Imagine you are stepping off the ferry onto an enchanting Greek island dotted with blue and white buildings and surrounded by a sparkling sea. A string of blue and white flags dance in the breeze to the sounds of bouzouki music. Your host greets you with an exuberant “Kalimera” (good morning) and “Yassou,” a multi-purpose greeting that can mean “hello,” “goodbye” or “cheers.” You experience a surge of energy in anticipation of exciting times ahead. The Greeks have a name for that feeling, “kefi.” It can be simply defined as a “zest for life,” – and I’m sure you’ll agree that kefi is a great attribute for teachers.
So, what can educators learn from a trip I took to a Greek island? If you want to build a positive classrooms and schools, you need to find your kefi! As our students’ key source of motivation, we need to ensure that we have kefi when we greet our students in the morning and say goodbye in the afternoon. We also need to create kefi learning environments that build anticipation and generate excitement.
Emotional contagion
The power of kefi is related to the emotional contagion phenomenon. This refers to the fact that people are affected by others’ emotional energy. You have come across people who “light up the room” and conversely others who have a negative impact. Some believe that our body actually emits positive or negative vibrations that others sense. If we are positive and joyful, our students are much more likely to be positive and joyful as well.
Neural pathways
Another reason to find your kefi is that you are responsible for many of the neural pathways that trigger students’ thoughts and emotions. A neural pathway is a thought pattern that instantly occurs through certain stimulus. For example, for many kids the sound of a Mr Whippy van triggers excitement and desire – and perhaps for their parents – “Oh no, money and sugar!”
Think about your actions during the day and the neural pathways you may be triggering – both good and bad. What negative triggers can you eliminate and what positive ones can you activate with kefi behaviour?
The priming effect
In his book Blink, Malcolm Gladwell discusses how we can manipulate mindsets through certain interventions. He discussed research that involved two groups of people going for a job interview. One group was greeted by a surly, unhelpful host just prior to the interview and the other by a friendly and helpful one. You guessed it: The second group did better in the interviews. Gladwell called this interaction with the host an example of “priming.”
We can strategically “prime” our students to have positive mindsets by how we look, what we do, what we say, how we say it, and by the way we set up the classroom environment. I call this impact “The Priming Effect.” How could you prime your students when you first meet them in the morning?
How to find your kefi
To find and keep your kefi, you need to identify your kefi catalysts, activities that trigger positive neural pathways in your brain. The following lists will give you a range of ideas and strategies to help you find and keep your kefi:
• Have a kefi ritual or affirmation e.g. Click your fingers and say “I’ve got kefi!”
• Pick an energising tune as your kefi song.
• Wear a kefi wristband.
• Read your favourite kefi quotes.
• Get some kefi rays. Sunshine increases your serotonin levels.
• Find a kefi colleague, someone at work you can laugh with.
• Do your kefi dance. The default kefi dance is of course Zorba the Greek – don’t forget to click your fingers!
• Be enthusiastic, but stay calm. Too much emotion (positive or negative) drains your kefi cup.
• Conserve your kefi. Mental energy is a finite resource, so don’t use it up too early (and have some left for when you go home to your family).
How to snap out of IFEK (negative thinking)
I believe there are only two emotional states teachers should have – you either have your kefi or you need to find it! I call the emotional state of not having kefi ‘IFEK’ (get it?) People with IFEK are not nice to be around, so if you feel the dark clouds of negativity starting to appear, try some of these strategies:
• Move away. If possible, move away from whatever is having a negative impact.
• Improve your posture. Stand or sit up straight with your shoulders back.
• Change your facial expression. Smile! If you find that difficult, clench a pen in your teeth sideways across your mouth as this triggers the same endorphin release as smiling.
• Change your voice. Lower your voice and speak more slowly. Ever wondered why DJs have low, slow voices? They have a hypnotic effect.
• Breathe deeply. Slow down your breathing and use deep breathes get oxygen into your lungs, and therefore into your brain.
• Move. Burn off frustration by going for a brisk walk or a run.
• Try personal editing. Create an anchoring action that signifies a release of negative emotions, e.g. flick hands and say “Let it go.”
• Tap acupressure points to release tension. For more information visit www.eftdownunder.com
• Act “As If.” Call on your best acting skills and “act the part” of how you would like to feel. You may not win an Oscar but you will eventually feel closer to the feeling you are acting.
• Shout OPA! and clap your hands in the air like you are smashing plates (like a happy Greek!)
How to be a kefi creator
Once we have found our own kefi, we need to help others find theirs. When our students have kefi, they are better learners and much more fun to be around. Here are just a few ways to create kefi:
Kefi music
Play music with a good beat and positive suggestions in the lyrics as students come into class:
• I’m Into Something Good – Herman’s Hermits
• I Like It Like That – Guy Sebastian
• Good Vibrations – Beach Boys
• Beautiful Sunday – Daniel Boone
• Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
Kefi greetings
Demonstrate kefi with an exuberant greeting to start the day.
“Good moooorrrning everyone!” (like Good Morning Vietnam). Students repeat to teacher.
Teacher says, “How are we all this morning?” Students shout “Faaaaaaantastic!”
Teacher says, “I hope you have lovely day, everyone.” Students repeat to teacher.
Teacher says, “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” Students shout “Sponge Bob Square Pants!”
Teacher says, “Can we do this?” Students shout, “Yes, we can!”
Kefi proclamations
Use kefi proclamations to create positive frames. This is a subliminal technique called an embedded command.
This is going to be a sensational day!
Gotta feeling… that today’s gonna be a good, good day.
This lesson is going to be so much fun!
This class is awesome!
You guys are amazing!
Kefi words
Use kefi words to praise students and describe activities. Notice the difference between “That was good” and “That was sensational!”
Sensational!
Brilliant!
Fantastic!
Awesome!
Magic!
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Why not start your own kefi collection of activities to create kefi in your classroom?