What is culture? How can we influence the culture in children's groups, in the classroom, in kindergarten, at school, club or sports team in a positive way?
NB! All tools must be seen in context to ensure a holistic understanding. All video lectures can be freely used in the work of increasing knowledge and understanding.
Kindergarten and school culture and different practices
Children and young people encounter kindergartens and schools with different organizational cultures. It is important to have a conscious relationship with how organizational culture is created, based on the values and goals that prevail in the different organizations.
Culture is something that arises when people meet regularly, which is what happens in kindergartens and schools, among children, employees and parents. Such a culture can also arise unconsciously. We come, meet, do things, act and react to each other. In this way, patterns and structures arise in the way we are together. Often this is based on unwritten rules for what we do and do not do. Culture arises anyway, but it is entirely possible to influence it. The question for us is whether we want it to be random or not. Who are the actual culture bearers in the group/organization, is it random or do we want to steer this in a direction?
If you as an employee have 20 children or young people and let them out into the kindergarten's outdoor area or schoolyard (into a department or classroom) without any guidelines for activities, a form of culture will automatically be created. Patterns, unwritten rules and ways of being will form that are created by the participants. The question that must be asked is whether these frameworks are good enough for everyone to be able to thrive and function well together.
Within the same kindergarten or school, there can be many different cultures, these can vary from department to department, class to class, but the culture that prevails between the staff and the parents will also be of great importance.
Different cultures can be felt when you are new to a kindergarten or school.
- Being welcomed by email is nice and important, but how you are received on the first day and during your first time at kindergarten or school is even more important.
- Are you welcomed by the staff, by the other children, fellow students, are you greeted with a smile and a welcoming look? Does anyone say Hi! to you?
- Does anyone show interest in you as a new member of the group?
As a new practitioner in a group, it is important to gain an early insight into what will happen during the day, perhaps the week, e.g. to have a clarification of expectations about what the students will learn in first grade, to create an understanding of what is expected of you and what (doorstop) rules apply in the group.
If no one shows interest in showing you or explaining this, it is easy to feel left out. If you don't feel welcome, it can be difficult to thrive and learn in that community. It is therefore crucial that we create a culture where we clearly invite new people into our green community.
What we actually do – creates the culture
If you want to build a good organizational culture, it's about having some simple, good rules of the road that are constantly followed. It's what we actually do that creates culture.
Our big and small choices in kindergarten and school life. Leaders and employees, but also parents, must actually do it, show how we want it, and follow up on it. Because as previously mentioned, culture is also created by the things we don't do. For example, if we don't say hello, or if we don't react when someone steps over the line. If we don't react, we are helping to accept what is happening, and pushing the boundaries of what is perceived as accepted.
Concrete tips
Here are some tips for you, an employee or parent, to build a good organizational culture, kindergarten culture or school culture:
- Adults (employees, parents and guardians) have a clarification of expectations together and agree on how the points below will be managed.
- Have some clear rules of the road (or doorstep rules?). Agree on how we want it to be here. Be clear – that's how we do it here.
- Follow it up. Show it. Model it. Be a good role model. Do what it takes to make it happen.
- Follow it up. If it slips, follow it up. Set boundaries. Show that this is how we want it here.
Reflection:
- Describe the culture in your children's group/class.
- Who are the cultural bearers for what you want to achieve?
- What rules of conduct apply in your children's group/class (among children, students, staff and parents)?
- How do you react when someone crosses the line of what is acceptable?
- Is there a match between the kindergarten and school culture and what you as an employee are building in your children's group/class?
- How do you welcome new children, students, parents and staff in your kindergarten, at your school?