Values Beat Norms, Hands Down!

For some reason, the term norms has always brushed me the wrong way. When facilitators present norms at the beginning of a meeting or PD session, I catch myself saying, under my breath, “I know how to act.” Although I understand why such rules are reviewed, it feels belittling to me. So I’ve resisted establishing norms in the groups I work with.
 
What feels better, to me, is to establish values for our group. If it is a group I’ll be working with long-term, like a team or department, we take a slow, thoughtful route to naming our shared values. The process goes something like this:
 
First, we think individually about how we want our collective space to feel. We might take some time to write longhand about it, but then we find key words and write them on sticky notes – one word per sticky. Next we spread out our stickies on a table or chart and begin an activity called affinity mapping. Participants silently move stickies into groups that seem alike. If someone doesn’t like where a sticky is, they move it. This process continues until groups have been formed and there’s no more sticky movement. (Note: For groups of 7 or more, this process can happen first in small groups, combining later.)
 
The next step is to identify trends by labeling each group of stickies. We talk about this, then put the label on a sticky at the top of each group. Repeated words give us clues. If there’s a stand-alone sticky, we decide, together, whether to keep it or set it aside. If contradictory ideas are represented, we talk about how we might navigate diverse individual needs amongst shared values.
 
From the groups that have been noticed and named, we prioritize our top values. That doesn’t mean the others disappear, but it does help us focus on what is most important. Sometimes we accomplish this prioritization through discussion and consensus. Sometimes (especially in large groups) it’s more like a vote, with each participant listing their top 3, in order, on a sticky. Even when using the tallying approach, we double-back conversationally to allow for dissent or fine-tuning. If these are going to be our shared values, we have to make sure they are shared! The values should capture how we want our group to feel and act.
 
Next, we do a Silent Chalk Talk or a not-so-silent Gallery Walk, creating anchor charts for each of the core values we have identified. This gives everyone a chance to show what this value means to them. The charts bring each value to life, describing how it will look, sound, and feel. They provide descriptors for our actions.
 
The beginning of a new school year is a wonderful time to establish group values. Even for pre-existing groups, an exercise like this provides powerful recalibration and energy for the work ahead. For me, values beat norms, hands down!
 
This week, you might want to take a look at:

Instant mood-boosters (great for beginning a PD – or for yourself!):
 
https://aestheticsofjoy.com/2020/10/17/8-quick-things-you-can-do-right-now-to-boost-your-mood/
 
 
A checklist for effective assessment use:
 
https://resources.corwin.com/sites/default/files/Checklist_Using_Assessments_Effectively.pdf
 
This learning/PD/collaboration tool – Box It Out:
 
https://www.thecoachingsketchnotebook.com/2021/09/a-new-tool-for-pd-box-it-out.html
 
 
Coaching questions for exploring the role of classroom talk:
 
https://choiceliteracy.com/article/helping-students-develop-conversational-identity/
 
 
When students struggle with emotions related to social-media use:
 
https://williamdparker.com/2023/07/05/pmp351-understanding-how-to-serve-generations-with-will-parker-and-jen-schwanke/
 
That’s it for this week. Happy Coaching!
 
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Hooray!!! My book, Differentiated Mentoring & Coaching in Education: From Preservice Teacher to Expert Practitioner is available from Teachers College Press!  I’m so excited to share it with you! You can use the code: AUG2023 for 15% off plus FREE SHIPPING. Click  here  and I’ll email you the free Book Group Study Guide that includes questions, prompts, and activities you can use as you share the book with colleagues.  I hope you’ll love this book as much as I loved making it for you!
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