Workshop for teachers in Portugal

A workshop was organized for teachers in Portugal between 4-8 November 2024 focusing on coaching for teachers and positive relationships in the classroom, furthermore methodologies and tools to improve the mental health of teachers. The training material was elaborated by Dr. Lurdes Neves and she led the theoretical and practical modules of the workshop.

The training helped the participants to understand the educational challenges of the 21^st-century, focusing on fostering positive relationships in the classroom. The workshop provided educational coaching as a transformative teaching strategy that emphasizes understanding individual talents, emotions, and paradigms to enhance learning outcomes. Teachers were encouraged to reflect on their values, align their actions with these principles, and inspire students to think critically and independently. The workshop emphasized adapting teaching strategies to engage visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. In the coaching process, teachers could understand context creation, situational analysis, goal setting, learning process, action planning, and follow-up in their own situation and in the development of their students. The training involved also practical tools, such as SWOT analysis, educational circles, and creative exercises (e.g., mandalas and timelines) to support teachers’ growth and adaptability.

In addition, the training provided methods and techniques to enhance teachers’ mental health to overcome stress, prevent burnout, and manage conflicts. Theoretical knowledge was combined with interactive tasks (e.g. how to recognize, understand emotions, how to solve problems in a collaborative way) to help teachers create a positive work environment and foster personal well-being.