We have adopted the mantra 'Relaxed and Focused' in the classroom and remind ourselves about it every day. Alongside this we are trying to 'trim the fat' and make the most of learning time. Trimming the fat is cutting down the time spent on transitions, thinking carefully about what is real learning and what is busy work, ensuring children understand what to do etc etc.
You may think that trimming the fat is incompatible with remaining relaxed and focused but in practice the two concepts work well together. Having a relaxed and focused atmosphere helps children who are anxious, while trimming the fat encourages us all to keep focused on learning.
