Blog Prompt Week 1 (#IMMOOC)
Blog Post 1
What is the purpose of education? Wow! That is a loaded question. In my opinion, the purpose of education has changed dramatically throughout the years. For example, 30 to 40 years ago, the importance of education was to gain intelligence. Fast forward to 2018, the purpose of education has transformed. Now more than ever, education is present to mold young children and the character that they possess. Education is more a seed that is planted to guide children in the path they were destined to travel. All children are born with a unique character and set of skills, education today grabs that from deep within and explodes it year after year of schooling.
Therefore, it is a no-brainer why innovation is so crucial in education! Duh! Without innovation, there is no room for students to change, transform, make a breakthrough, shine...the list goes on!!! Innovation allows students to take the natural skills they were born with and "torpedo" them into absolutely any direction they feel excites them to the core. Innovation allows for creativity and real learning to take place. Mistakes. Failure. Mistakes and failure happen simultaneously with innovation. Those failures and mistakes allow for growth to happen, character traits to form.
"Change is an opportunity to do something amazing." First and for most, I am in love with the fact that the word "amazing" is used in this quote. I have tried so hard to use the word "amazing" more often in the past year. Just think about how you feel when you hear the word amazing. It sends a chill down your spine, gives you goosebumps, makes your ears perk up...it excites you! I am embracing change to spur innovation by thinking outside the box. In my classroom, last year (I'm currently on maternity leave), I did not allow my students to use the words "I can't," unless, of course, they used the word "yet" at the end. We embraced the POWER OF YET and allowed it to light a fire inside our hearts to unleash the passion that was burning within us. This may seem like a small task to take on; however, surprisingly, it was really tough to convince some of my students to embrace shortcomings and to power through. Why? This is something that I ponder quite often while I was battling with changing the way some of my students thought about their abilities. Then, it hit me. They don't know any better. Think about it. We DIBEL students before they even learn what day of the cycle they have art and library. Then when they don't perform well, we stick the in a reading intervention group. Then they have to work their tails off and grow to an incredibly ridiculous number before they can be released from the group. Now, imagine this happening to you year after year after year. Kids are smart. They pick up on things that we, as adults, don't think kids are smart enough to notice. Kids notice when they are constantly getting pulled for extra reading support. By the time they get to me, in second grade, the passion inside them is not burning as bright. They are so used to hearing their name called to go visit so and so and "don't forget to grab your favorite book!" These students even get extra homework some nights. Ridiculous! This is precisely why I decided to engage students in the power of yet. That word "yet" is loaded! It gives hope and reassurance. It allows students to feel that the goal is achievable and within reach. "Yet" gives students time to transform, connect, change, make a breakthrough, all those beautiful words that connect to innovation.
If I started a school from scratch...boy oh boy! First and for most, it is necessary to have a principal and teachers who are passionate. Passion drives innovation. Second, books! Give students tons of opportunities to read, research, learn, grow, prosper...just give them tools! I disagree completely with individuals who say that devices are damaging to children. It isn't electronics that are damaging. It is the lack of passion, lack of structure, lack of being engaged, lack of excitement. It isn't about giving students what they want but what they need. Students in the up and coming generations are born into a world where we are surrounded by technology. Give them what they need. Whether that be books, iPads, telescopes, digital cameras, scooters, ladders, paintbrushes, wood, cardboard boxes...whatever!
GET RID OF THE LOUSY TESTING! If you get rid of the testing, you get rid of the anxiety. If you get rid of the testing, you get rid of the scheduling issues. If you get rid of the testing, you get rid of the waste of paper! If you get rid of the testing, you give teachers more flexibility. If you get rid of the testing, you allow students to feel more confident. If you get rid of the testing, you allow for creativity.
GET RID OF DESKS! Yes, each student is an individual. Yes, everyone loves his or her own space. Yes, desks allow for name tags. Let's be honest. How many teachers don't know the names of their students by the end of the first week of school? I'm taking a plunge in the upcoming school year. When I return to my favorite second grade classroom, I will be throwing out the desks and setting up tables. Why? Because tables allow for collaborating, communicating, and, some good old fashion, sharing.
Enjoying this journey! One step, one leap, one stride at a time! :)
Therefore, it is a no-brainer why innovation is so crucial in education! Duh! Without innovation, there is no room for students to change, transform, make a breakthrough, shine...the list goes on!!! Innovation allows students to take the natural skills they were born with and "torpedo" them into absolutely any direction they feel excites them to the core. Innovation allows for creativity and real learning to take place. Mistakes. Failure. Mistakes and failure happen simultaneously with innovation. Those failures and mistakes allow for growth to happen, character traits to form.
"Change is an opportunity to do something amazing." First and for most, I am in love with the fact that the word "amazing" is used in this quote. I have tried so hard to use the word "amazing" more often in the past year. Just think about how you feel when you hear the word amazing. It sends a chill down your spine, gives you goosebumps, makes your ears perk up...it excites you! I am embracing change to spur innovation by thinking outside the box. In my classroom, last year (I'm currently on maternity leave), I did not allow my students to use the words "I can't," unless, of course, they used the word "yet" at the end. We embraced the POWER OF YET and allowed it to light a fire inside our hearts to unleash the passion that was burning within us. This may seem like a small task to take on; however, surprisingly, it was really tough to convince some of my students to embrace shortcomings and to power through. Why? This is something that I ponder quite often while I was battling with changing the way some of my students thought about their abilities. Then, it hit me. They don't know any better. Think about it. We DIBEL students before they even learn what day of the cycle they have art and library. Then when they don't perform well, we stick the in a reading intervention group. Then they have to work their tails off and grow to an incredibly ridiculous number before they can be released from the group. Now, imagine this happening to you year after year after year. Kids are smart. They pick up on things that we, as adults, don't think kids are smart enough to notice. Kids notice when they are constantly getting pulled for extra reading support. By the time they get to me, in second grade, the passion inside them is not burning as bright. They are so used to hearing their name called to go visit so and so and "don't forget to grab your favorite book!" These students even get extra homework some nights. Ridiculous! This is precisely why I decided to engage students in the power of yet. That word "yet" is loaded! It gives hope and reassurance. It allows students to feel that the goal is achievable and within reach. "Yet" gives students time to transform, connect, change, make a breakthrough, all those beautiful words that connect to innovation.
If I started a school from scratch...boy oh boy! First and for most, it is necessary to have a principal and teachers who are passionate. Passion drives innovation. Second, books! Give students tons of opportunities to read, research, learn, grow, prosper...just give them tools! I disagree completely with individuals who say that devices are damaging to children. It isn't electronics that are damaging. It is the lack of passion, lack of structure, lack of being engaged, lack of excitement. It isn't about giving students what they want but what they need. Students in the up and coming generations are born into a world where we are surrounded by technology. Give them what they need. Whether that be books, iPads, telescopes, digital cameras, scooters, ladders, paintbrushes, wood, cardboard boxes...whatever!
GET RID OF THE LOUSY TESTING! If you get rid of the testing, you get rid of the anxiety. If you get rid of the testing, you get rid of the scheduling issues. If you get rid of the testing, you get rid of the waste of paper! If you get rid of the testing, you give teachers more flexibility. If you get rid of the testing, you allow students to feel more confident. If you get rid of the testing, you allow for creativity.
GET RID OF DESKS! Yes, each student is an individual. Yes, everyone loves his or her own space. Yes, desks allow for name tags. Let's be honest. How many teachers don't know the names of their students by the end of the first week of school? I'm taking a plunge in the upcoming school year. When I return to my favorite second grade classroom, I will be throwing out the desks and setting up tables. Why? Because tables allow for collaborating, communicating, and, some good old fashion, sharing.
Enjoying this journey! One step, one leap, one stride at a time! :)
blog prompt week 2 (#IMMOOC)
Blog Post 2
Some of the greatest ideas that I consider innovative come straight from the students. Too often, teachers will say that they are innovative and are trying something new, and, yet, they stand in front of their students and give them guidelines, rules, parameters, etc. It doesn't add up! You can't be innovative when you are squeezing children into a box. It is when you let children open that box and go beyond the four walls of the classroom that innovation is trying found. This is certainly new and better than what previously existed, because now those students who were disengaged and disconnected in school are learning and transforming for their future. There are less students falling between the cracks.
These questions are incredible! Here are the questions to ask educators: Would I want to be a learner in my own classroom? What is best for this student? What is this student's passion? What are some ways we can create a true learning community? How did this work for our students?
I would truly love to put these questions in front of some, not be named, teachers! I know there are days that are harder than others, but we still have to remember that every student that walks through our classroom door is going to eventually move on and walk through a different door to a different teacher. Cherish each of the days you get to spend with your students. No matter what, get up, get dressed, show up, and never give up. When teachers embody that each and every day, students will notice and will be inspired. If I had the opportunity to add questions to this already impressive list, I would add: How do you want your students to remember you?
I believe I embody the characteristics of Innovator's Mindset because I am constantly encouraging my students. I've also taken on the role of being the "Guide on the Side." I am no longer a talking head in the front of a classroom full of students who could careless about what I am saying. I am putting the learning into the hands of those who need and want to learn. I am lighting the spark that burns into a passion inside the students that are apart of my classroom community. There is no time in my classroom for students to say, "I can't." In our classroom, you will hear words like "yet" or "soon," words that embody progress is being made and success and failure can happen all within a matter of minutes.
Keep going. Be an inspiration. Always know that someone, somewhere is cheering for you.
Some of the greatest ideas that I consider innovative come straight from the students. Too often, teachers will say that they are innovative and are trying something new, and, yet, they stand in front of their students and give them guidelines, rules, parameters, etc. It doesn't add up! You can't be innovative when you are squeezing children into a box. It is when you let children open that box and go beyond the four walls of the classroom that innovation is trying found. This is certainly new and better than what previously existed, because now those students who were disengaged and disconnected in school are learning and transforming for their future. There are less students falling between the cracks.
These questions are incredible! Here are the questions to ask educators: Would I want to be a learner in my own classroom? What is best for this student? What is this student's passion? What are some ways we can create a true learning community? How did this work for our students?
I would truly love to put these questions in front of some, not be named, teachers! I know there are days that are harder than others, but we still have to remember that every student that walks through our classroom door is going to eventually move on and walk through a different door to a different teacher. Cherish each of the days you get to spend with your students. No matter what, get up, get dressed, show up, and never give up. When teachers embody that each and every day, students will notice and will be inspired. If I had the opportunity to add questions to this already impressive list, I would add: How do you want your students to remember you?
I believe I embody the characteristics of Innovator's Mindset because I am constantly encouraging my students. I've also taken on the role of being the "Guide on the Side." I am no longer a talking head in the front of a classroom full of students who could careless about what I am saying. I am putting the learning into the hands of those who need and want to learn. I am lighting the spark that burns into a passion inside the students that are apart of my classroom community. There is no time in my classroom for students to say, "I can't." In our classroom, you will hear words like "yet" or "soon," words that embody progress is being made and success and failure can happen all within a matter of minutes.
Keep going. Be an inspiration. Always know that someone, somewhere is cheering for you.