Setting the Tone

November 8, 2013

Last week I attended a dynamic professional development session. As a participant, I listened, reflected, took notes, and shared in group discussions. I also became highly aware of the behaviors of some of the colleagues around me. There were those who brought enthusiasm, were ready to learn, and were eager to collaborate. Others took notes but were more reserved and didn't interact as much. There were also a few who were less than eager to attend and made others aware of it by their continual sidebar conversations, sighs, constant movement, and even bold verbal statements. I considered them to be the "barometer participants" in the room because they quickly set the tone for those around them.

I was able to enhance my learning experience by moving tables and surrounding myself with colleagues whose attendance goals were similar to mine. Although the "barometer participants" were still in the room, they were not having as big an effect on me. However, halfway through the morning, it was obvious that the presenters were well aware of the weakening climate in one portion of the room. Rather than ignoring it and letting other participants fend for themselves, they met with these "barometer participants" at the break.

Although I do not know what was said, it had a positive effect on the rest of the session. By the end of the day, the "barometer participants" were fully engaged and actively participating.

I may not know what was said, but here is what I do know:

• The presenters were respectful in their mannerisms, tone of voice, and overall demeanor.
• They took time to meet in a small group and one on one to figure out the issue and work to solve it.
• They did not ignore the behavior and expect it to go away.
• They were patient in their efforts to remedy the problem.

I learned a lot that day about the topic at hand, but I also became aware of the realization that there are "barometer" individuals everywhere. They can be found in an online class, a professional development session, an elementary classroom, a meeting at work, and even at church. It is how we choose to handle the situation that can make or break the tone for everyone else. Respect, patience, time, and recognition go a long way.

If the tone of your classroom needs a few adjustments, you'll find some useful tips in this week's articles, which are all devoted to barometer students and setting the tone for effective instruction.