Take care of our children.
Take care of what they hear.
Take care of what they see.
For how the children grow, so will the shape of Aotearoa.
Dame Whina Cooper
Take care of our children.
Take care of what they hear.
Take care of what they see.
For how the children grow, so will the shape of Aotearoa.
Dame Whina Cooper
Teaching as Guardianship
A reflective workshop inviting educators to pause, to breathe, and to reconnect with what matters most.
Meeting Today’s Classrooms with Courage and Connection
Teaching today asks educators to hold a lot; increasing complexity and growing emotional needs. Then there is curriculum pressure and constant change.
And somewhere amongst all of that, it can become easy to lose connection with the deeper heart of education.
This workshop creates space to pause for a moment.
To reflect, and to reconnect. And to explore the powerful role educators play in shaping -not only learning- but also the emotional tone, relationships, and culture surrounding children every day.
Together we explore what helps classrooms feel calm, connected, and deeply alive – for children, and teachers alike.
We’d love you to pause with us.
Reflections on the workshop
Remembering What Matters Most
A moving reflection on a day that went past the 'Reading, Writing, and Maths', to focus on the heart of the classroom: the human connection.
From Pressure to Purpose
A principal’s reflection on calm leadership, authenticity, and helping children genuinely enjoy school.
What we explore
The Teacher as the Tuning Fork
How the emotional tone of adults shapes safety, behaviour, connection, and learning within the classroom.Courage and Authenticity
Why children respond most deeply to adults who show up with honesty, calm, consistency, and genuine human presence.Calm Amongst Complexity
Exploring how educators can remain grounded and intentional amidst pressure, change, and growing expectations.Relationships Before Learning
Why meaningful connection often becomes the foundation that allows learning to flourish.
The Energy We Bring
Exploring how the energy we bring through the school gate influences our students, colleagues, and classroom culture, and how we can remain grounded when things become challenging.Creating Thriving Classroom Cultures
How classrooms begin to organise themselves around trust, responsibility, belonging, and shared standards.Reconnecting with Purpose
Creating space to reflect on why we entered education – and the kind of impact we hope to have on young people.
The workshop creates space for honest reflection and meaningful conversations, practical insight, reconnection and a deeper awareness of the impact adults have on young people.
Those who attend often leave feeling calmer and clearer, more grounded, and more connected to why they entered teaching in the first place.
At its heart, the workshop brings people back to the humanity of education.
Led by David Galbraith
Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across clinical psychology, education, and high-performance sport, including four Olympic Games, David has spent much of his life exploring what helps people, teams, and young people genuinely flourish.
Having worked alongside respected practitioners including Wayne Smith, Nigel Latta and Gordon Tietjens, his work now focuses on helping children to become robust adolescents and adults of integrity.
Join the workshop online
Half-Day Workshop
An orientation into Guardian Teaching
A three-hour morning session (9am – 12pm) in which David introduces the foundations of Guardian Teaching.
Focus
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Introducing the core ideas and foundations of Teachers as Guardians
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Understanding how teacher presence influences behaviour, safety, and learning
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An introduction to the Three Energies of the classroom
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Time for reflection, note-taking, and considering your own classroom experience
This workshop suits teachers seeking clarity, renewed purpose, and a thoughtful introduction to a new perspective.
Next workshop dates: 7 July, 25 July, 29 Aug
Full-Day Deep Dive
From understanding to practice
The full-day workshop begins with the same morning session (9am – 12pm) and follows with an afternoon (1pm – 4pm) where we deepen these ideas through guided practical work, exploring how the principles can be lived within your own classroom environment.
Focus
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Deepening understanding of teacher presence and its influence on behaviour, safety, and learning
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Applying the Three Energies to real teaching situations
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Exploring how trust, responsibility, and shared culture develop within a class
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Reflecting on your own classroom environment and identifying opportunities for change
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Practical ideas and approaches you can begin applying with students immediately
Next workshop dates: 7 July, 25 July, 29 Aug
