Mantras
The Tool
Mantras a daily reminder of what should be focused on.
The word ‘Mantra’ derives from a sacred utterance, (syllable, word, or verse) that is considered to possess spiritual efficacy when spoken aloud or sounded internally.
Creating and then reciting mantras are a helpful way of focusing on what you – personally or as a class / staff – feel is important. They help distil the essence of something.
How to use
- To articulate and bring to mind the change you want to bring about
- To remind people - students and teachers - of key messages (e.g. about how learning happens in your school)
- To brand a message - in the form of a slogan
Activity: What is your learning mantra?
Work with your class to create a class mantra for the year
Work collaboratively with staff to create a staff mantra for the year
Examples: What is your teaching mantra
The Chalk Blog brings together the teaching mantras of a number of teachers:
- You can learn something new every day if you listen.
- Be your best self!
- A day without learning is a day wasted.
- Do unto others as you would have others do unto you!
- With every mistake, we must surely be learning.
- Be present.
- Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
- Be kind and give compliments.
- Even miracles take a little time.
- Change the attitude to gratitude.
- Peace begins with me.
- You are all artists.
- Be observant of what's around you.
- I think I can!
- Be You!
- Be a rainbow in somebody else's cloud.
- Each student is capable of greatness.
- Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift.
- Carpe Diem!
Example: What is your cultural mantra?
Read the account of how a Head led his community in bringing about a cultural change at Getting the culture right - A Case Study.
At Hurstpierpoint College they developed the cultural challenge as follows:
Hurst Cultural Challenge
- To take the initiative and not wait for the push which may never come
- To be independent and true to yourself rather than be one of the unthinking herd
- To keep on keeping on rather than leave things unfinished or barely begun
- To be rigorous and not accept less than you can achieve
- To innovate rather than imitate or copy
- To create not destroy
- To be passionate and enthusiastic not apathetic and cynical
- To lead with integrity and courage rather than drift aimlessly
- To take a broader, long term view beyond the here and now
- To support and care for, rather than undermine, one another
- To work in a team for the greater good
- To make the right things happen for you and everyone else