This document discusses moving education towards a strengths-based model that focuses on students' strengths rather than deficits. It emphasizes connecting with students by understanding their interests, skills and stories. Specific strategies are proposed like determining students' strengths through surveys, passion projects, and inquiry-based learning. The goal is to shift school culture by starting with one student and tapping into their strengths to increase engagement and confidence. Educators are encouraged to see students' strengths by changing their lens and designing learning experiences around students' profiles and interests.

1. Start With
STRENGTHS:
change the lens
change the STORY
For the Staff of Enver Creek Secondary
September 26, 2016
CCImagefromEtherealWorldhttps://flic.kr/p/4BDBPS
Chris Wejr
chriswejr.com
@chriswejr

2. What Matters

3. "I come to you humbly not to tell you
what to do on your journey but to share
with you what I have learned on mine”
Wab Kinew
cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo by Thompson Rivers University:
http://flickr.com/photos/thompsonrivers/8518479289/

4. Learning Intentions
• I can share the WHY of strengths-based education
• I can share ways to help shift the lens to a more
strengths-based model
• I can share the strengths of myself and the Enver
Creek Secondary School community
• I can devise methods to determine the strengths of
our students (and/or staff)
• I can share ideas to move to a strength-based
model in my classroom and/or school
• I can identify ONE student with whom I will connect
with and tap into his/her strengths.

5. #startwithstrengths

6. Our stories shape
who we are

7. Stories about ourselves
Video: http://vimeo.com/66058153

8. We teach who we are. Parker
Palmer

9. ACTIVITY:
Sharing the strengths of
ourselves.
REFLECT: What is a strength of
YOURS?
With a partner, share a story of how
you use this strength at school.

10. WHY
Strengths-Based
Education?

11. “Connection is
why we are here.
We are hardwired to
connect with
others
-- Brene Brown
cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo by Andrew:
http://flickr.com/photos/30235101@N06/3344044448/

12. Student
Struggles
CC Image from Poughkeepsie Day School http://bit.ly/2d97uOc

13. Raising children is far more than just fixing what is wrong
with them. It is about identifying and amplifying their
strengths and virtues, and helping them find the niche
where they can live these positive traits to the fullest.
Dr. Martin Seligman
chriswejr.com

16. A Shifting Demographic…

17. Stories
Strengths
Interests
Confidence
Meaning
SEL
Engagement

19. “We don’t know who we can be…
until we know what we can do”
-- Sir Ken
Robinson

20. The Stories of
our Students

21. The Story of
Amy
CC Image from Marzia http://flic.kr/p/524Dsy

22. Is our students’ work at school both a reflection of
who THEY are and what WE want them to do?
CCimagefromBradFlickingerhttps://flic.kr/p/b9wDhg

23. Exploring who they are…
creating their stories
CC Image by Wonderlane https://flic.kr/p/cDeCGs

24. ACTIVITY: Who is your Amy?
Share the story of ONE student who
has strengths, interests, and/or skills
that may not be recognized in school.

25. Agassiz
Centre
for
Educatio
n
New
Stories
From Vancouver Sun

27. Stories
Strengths
Interests
Confidence
Meaning
SEL
Engagement

28. CC Image: http://flic.kr/p/bhvabR
Each child has a gift... We
need to see and nurture these
gifts so they emerge and
flourish throughout an
individual’s life.
-- Lorna Williams

29. What are “strengths”?

30. Strength of Character

32. Strength of
Skill
Images from
Langley Schools

33. What strengths-based
education is NOT
• Ignoring the struggles of our students
• Bubble wrapping
• Inauthentic feedback: telling students they
are awesome and amazing for no apparent
reason
• Giving awards to everyone
• Letting students do whatever they want
whenever they want

34. STRENGT
H S
s t r u g g l e s

35. What we see…
Depends on what we look
CCImagebyRyanHaddadhttps://flic.kr/p/inZ5S

36. “But the other side is unbaked.
The side of strengths, the
side of what we are good at,
the side…of what makes life
worth living.”
Dr. Martin Seligman
“Psychology is half-baked, literally half-baked. We
have baked the part about mental illness. We have
baked the part about repair and damage…”
Image from Pixgood

37. CC Image from Trottalot https://flic.kr/p/a4YZhT
Training ourselves to look
through strengths-tinted glasses

38. Looking through a new lens
https://youtu.be/mZedcQoY0iw

39. Our students’ strengths are not
carrots to be dangled to get them
to comply… they are valuable
resources to be tapped and
embedded in their learning.
CC Image from ChrisCook04 https://flic.kr/p/87cZ6L

40. Photo: nasrulekram

41. Changing the lens
of Grade 10 Girls PE
Lifestyles PE
cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo by Boston Public Library:
http://flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/6198183420/

42. A School Built on Strengths
My students OUR STUDENTS

43. -30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
.
Research from the Corporate Leadership Council, 2002
Strengths
+36.4%
Weakness
es
-26.8%

44. ACTIVITY: See. Think.
Wonder.
Image: Todd Rose, The End of Average

45. Todd Rose – End of Average
https://youtu.be/4eBmyttcfU4

46. ACTIVITY: Pair-Share
How does the story of US Air
Force pilots relate to education?
Discuss with a partner, then share
out.

47. Jagged Learning Profiles
Design to the Edges

48. CC Image From Tony Baldasaro https://flic.kr/p/cDBuUs
CC Image from Terry Priest https://flic.kr/p/hrxqQ
Find the
Fireflies
Rachel Macy Stafford

49. Stories
Strengths
Interests
Confidence
Meaning
SEL
Engagement

50. “To shift a cycle from
decline to success,
leaders must restore
people’s confidence”
--Rosabeth Moss Kanter

51. Back up to where
they are…
and get em on a
winning streak
Tom Schimmer
CC Image by US Army Garrison Red Cloud https://flic.kr/p/jfcWi4

52. CC Image by Theodore Chenhttps://flic.kr/p/32egeo
Make it worth the effort.
Narrow the gap.

53. Resiliency
craves
confidence

54. Think like…
a coach
a director
a choreographer
a leader

55. Change the streak.
Change the story.
CC Image by Ladyvee9 https://flic.kr/p/8dwV21

56. Stories
Strengths
Interests
Confidence
Meaning
SEL
Engagement

57. “We cannot motivate others…
we can only work to
create the conditions for people
to motivate themselves.”
-- Edward Deci and Richard Ryan
Image: http://flic.kr/p/8zWLAj

58. Strengths-Based
Education
HOW?

59. Let it go!

60. A Strengths-Based Culture

61. CHOICES
Passion Projects
Innovation Days
Inquiry
Project-Based
Learning
Genius Hour
Outdoor Education
Blended Learnin

62. "When there is space for kids to
create, connect, explore - magic
happens”
Neil Stephenson
CC Image by Linus Bohman
https://flic.kr/p/grtNE

63. #HypeTheTrench
Thomas Haney Secondary School

64. Club Days
Riverside Secondary School
Images:
Pam Becker

66. Passion Projects
@_MrsBarb

67. Middle Earth 12 – Glen Thielmann
middleearth12.blogspot.ca
CC Image from James Losey https://flic.kr/p/nhJsAA

68. Learning With Strengths – Comox Valley
image via BCPVPA http://bit.ly/1LFZQmi

69. Tapping into the strengths for Lit 12
Video from Naryn Searcy http://bit.ly/1hUGOJG

70. ACTIVITY: Appreciative Inquiry
What are the strengths of our school
community (students and staff)? What
makes us who we are? What do we do
well?
List/draw on the chart paper.

71. Determine the Strengths
Observe, be curious
Spend time with students
Make space for the strengths to come
out
Character Strengths Survey:
www.viacharacter.org

72. Who are the students?
(Leyton Schnellert, 2011)
Who am I?
Words that
describe me:
My hopes and
dreams for
myself:
My favourite
books/stories:
Things I’d like
you to know
about me
Things I like to
do when I am
alone:
Things I am
good at or
interested in:
Things I like
to do with my
friends:
Things I like
to do with my
family:
The easiest
way for me to
show what I
know is:
Things I would like to
get better at in this
class are:
THIS IS
ME!

73. ACTIVITY: IDEA Generator
We know that connection is key to all that we do.
HOW do we bring in the strengths of our
students more often in classrooms and school
to create better connection and increased
engagement?
Include new ideas and ideas that you are already doing.
Document the ideas on the chart paper. Tape on the
wall.
Complete a gallery walk to see the ideas of others.

74. CHANGE

76. Reflect.
Tap into your
strengths.
Tap into our
students’ strengths.
Start change with
one thing…
Now.
cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo by Rita M.: http://flickr.com/photos/fotorita/2031523502/

77. Start with
ONE

78. ACTIVITY:
I used to think…
but NOW I think…

79. Create the conditions.
Be designers of learning.
Neil Stephenson
CC Image by Frank Wuestefeld https://flic.kr/p/7yvVKy

80. Try something new. Take a risk.
http://youtu.be/iMzgl0nFj3s

81. Stories
Strengths
Interests
Confidence
Meaning
SEL
Engagement

82. Start With Strengths.
Change the Lens.
• Train yourself to see the strengths.
• Start with ONE student. Connect through
strengths.
• Design to the edges of jagged profiles.
• Engage through strengths and interests.
• Shift school culture one student and one
adult at a time.
• Start today.
Change the
story.

84. Bringing out the
BEST in Ashley
Video: https://youtu.be/3nZyo-jHr8Q

85. #startwithstrengths

86. Connect With Me
www.chriswejr.com
About.me/ChrisWejr
@chriswejr
chriswejr@gmail.com