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Ep #11: 5 Ways to Presume Positive Intent as a Special Educator

So what exactly does. Presuming Positive Intent mean? It means  always starting from the idea that a person means well or is doing their best, ℕ𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕤𝕒𝕪 𝕠𝕣 𝕕𝕠. 

The first time I heard this term, well the first time I remember hearing it anyway...I was sitting in a committee meeting for district level accreditation. The presenter stated that in order to come together as a district we must presume positive intent with each other. He went on to say that when people judge too quickly, when they don’t listen to understand and when they let their own biases affect their decisions...that’s when our goals won’t be reached.

And then I began pondering this...and by pondering I mean fixating on it so much as to not be able to move past his mini-lecture of his to focus on the rest of the presentation. I was trying to process exactly what those 3 little words meant to me and I began to question myself 

Have I done this? Have I jumped to conclusions about people without knowing their situation? Yes

Have I made a rash decision about someone without knowing all the facts? Yes.

Have I been short with a co-worker because I assumed they were being short with me first? Yes

When I look back on that day now, I know it was one of those core memories that I put into my permanent memory bank (you know like from the movie Inside Out). I made a decision on that very day that I would look at every situation differently and try to always presume positive intent.

In this episode I go over the 5 ways special education teachers can presume positive intent within their programs...

1. With students

2. With other special education teachers

3. With general education teachers

4. With administrators

5. With parents

Assuming positive intent extends to all areas of your life. Listen in to see how I have used this skill to become a better teacher, leader, co-worker and employee and how you can too!

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