WHOLE-CHILD DESIGN

Core Practices

Educators are given the critical and challenging task of creating classrooms and schools that truly support each child and their holistic development. This process requires us to confront, dismantle, and reimagine the systems of education we have inherited that do not yet equitably or effectively serve our students. We also know that this redesign will only be successful if we leverage the expertise and experience of those closest to the challenge – our educators, leaders, students and communities.

Unlike prescriptive models and curricula, Turnaround’s Whole-Child Design Blueprint is meant to be used as a visioning tool – supporting educators to look through the lens of whole-child development and take action toward the change they seek. The framework’s components and core practices are a way to think about, organize and integrate the non-negotiables for settings created with the science of learning and development in mind.  The application of this science-grounded, equity-driven framework can and should be unique for every school, taking into account it’s own assets and needs.

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WHOLE-CHILD PURPOSE

A whole-child purpose is an explicit commitment to holistic and equitable outcomes that lives in the school vision and mission, values and, most importantly, in all aspects of practice

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DEVELOPMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS

Characterized by emotional attachment, joint reciprocal interactions, progressive complexity and balance of power, developmental relationships directly facilitate social, emotional and cognitive growth and empower individuals

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SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS

A supportive school environment is physically, emotionally and identity safe, while creating a strong sense of belonging

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KNOWLEDGE, SKILL + MINDSET BUILDING

Learning experiences simultaneously develop content knowledge and disciplinary ways of thinking alongside the Building Blocks for Learning

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SHARED LEADERSHIP + OWNERSHIP

Effective shared leadership and ownership facilitates transformational change in schools, as all staff are empowered to drive towards meaningful, shared goals and are supported to continuously improve

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