Sylvia Long Allan: Empowering Students One Morning Meeting at a Time

Sylvia Long Allan, principal at Vineyard Elementary, shared an enthusiastic, enlightening, and empowering message, on Morning Meetings and the positive impact they can have in a classroom. She spoke from her own experience of teaching her fifth grade class, shared things that happened when she was a teacher, and expressed, with passion, what morning meetings did for her and her students. She shared stories that made us laugh and cry.

Sylvia's first piece of advice was for teachers to "stay balanced!" and followed through with, "your mind has to rest some time" she said.

She reminded us that the students will come to school with worries. The morning meeting is the one place that 100% of the students are successful. Morning meeting is where each student will find their voice, she assured. It also solved 90% of her class management problems, because it will empower the students to solve their own problems.

EVERY BEHAVIOR THAT IS REWARDED INCREASES! Sylvia encouraged us to respond positively to students, even when they may say something negative. Body language is important to note here as well. If we walk away from a students' comment, without acknowledgement, even if it is in a simple effort to move forward with the lesson, we have discounted their contribution, and they will feel that they do not matter, or that they were wrong. It validated her students, when she asked a student to answer a question, and their classmates raised their hands in agreement. She was careful to point out to the student how many of their classmates agreed with them. This uplifted the student who took a risk. They had incentive to contribute to discussions later when they had positive experiences such as this.

Reducing anxiety will help the classroom environment significantly. She taught us how to help students feel comfortable when the teacher is in close proximity and to tell students that if they would like 'thinking time', or to 'pass' on an answer, that it is just fine. Students feel a sense of control when they know what is ok to say and do in an open discussion. Also, giving students a 'year at a glance' sheet will give them a sense of direction. When these goals are met as a class they will know that they have accomplished something great.

She helped us understand the importance of teaching students loyalty. This is important in the class setting and in the community. She demonstrated this with her students when they were learning how to show true concern for their classmates in the sharing portion of the morning meeting with appropriate questions and comments. This is also demonstrated on a bigger scale, when a controversial subject such as politics comes up in the class discussion, and the teacher has a chance to show respect for the leaders of our nation. Students will learn how to look for the good in others, how to show respect in proper ways, and how to focus on what they have control over and not waste energy on the things they cannot influence, when a teacher cares enough to demonstrate this herself in class discussions.

Helping the students know that they can weather the storms in life was another great strategy Sylvia uses. She said, "it is ok to cry...just don't fall to pieces." I think this statement will help me even more than the students. Her explanation of storms and ways to handle what life can dish out, was a great way to help students see that they can put things into perspective, and that they will be stronger when they do.

Students were encouraged to memorize empowering messages in her class. They were taught to say it with passion so that it was believable. They had class cheers and would rotate leaders for this. She would teach literary terms as they would discuss the works they read or memorized. Students reflected their thoughts on what authors meant or what it means to them. She took time to let the students know that they had great potential by making parallels in their life to experiences of great leaders or people with great character.

Teachers like Sylvia Long Allan are not just great teachers, they are life changing teachers!! She shared the miraculous stories of what morning meetings did for her fifth grade students and from this was able to share the unity with an entire school when she became the principal. She implemented morning meetings each Monday morning and shares the powerful bonding experience with all of the students of Vineyard Elementary. They spotlight celebrations, birthdays, Viking of Valor awards, and have the student council perform skits on character ed. Each student at Vineyard Elementary is learning great lessons while being given opportunities to, be affirmed, a contributor, feel powerful, have purpose, and the meet challenges, as they embrace the knowledge that they can and will succeed.