The Science of Gratitude for Schools & Improving Your Learning Community

98-535 Kaonohi Street,Aiea HI 96701

23 February, 2023

Description

Session Title: The Science of Gratitude and Its Impact on School Wellbeing All humans crave connection. We all want to feel like we belong—like we are seen and valued for who we are. When we feel appreciated—and when we share our appreciation with others in return—we create positive connections, positive relationships, and positive communities. Our approach integrates seamlessly into existing routines and practices that strengthen staff and student well-being and social-emotional skills through gratitude. Students and staff use research-backed practices to nurture mental health and improve academic success. Our unique "low-lift high-impact" process creates positive relationships and inclusive school communities where all students and educators feel safe, valued, and connected. Developed for and with students in low-income, high-trauma communities, we asked students these key questions: what do you need to feel safe? What do you need to feel like you belong? Built on students’ feedback, our three-pronged approach—a digital platform, curriculum, and professional development—facilitates positive, peer-to-peer engagement. Unlike social media platforms, where everyone can see who is being included, excluded, and bullied on the digital playground, our private one-on-one messages allow students to build community through confidential notes of appreciation. While both students and teachers participate, the teacher dashboard monitors student engagement and connection and provides an ability to coach students to improve classroom culture and inclusivity. Name of Session Presenter(s): Michael Fauteux Brief Bio for Presenter(s): Michael Fauteux, Ed.M., is the Executive Director and Co-founder of the nonprofit GiveThx, a digital tool, and curriculum that builds school culture and belonging using gratitude. Mike is an 18-year educator committed to increasing equity in education. He has served as the innovator in residence at Leadership Public Schools, where he formerly worked as the Director of Innovation, managing personalized learning innovations and partnership development. His past innovation work includes co-creating ExitTicket, a real-time student response system, and co-creating Gooru’s Learning Navigator, a personalized learning companion. A former academic dean and master mathematics teacher, Mr. Fauteux holds a B.A. in History from Brown University and an Ed.M. from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Session Title: Close the Pandemic Academic GapBrief Description: The pandemic has taken a toll on students’ education. Join us to learn more about how we can make up for missed school time, recover credits, and catch students up to speed with high-dosage tutoring (HDT) and summer school instruction. With the help of HDT and quality summer school instruction, students are taught in one-to-one or small group settings, where instructors can match students’ learning pace and more easily pick up knowledge gaps. Our teachers and instructors are not only certified, background checked, and have at least 5 years of teaching experience, but they are also specifically trained in the Enriched Live Instruction Model to provide the ultimate remote learning experience for students. Name of Session Presenter(s): Dr. Michael Robinson Brief Bio for Presenter(s): Dr. Michael Robinson, VP of School Partnerships, has over 30 years of experience as an educational professional with strong expertise in education software, and is committed to meeting and exceeding the goals and objectives of his school partnerships. He achieved a steadfast progression through a series of management roles in public education, for which he has a strong passion. He believes in forming long-lasting partnerships with school districts and educational professionals in order to meet the individual needs of all students. Therefore, he places a high focus on the continuous promotion of differentiated learning. He is also extremely knowledgeable in the development and management of the complex implementation of software and services in small, medium, and large school districts.