This originated with my year end message in the school newsletter, but as I say here is much more relevant than just over the summer.  The newsletter message was as follows:

Yes. School has ended for the 2016-2017 year, but that doesn’t mean the learning stops. I often speak of reflection and how important it is to the learning process. I wrote a blog post on this topic from a little different angle. Now I am asking for some help from the parents who read this section of the newsletter. Please follow the steps I outline in this video and then spread the word.

It is about communication, reflection, and support. Our lives can get pretty hectic and causes us to remain in a state of automatic task completion. Please take some time to connect and ask three important questions:

1. What is the best thing that has happened over the past {insert time frame here}?
   
2. What is the worst thing that has happened over the past {insert time frame here}?
   
3. What can I do to improve and how can I support you more?

The great thing about these questions is that they are flexible and can be used in any area of life. They also invite conversation and an honest look at what can be better. Regularly practicing this exercise will prove incredibly beneficial for everyone involved. It will strengthen a relationship by opening lines of communication. All it takes is genuine interest, listening, and follow-through. Remember that life is about continual improvement; not perfection, but being better tomorrow than you are today.

I end this post with this.

As these words and video explain; the questions are applicable to many different areas.  How do I know? These are the questions I ask every teacher in my building when I meet with them before we part ways for the summer.  The most powerful one to me is the last because it expresses the importance of the experience of the person sitting across from me.  It expresses my gratitude for them and my willingness to support their journey by improving myself.

Please take the time…and offer…

• Leaders how do you accomplish this with your staff?
• Teachers, how do you accomplish this with your students?