Introduction
In this article I will explore the concept of core human needs and signpost to a language of needs that can help us to understand either ourselves or others.
 IntroductionThis post offers some thoughts on the nature of the creative process, what it takes to make our ideas a reality, and the importance of persistence and determination as we shape and refine our efforts.
Black Box Thinking: Personal Reflections on a Near-Miss Event at the Head Teachers’ Conference.20/6/2022  IntroductionFor the final PfPC article of the year I’m going to completely swerve away from the theme of the rest of this academic year’s articles, and am instead going to offer some personal reflections on an aspect of my recent practice that didn’t go as well as I would have ideally liked. In so doing I will draw upon the spirit and messages of Black Box Thinking, Matthew Syed’s engaging and inspirational book on the importance of systematically learning from failures.
The Power of Positives: How to Shine a Light on Successes and Develop Reflective Practitioners.20/6/2022  BackgroundSo far, this series of articles has outlined a psychology-informed coaching approach to lesson observations that can be applied to support education practitioners to reflect on and further develop their classroom practice (see the APS blog archives). In this article I’m going to expand on one particular component of this approach – how we can support and guide reflection on practitioners’ successes – while also highlighting how we can use the process to develop teachers’ skill at being reflective.
 BackgroundMy previous two articles have focused on:
This post represents the third part of this series of articles, outlining a seven-step psychology-informed framework (Adams, 2015) that can be applied in the context of lesson observations to support practitioner learning and development. Making lesson observations work (Part 2): How can psychology inform lesson observation practices?20/6/2022  BackgroundMy previous blog post focused on some of the problems that can be associated with traditional lesson observation procedures. This post outlines some ways in which the application of principles from evidence-based psychological approaches can transform the process and enhance the likelihood that it will result in change.
 BackgroundA central concern for any school is how to support and enhance the performance and development of its classroom teachers. It is for this reason that observations of classroom practice have become such a prominent feature of the landscape in education settings, with observations now taking place many times during the academic year for each individual teaching practitioner. Observation processes are linked to and inform, among other things, performance management appraisals, school inspections, and continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers. Being observed at work can be, in my view, a good thing, in that it can bring strengths to one’s attention, inform consideration about areas for development, and raise awareness about blind spots one might have about one’s practice. It stimulates learning and reflection, guards against complacency, and is a helpful vehicle for challenge. Observation is thus a key tool for supporting practitioner learning and development, which in turn supports the ongoing process of school improvement. It is also a potentially valuable component of coaching engagements in schools if the aim is to support the development of classroom practice. However, there are a number of factors associated with observation procedures that, in my view and experience, can either confound the process or interfere with the aim of supporting practitioner learning and development. This blog post outlines some of these factors.
 IntroductionThis post focuses on the RULER model of Emotional Intelligence (EI), and how concepts and language from the film Inside Out can be used in everyday interactions to help children develop their EI.
 IntroductionWelcome to the May 2021 edition of Psychology for Positive Change, a blog about how psychology can make a positive difference to lives/society. In this article I will explore the concept of Stress Mapping and how we can use it to support ourselves and/or others. (This article was originally published on our old website in May 2019).
 IntroductionHave you ever listened to someone else talk through a problem or situation and felt the urge to offer them advice or solutions? That’s the righting reflex, which is the subject of this blog post. In this instalment we’ll explore further what the righting reflex is, and why it can be a problem. We’ll also look at how we can manage it, and ways in which we can respond other than ‘fixing’.
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Psychology for Positive Change is a blog about constructive applications of psychology to everyday living.
AuthorMark Adams is a Chartered Psychologist who is passionate about how psychology can be applied to make a positive difference to lives and society. He is the author of Coaching Psychology in Schools, published by Routledge in November 2015.
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