What does learning look like?

by | Feb 17, 2012 | Reflect

Is it about reading the long definition of “momentum” or gathering around a table and experiencing it in front of your eyes?

Is it about short chapters in a history book or personally experiencing history?

Is it easy and comfortable or a struggle to get there?

Is it about fill-in-the-blank worksheets or cardboard and duct tape inspired experiments?

Is it about ‘getting done’ or about pausing to really reflect on something?

Is it about ‘knowing some science standards’ or putting theories into action?

Is it neat little rows and clean desks, or is it all-over-the-place-messy?

Is it always the expected and simple or is it so amazing  that it drives curiousity ?

Is it “When do we leave?” boring or is it can’t-take-my-eyes-off-this-engaging?

Is it about filling their heads with facts or is it about lighting fires in their minds?

 

You Just Can’t Put a Price On It

by | Feb 16, 2012 | Reflect

Just to be honest, merit pay disgruntles me.  It annoys me like the sand that sticks on your feet after a trip to the beach and makes it way into your house for the rest of your summer.  It’s just this topic that keeps coming up, over and over again, and won’t go away.

Why is it so annoying to me?  Well, I believe there are things in education that you just can’t put a price on.   If I ever get to a point where I think my job is about raising test scores, I hope somebody has the sense to fire me.  Everyday I arrive at school, dig in my cabinets for supplies, prepare some learning experiences that I hope will light fires in the minds of my students.  There’s a kid, Matty, who loves rockets that I’ve been saving news article for and he and I talk about launches.  There’s another kid, Kaleb, who I’ve just recently learned loves to write and is now set up with his own class blog. His writing is phenonomenal.  Then there’s Kat.  She’s an amazing artist who likes to make stuff.  I’ve asked her if she wants to enter Doodle for Google. She’s ecstatic and already brainstorming her ideas. These are just little, unrelated, small things.  Am I doing them for accolades?  Nope.  Am I doing them so I can “make more money”?  No way.  Am I doing them so I can try to make sure these kids score a few points higher on the upcoming state tests? No.

I do these things because I’m a teacher.  The discussions I have with my students?  They are real.  They are genuine.  They are about learning.  They are about connecting with kids and helping them find those seeds of awesomeness within themselves.   We find the seeds, and we help them grow.  It’s not just a job, it’s an art.  Those of us who love it?  We just love it. Without being paid to love it.  We are constantly seeking ways to improve ourselves and to learn.  Not because we want to make more money, but because we are passionate.  There are some things in life you just can’t put a price on.

You can’t.

by | Feb 16, 2012 | Reflect

From: blog.imaginaryfoundation.com

You can’t.  Two little words that say so much.  We talk all the time in education about how the word “can’t” shouldn’t be in our students’ vocabularies.  But, then we allow that word to be in our vocabulary as a teacher.  What will happen if we stop saying “no” and “you can’t” and start saying:  “How do you want to show me your learning?” “What will you create?”

What will happen?

Learning.  The kind that shows up in our classrooms and amazes us.  The kind of learning kids bring to the table when we just give them a chance.  The kind of creativity that pours out of the minds of kids and allows us an incredible view of their true passions.  Connections made with content, with kids, and with learning.  Get rid of “You can’t” and you’ll find the learning environment infused with two new little words to say to students…  “You’re amazing!”

 

NOTE: This post was inspired by a presentation “Student Driven Learning” that I attended at METC 2012 by Josh Stumpenhorst. 

 

The Thing Missing In Education

by | Feb 12, 2012 | Reflect

What I saw this weekend at edcampSTL was the very thing that gets lost in layers and layers of politics, negativity-schmegativity,  too-much-talk-with-no-action, bureaucracy, testing, blah, blah, blah, vortex of educational doom.

What is it that’s lost? Learning. Collaboration.

Learning and change don’t have to be expensive. Yesterday’s collaboration? FREE.  People just showed up.  People came to learn.  Just. Because.  Isn’t THAT what teaching and learning should be about?

I think Vanilla Ice said it best… “All right. Stop. Collaborate and Listen.”   We have some amazing things in our schools to be thankful for.  Maybe it’s a supportive administrator.  Might be some great technology resources that not every school has access to? What about those other people in your school who want to make things better?  Or, very best of all? Amazing kids.  We have things to be thankful for every. single. day.

There is an #edcamp near you to remind you of WHY we are here.  We’re all learning. We’re all in this together.  You, me, and Vanilla Ice.  Because now you know those lyrics are running through your mind….

 

Want to print this poster? Photocredits: EdCampSTL Logo, Vanilla Ice (6Minutz.com).