I'm currently reading Breaking Free by Allison Zmuda and love this book! There are some great reflection questions that I'd like to share with you. Please feel free to comment on these.
What do students think about during the school day because of how we design learning?
How do those thoughts help students grow? How do they limit students?
How much has the work in your school changed in the past two decades? Have those changes led to increased engagement?
What is the most innovative idea that has improved the thinking or staff? Of students?
The author wrote the following "I believe..." statements:
*Learning is a joyful experience when it commands our attention.
*Schools can transform into learning organizations the moment that you decide there must be a better way, and then pursue it.
*Exploring unfamiliar territories creates the uncertainty and discomfort needed to begin to think anew.
*The power of educators to affect the lives of children is breathtaking!!!
Personally I think sometimes my students view learning as the time that is structured in large group or small group times. All the rest of it is playtime to them. They don't necessarily view it as learning. In a way open centers give students the freedom to learn at their own pace and comfort level which gives them a chance to grow. The limit there might be that they then view more structured learning time as not as "fun" because they don't get to choose to not participate in it. The growth in the structured time is them being stretched in ways they wouldn't necessarily choose but sometimes they can't wait to participate in the structured time.
ReplyDeleteEducators need to realize how much of an effect we have on our students. If we are happy then class experiences happiness, if we are unmotivated and mundane so too..This goes on and on. So if you want our students to have joy in learning then doesn't it make sense that we also must have a joy for teaching?
ReplyDeleteVery good point. I believe that we definitely must have a joy for teaching, but I also believe we need a love for learning ourselves. Our kids need to see that love of learning in us. They need to see us get excited about learning new things as well!
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