Improving Adult Relationship Practices: The CharacterStrong S.E.R.V.E Model

Summary

In this webinar, Houston Kraft from Character Strong discusses the SERV model for building positive school culture through adult relationship practices. He covers strategies like starting intentionally, engaging relationally, responding with empathy, and practicing values consistently to foster a supportive and respectful educational environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 The webinar focuses on the 'Serve Model', a framework for improving adult relationship practices in schools to foster ongoing change.
• 🏫 Character Strong's theory of change is centered around four core components: school-wide integration, adult relationship practices, tier one curriculum, and student leadership.
• 🤝 Adult relationship practices are crucial as they model behavior for students and build trust, which is essential for a positive school culture.
• 🚪 The 'Serve Model' starts with 'Start Intentionally', emphasizing the importance of creating positive first impressions and building relationships at the door.
• 👀 'At the Door Plus One' is a key habit that includes eye contact, using names, physical contact, and heart-to-heart connections to engage students relationally.
• 🌡️ 'Engage Relationally' involves using tools like the 'Temperature Check' to regularly check in on students' emotional states, impacting their behavior and performance.
• 🔔 'Respond with Empathy' is achieved through the 'Prompt Method', a progressive response to low-level problem behavior that maintains the relationship and focuses on positive redirection.
• 🏆 'Values Practiced Consistently' is about turning abstract values into actionable practices through initiatives like the 'Character Dare' process.
• 🏁 'Exit Intentionally' uses the EMR method (Establish, Maintain, Restore) to focus on high-leverage relational moves and ensure equity in relationships with students.
• 📈 The 'Character Strong Implementation Rubric' provides a tool for self-evaluation and external audit to measure the effectiveness of the Serve Model in a school.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the Character Strong webinar?

The main focus of the Character Strong webinar is the SERV model, specifically discussing adult relationship practices in a school setting and how they can be leveraged for consistent, ongoing change.

What are the four core components of Character Strong's theory of change?

The four core components are: 1) School-wide integration, 2) Adult relationship practices, 3) Advisory type curriculum or Tier one curriculum, and 4) Student leadership.

Why is school-wide integration important in building school culture?

School-wide integration is important because it involves specific elements that are woven into the fabric of every classroom and throughout the campus, ensuring a consistent culture that is visible and recognizable to students and staff.

What is the significance of adult relationship practices in changing school culture?

Adult relationship practices are significant because they focus on consistent adult behavior change to build intentional relationships between staff and students, creating an environment of trust which is crucial for effective teaching and learning.

How does the SERV model help in building relationships with students?

The SERV model provides a simple framework to tackle habits that help in building relationships with students. It starts with 'Start Intentionally' and includes practices like 'At the Door Plus One More', which involves greeting students at the door and engaging with them in a meaningful way.

What is the 'At the Door Plus One More' practice in the SERV model?

'At the Door Plus One More' is a practice where staff members greet students at their door as they enter the classroom, making eye contact, using students' names, offering some form of appropriate physical contact, and connecting with students on a personal level.

How can the 'Prompt Method' be used to address low-level problem behavior in students?

The 'Prompt Method' is a progressive response to low-level problem behavior that starts with proximity control, followed by a redirection strategy, ongoing monitoring, and then prompting expected behavior. It aims to maintain the relationship while addressing the behavior.

What is the purpose of the 'Temperature Check' in the SERV model?

The 'Temperature Check' is a practice that allows educators to check in emotionally with students on a regular basis. It helps in understanding the emotional state of students, which can impact their behavior and performance in the classroom.

How does the 'Character Dare' process help in practicing values consistently?

The 'Character Dare' process provides practical, low-burden, high-impact ideas for both students and staff to practice values like kindness, selflessness, honesty, and respect. It helps in turning abstract values into actionable behaviors.

What is the 'EMR Method' in the context of the SERV model?

The 'EMR Method' stands for Establish, Maintain, Restore. It is a method used to focus on the highest leverage relational moves with students, helping educators to conserve energy and focus on building and maintaining relationships effectively.

How can educators use the Character Strong Implementation Rubric (CSI)?

The Character Strong Implementation Rubric (CSI) is a tool that helps educators evaluate their implementation of the SERV model. It provides a simple evaluation to see how they are doing in each of the core components, allowing for self-reflection and targeted improvement.