorkIF IT WORKS DO MORE OF IT; IF IT

DOESN’T WORK, TRY SOMETHING ELSE

• Challenging 'what we usually do‘ critically

• Examining the effectiveness of current practice, and

• Imagining other alternatives

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WOWW

• Working On What Works is an approach which has been proven to improve whole class application and behaviour

• Based on regular observation and feedback of specific positives and strengths to the whole group (Berg and Shuts 2002)

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Activity

• In pairs / threes discuss how you could take a solution oriented approach in class/ group work

• Gather examples together and share

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Direct Work With Children

• Discussion of strengths incl. out of school

• Focus on general goals, interests work

• Talk of past successes, coping strategies

• Ways of learning-what works?

• Who would notice change?

• How to deal with setbacks?

• Discuss goals and specific targets

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Direct Work with Children-Handy Hints

• Give compliments• Turn round negatives - so you hate everything?• Use coping questions -that must have been

tough• Articulate feelings - so you are feeling….• Use peer group - what do your mates think?• Use when, not if, things change• Use visual images eg video question

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Direct work with children-goal setting

• How will you know it has been worth meeting?

• What would your teacher, mum, mates say we should be talking about?

• What will others see you doing differently?

• How much on a scale of 1-10 do you want there to be change?

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Activity Direct Work with Individual Children

• In pairs pick one of the scripts - 5 Minute interviews, the characteristics of a good short conversation, working with adolescents, quick interview.

• Read it over together and consider how you might use the approach described

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Staff Meetings / InteractionsLANGUAGE MOULDS AND SHAPES

HOW WE MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD

• Emphasising the positive, the possibilities, and being ''future oriented"

• Reframing issues in possible language - what it will be like once a "solution" has been achieved

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Staff Meetings / Interactions

• The more the habit of appreciation is used in an organisation the greater the chances of its success

• Direct via supervision, appraisal, team meetings

• Indirect via positive gossip; change the gossip and you change an organisation

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Activity

In pairs/threes

Discuss

• How can you create positive gossip? Gather examples together and share.

and / or

• How can you make your staff meetings solution oriented? Gather examples together and share.

Draft Session 5 20

For Next Time

Consolidate learning

Reflect on learning

Focus on strengths, preferred future and

Goals

Reading: Bernadette Cairns’ report