Acad theme – Delta

Day 1 focused on the Mood Meter and the Talking Stone activity, where we openly shared some of the challenges we experience while working with our students. The discussions encouraged us to reflect on an important question: Can a teacher truly be effective when they are in the red zone emotionally? We also explored how, despite being professionally successful, we may sometimes find ourselves emotionally unavailable. The session beautifully highlighted the importance of recognising our own emotions and well-being, as they directly influence the way we connect with and support our students.

Day 2 included a screening of The Intern, followed by a reflective discussion and an engaging Traits Auction activity. The auction gave us an opportunity to identify and “bid” for the qualities and traits we felt we needed most, making the experience both insightful and enjoyable. The movie and activities encouraged us to reflect on qualities such as empathy, adaptability, patience, confidence and lifelong learning.

Overall, both days were well-structured, engaging and purposeful, offering a good balance of discussion, reflection and experiential learning. They provided valuable reminders that being an effective educator begins with understanding ourselves, managing our emotions and continuously working on the qualities that help us connect meaningfully with our students.