by Krissy.Venosdale | Mar 24, 2014 | Reflect
When I went to ASCD last week, I picked up, “Evocative Coaching.” It was one of those books, you know, that you pick up and can’t put down. I read on the flight home and continued to read all throughout spring break. To sum it up? This quote about the book is why I think I loved it so very much:
Adults like to figure things out for themselves, building on what they already know and do well,
without receiving judgmental feedback that calls into question either their intentions or their
abilities. To facilitate that kind of learning, we have to turn the tables on the questions we ask, the
listening we do, and the reflections we make in our thinking and in our conversations. (Source: Here)
The book made me think about years of teaching, about working with students, about working with teachers, about learning, and about leading. It made me realize that when I was in the classroom, surrounded by kids, the way I loved to teach most of all? It was far more about leading than anything else. I was their guide, but I always wanted the answers, the ideas, the thoughts, the questions… to be theirs. I was merely a sign post on their journey to improvement, flexibly moving where I needed to, to provide just the amount of support necessary. I would take into account their strengths, and I would work to ask them questions to think about building on their areas of needed improvement. Then? I would get out of their way. Because real learning and changing only happens when you have the internal drive, confidence, and motivation to try it yourself. And it can only happen in the kind of space where there is trust.
The book has left me with so many questions. This? Is it why so many school initiatives across the country fail? We try to change teachers with a PowerPoint or a book study at the start of a school year. We wonder why change never takes place. We forget to acknowledge that teachers ARE learners, and treat them as collaborators in the process. Do we focus more on the process or just the end goal most of the time? Do our schools have the kind of cultures necessary where teachers can take risks or are we more focused on checking off boxes on an evaluation or on creating a score report?
Education is about awakening the strengths we all have within ourselves. Serving others. Collaborating, reflecting, and improving. It’s a journey, not an event. When we pour our hearts into something, to give others a chance to discover a pathway to improvement or to awaken a new understanding within them? That’s leadership. That’s learning. And that is what education is truly about.
by Krissy.Venosdale | Mar 21, 2014 | Reflect
Look around. Not just seeing with your eyes, but really seeing what’s around you. People. Amazing people. Kids. Great, filled with life, kids. Learning. Opportunities everywhere. Sun shining. Rainstorms that make puddles to splash in. Little things that feel small some times, but are really big things. When I took this photo, it took me a moment to get my lens to focus. It was all clouded and then, boom, it locked in and there I could see it. The world, reflecting in my glass. I wonder how often I look without focusing my lens on gratitude. We shouldn’t wait to look back and be grateful. We should be grateful in the moment. It’s not easy. Things can be hard, and negative, and well, the glass can feel half empty, or more, the glass can feel empty. But, when you slow down, really look, you might just see, the glass is more than half full.
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by Krissy.Venosdale | Mar 21, 2014 | Reflect
Many months ago, I posted an invitation here, “So you wanna go to Space Camp?” and through the power of social media, it happened. Thanks to some awesome teachers who wrote me and agreed to join me in the trip, we’re in Huntsville this weekend, enjoying a 3-day Pathfinder program. Tomorrow morning we’re visiting the Educator Resource Center and then checking in at Space Camp. Being a connected educator is so rewarding… and when you get to connect with others and share and adventure in STEM? That is the icing on the cake! I’m looking forward to a fun weekend with fellow educators who share a passion for teaching, learning, and are about to be inspired by SPACE CAMP.
Twas the night before Space Camp, and all through Huntsville,
the teachers were arriving and ready for thrills…
The rockets were glowing in the darkness of night,
waiting for a few more to arrive on their flight.
With flight suits prepared and cameras charged for the day,
we tried to sleep but there was no way…
When out of the moon, there arose such a clatter,
one small step for man, it was an inspiring matter…
The footprints still there, deep in the dust,
to remind us all that STEM is a must…
So you’ll hear us all say, as its not just a whim,
our goal with our kids is inspiring them.
And we’ll all exclaim as we fly out of sight,
‘Happy Space Camp to all, and to all a good flight!’
Follow along on Twitter at #SpaceCampTeach. or Instagram at #spacecampteach.
Our Trip Blog: venspired.com/spacecamp
by Krissy.Venosdale | Mar 19, 2014 | Matters of Creativity
In the age of budget cutbacks in education, there is one thing that is completely free… creativity. There are resources available online that will inspire kids to think, dream, write, create, design, and wonder. I’d like to share some of my favorites below. Whether you have ten minutes to spare or are looking for a great way to get started in a new project, these links include some fun ways to get kids minds in gear…and yours too! Enjoy.
Sand Designs: http://www.earthporm.com/man-takes-single-rake-beach-zoom-see-itll-blow-mind/ I look at this and see many things. Think about how he creates this, while in the midst of it. Math, symmetry, patterns, visual poetry, symbolism, tessellations, measurement.
Western Spaghetti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBjLW5_dGAM A video created with ordinary objects as something else. Find something in the classroom, write about a completely new and made up use for it. Give it a new purpose, a new goal, and new life. Write from it’s point of view how it feels about the repurpose. Creative Writing. Math, timing, fractions, decimals.
Peep Diorama Contest: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/peeps/ Who can resist these scenes and the creativity it takes to create them? Why not have a contest in your school? Peep book scene? Peep historical timeline down the hall with every group of kids representing a different time? Peep scene creative writing- use the photos to inspire stories.
Tumblr of Instagrams: http://edugood365.tumblr.com/ I set up this Tumblr for the Edugood project. Every photo posted with the tag #edugood automatically gets posted to it. Why not host a scavenger hunt in your classroom each week. Encourage kids to snap photos of words like “creative, pattern, symmetry… or any vocabulary you want reinforced. Adding a unique hashtag will allow you to set up IFTTT for automatic posting. You could also use a site like Shuttercal and have one photo posted per day. Kids will enjoy taking the photos just as much as parents will enjoy seeing them.
Jellybean Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOu0DuxFAT0 Have a few moments on a Friday afternoon before you head out? Show kids this video. It’s unbelievable that it’s made ALL from Jellybeans. I know jellybeans aren’t a standard… but thinking, problem solving, and creativity that went into this video, it’s amazing. Watch the follow up that shows how it was made and ask kids to identify how collaboration was important.
Ok Go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHlJODYBLKs Amazing dogs in this video. I think it proves that creativity is not about asking, “Why?” It’s about asking “Why not?”
Frozen in Time: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/high-speed-photography-frozen-in-time/ While not ALL of these are great for classroom use, they are moments of frozen time captured. Could this inspire kids to write about what would happen if time froze? Could this inspire them to explore scientific topics like force and motion, states of matter? Yes!
Epic Coke Machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZweYkjx0c0 Engineering students build the most amazing contraption together. Every group of kids I’ve shown this to has said, “I want to build that!” when it ends. After the video, kids can try their hand at “Fantastic Contraption” physics simulation.
Kittens on the Beat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTaXI9LUugc&list=TLQl_lw6DkvDT-Hd7e-_Dwt4_nuZsBtxl8 It’s the real story of what happens when nobody is looking. This could be a great springboard for kids to think about the unexplainable and create their own theory in the form of a short story, a book, or even a blog post.
Scratch: http://scratched.media.mit.edu/ Have a kids that are interested in coding but don’t know where to start? MIT has tons of resources in this online community. There is even a tutorial on getting started. Why not encourage a small group of students to watch it and get started. It’s available right now and it just might fire those kids up to get excited about school! The curriculum that can be tied in with Scratch has endless possibilities.
I may start sharing a list like this each week. The internet is full of inspiring things, because, well, the world is. We just have to take the time to notice and to allow our kids time to notice. The best way to learn is to embrace the wonder they are filled with. Enjoy!
by Krissy.Venosdale | Mar 18, 2014 | Reflect
Last night, on my flight back from ASCD, I read, took notes, and drew in my sketchbook. I replayed conversations I’ve had in the past few days and the kids I’ve learned from over the past 11 years. It’s all allowed me to see that it’s imperfection in where we find the real meaning in things.
Kids with disheveled hair and never considering what they say before saying it. Imperfectly authentic. Refreshingly real. Just like the people in our lives who we trust. The people that know us well enough to know that sometimes, when we resist asking for help is the point when we need it most. And they don’t wait for us to ask.
This weekend I couldn’t help but think about long it has taken me to get to this point. This blog became a place for me where I haven’t worried about perfection. Siting and quietly writing my thoughts. I rarely edit. I reflect and publish. I’ve found a place from here within myself that I never knew before. Fearless authenticity. Not only believing in what is real, writing it, saying it, and doing it. Authentic actions. Not because of what others believe, but because when you really step back and find what your heart is telling you, that’s what you need to do. Push past the fear and keep going Fear isn’t there to stop you every time, it’s there to find out how much you believe in making something happen. It’s there to shape you. Define your beliefs. Redefine your courage.
So while I used to be a master of saying, “I’m okay.” I’ve learned to stop. I’ve learned to listen to my heart. Sometimes I’m not okay, and that? It’s actually okay. Sometimes fear takes over. Sometimes I fail. Sometimes I make a choice and regret it. It’s all better than okay. It’s authentic. Genuine. And the only way to really reflect honestly and improve? Is to own it. To push through. Allow others to pull you. Own the fear so it doesn’t own you.
Keep going. The good, the tough, and everything that falls in between. Because that is the place where your heart is filled and where you become who you truly are.
