Back to School: Superhero Style

Back-to-school season is always busy, full of logistics, planning, and excitement as we set a strong stage for the year ahead. Organizing schedules and fine-tuning our learning environments requires balancing details with building meaningful relationships. At Oakwood, our strength lies in teamwork. Each year, we focus on creating a collaborative environment that supports students and staff as they navigate their year together. 

This year, our theme is Superheroes. At Oakwood, our staff are the real superheroes - laying a solid foundation for our students with impact, innovation, and heart. During orientation, we highlighted how our team embodies this superhero mindset daily. Below are some of the critical tools and strategies in our superhero toolkit.

Collaborative Crusaders

A strong school and classroom community isn’t created overnight. Building relationships with peers is just as important as the curriculum in fostering a positive learning culture where students thrive. Providing structure and consistent daily routines reduces anxiety and worry, especially for students for whom school may previously have been a source of stress. 

In our superhero toolkit, communication is key. At the heart of every interaction, we encourage staff and students to start with the assumption of good intentions. Whether using the "batphone" (our trusted support system) or simply checking in, strong communication strengthens our community and makes problem-solving a team effort.

Learning Leaders

Every superhero needs a strategy, and at Oakwood, we rely on the Success Sage approach — combining explicit instruction with strong organization. Helping students stay organized is more than managing their workload; it sets the stage for lifelong success. Tools like desktop checklists, classroom agendas, and well-organized spaces create a calm, focused learning environment. 

Additionally, every teacher at Oakwood is a dedicated Multisensory Marvel, using the VKAT approach (visual, kinesthetic, auditory, tactile) within the Orton-Gillingham (OG) umbrella. This methodology is engaging and interactive, helping students form stronger connections with the material and each other. Multisensory learning also offers valuable screen-free time, encouraging eye contact, body language, and verbal communication as students work together to think creatively and problem-solve. 

Mindfulness & Well-Being

We prioritize mindfulness across our community. Teachers and students alike are encouraged to engage in mindfulness activities, use calming strategies, and create sensory-friendly environments. Students are supported with tools and strategies for self-regulation. Teachers are supported with scheduled breaks, protected lesson planning time, and weekly collaboration meetings with academic coaching staff. 

In the same way, we build joyful experiences and meaningful opportunities for laughter and connection for our students - we took the time to do the same for our staff. We also shared our Superhero Teaching Disclaimer from Dear New Teachers by John Spencer, emphasizing the importance of caring for each other and ourselves but taking breaks to fuel ourselves, apart from our daily work. 

 

Additional Resources:

Because of a Teacher: A Thank You Letter to Teachers, by John Spencer