by Krissy.Venosdale | Apr 25, 2014 | Reflect
Looking on a fresh cut lawn and seeing that pesky dandelion. It feels like it’s ruining everything you’ve worked for, everything you’ve wanted, the lawn of your dreams. But the seeds from that dandelion, they take a journey and they spread dreams to new places. Taking root and sprouting new possibilities. These dandelions were in my yard, and I’m really not one to fret over having the perfectly manicured lawn. But what I did see? So much more than a weed. I see something strong. Something that survives. Something that ends up growing in a place, maybe where it wasn’t even headed to begin with, and realizes that when we are open to learning, we have to embrace all of it. The expected, the unexpected. The good, the bad. Weeds are just there to remind us that looking closer can open our hearts to new dreams. And that? It’s what learning is all about.
by Krissy.Venosdale | Apr 24, 2014 | Reflect
Maybe, sometimes, the things we have kids ‘do’ in class just aren’t interesting. Maybe they aren’t real. Maybe sometimes we’ve been doing them long enough that they feel comfortable, like the old favorite pair of running shoes that fits so well, but then your toe makes a tiny hole…and it’s time to throw them out and try on a new pair? Like that.
Finding the area and perimeter of pretend rectangles on worksheets. When the world, as it turns out is filled with rectangles. Real ones.
Making graphs based on data that is completely made up. But, all around us our opportunities for kids to collect their own data. Real data. And decide for themselves what type of graph will represent it best.
Writing a pretend letter to a fake person on a fake page in a fake testing booklet for practice. Skype with real people? Write them. Get penpals. Write a relative. Write someone who will write back, and then? Kids will beg to write again, not because it’s assigned, but because it’s real.
Drawing a diagram of a circuit without ever trying to make one. Why not provide kids the materials to build a circuit and that next descriptive writing project? Building Circuits. No time for science? You just combined science and writing.
We devote hours to getting kids to memorize capacity conversions. What about cooking a real recipe with them? The kind they need to multiply to make enough for the whole class. Use real measuring cups. It’s far easier to understand how many cups are in a quart if you’ve physically manipulated the materials.
Real. Real learning. Thinking problem solving. Creativity. We often feel that there is no time to do projects. No time to squeeze in a different way. But sometimes, we need to look at those shoes and ask ourselves if there’s a better pair out there. A pair that might feel tight and different at first. But a pair that will take us somewhere new. A place where learning is real.
by Krissy.Venosdale | Apr 23, 2014 | Reflect
I have the same thought all the time. My daughter makes me a better teacher. I’ve experienced so much of the world through her eyes and continue to as she grows up. She has a way of drinking in the world that’s like breathing in the entire universe at once. One of the most important lessons she has taught me is struggle. I remember the moment I took this photo. She wasn’t timid at all. She ran into the waves with a kind of unabashed fear, drinking the world in. I’m sure when I took the picture, I was also making a mental list of all the dangers ahead… jellyfish, sharks, undercurrents, sharp rocks in the sand. Everything inside me wanted to scoop her up and carry her into the water like we had many times before. But this journey was all hers. Our role was to step back and let go. Even if that meant sitting in the sand, watching quietly, while she journeyed out on her own, pulling on my heart with a little string.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had that same tug at my heart while teaching. Wishing to make things okay for a student. Wanting to “fix their struggle” by changing the assignment or providing an answer. But, as I’ve some to realize, sometimes that’s just not my role. Sometimes it’s my turn to step back and let go. It’s hard to know exactly when to do this and it takes practice, but it’s even harder to actually do it. It feels wrong, until it pays off. Because when that experience rolls over into learning, it’s so authentic and real, you realize you did that kid a favor… just by getting out of their way. And the look on their face? Satisfaction earned.
In all of my college coursework and graduate school, and even PD, I’ve never seen more clearly how letting go at just the right time is so essential, than in my experiences as a mom and teacher. Now our trips to the beach look far different, because she’s older, and she can swim, and watch out for jellyfish on her own. And I still stand back, keeping an eye on the water for giant shark fins, and I still let go. And it still breaks my heart a little every time. Learning isn’t easy for any of us, no matter what our role is. But, it’s a beautiful journey when we stop and think about it. A journey that becomes even more beautiful when we let go.
by Krissy.Venosdale | Apr 20, 2014 | Reflect
The silver lining. We’re always looking for it. The days when things feel so awful that we are left wondering what could possibly be good. Those are the days we want to hide. Like the sun, behind a cloud. But those are the days we most need to avoid hiding. I’ve had many people ask me why I choose to share so much. Posters. Thoughts. Details about what I am creating or doing. People that ask that just don’t understand. Sharing is not about me. It’s about learning and growing. It’s about giving back to others who’ve given you so much. This journey that we are all a part of, interconnected between us and the world. A journey that never ends and comes with unexpected challenges and great surprises. A journey filled with people who don’t understand us or want us to change who we are, and a journey with those friends who are truly always there. A journey that can shine like the sun, and just as quickly be struck with lightning.
A journey that it can be a true struggle to continue on the path our heart has us on. Except when it’s not. Because if you get up in the morning and do what your heart believes in, you’re headed in the right direction. Even if it doesn’t work out, even if it feels off course or against the wind. Even when others think you are just not enough. When others misunderstand your heart. You have to keep following your heart, even then. Because it’s a heart connected to others who continually inspire you. Others who pick you up when you fall. Who laugh with you when you cry. Who dream with you when you’re crazy. Your heart. Follow it. Like a little cloud drifting in the sky. It’s heading somewhere and it knows exactly where it’s going. It’s the silver lining that’s always there.
“Cloudy With a Chance of Inspiration” Clouds remind me of learning. Not an isolated event, they are a continuous process. Moving. Growing. Changing. Sometimes pausing to take shape. Some a sign of bright and breezy times, some a sign of storms of struggle. Each one a unique shape that inspires creativity. But clouds also contain inspiration. Dreams. Hope. Water to nourish growth that comes from people all around you, near and far. It comes from YOU. What you see. Think. Believe. Dream. Connect. Share. Your hope. Your heart. You. Everyone is a learner.
by Krissy.Venosdale | Apr 19, 2014 | Reflect
I won’t convince you that you need a PLN. You have to decide that for yourself.
It’s not about ‘finding time for one more thing to do.’ It’s about adding positive people to your life that will motivate you to make time for the things that are important to you in learning and life.
It’s not about building followers. It’s about connecting with others to make a difference.
It’s not about promoting yourself. It’s about sharing what you believe in, and having others push your thinking in a way that you can really, truly define what you believe in.
It’s not about tweeting what you had for lunch. But it is about becoming so close with others in your network that they become family and should they day come when they are eating something special, like a chocolate chip cookie at the White House, and tweet it, you’ll smile because you know the person behind the cookie.
It’s not about plugging into strangers more than real people. They aren’t strangers. They are people who become like family. People who share rooms at conferences, have dinners together, Skype, send each other cards, and inspire each other. Not creepy strangers lurking in dark tunnels that say “Hey…come join my PLN.” Well, okay, most of them. 😉 #kidding
Social media divides the negativity, and multiplies the positivity. The education network on Twitter is unbelievably amazing. People who are doing inspiring things in their schools and communities, sharing, listening, learning, and guiding each other. People who are really just people. Down to earth people. People on the journey to learn. People you can share that journey with.
It’s not about me convincing you. It’s about you convincing yourself.
And if I can help, please let me know. 🙂 #justdoit
