How does it feel ? What a powerful question.
Shifting the focus from the look of a room; from what is on the walls or even where the tables and chairs are placed. Moving our focus from 'flexible' learning spaces to the idea of identifying how it FEELS to BE in a learning space; to be part of a community in a learning space. When we give time to develop relationships; when we empower all members of our team to be active learners; when our students have voice and time to share their thinking, then we can really identify what it 'FEELS' like to BE. To 'BE' what? A learner, part of the grade level community, a team member, a contributor, part of something bigger than yourself. For me relationships underpin all that works in a classroom; and I have always felt that the relationships we build with students and the other people who we work with are what create the essence of what it feels like to belong in a space. When we create a safe environment for learning and build robust relationships with students our job is just beginning. Creating structures and opportunities to authentically embrace student agency; students having voice; having control over learning; knowing what their choices are, while having structures in place that ensure that students can learn and be inspired to confidently take their passions and curiosities and develop understandings. So if we focus on how it feels to be in a space maybe we are one step closer to creating a sense of empowerment that means students can have real agency. They are not in compliance mode but are creative, challenged and inspired by their own curiosities, concerns and passions. We are on a journey . . . "How does it feel to be in the space?" We have just completed 3 Way Conferences with our students and their parents. What a fantastic opportunity to talk about learning. I am always amazed at how well students speak and find the communication between parents and children a privilege to be part of.
In our setting the students plan and conduct the meeting. As the teacher I support the student, prompt them if it is needed or add context for parents, I take notes and of course answer questions; but having the opportunity to observe the students while they discuss their successes and challenges provides a glimpse into a special moment in time where the parent and child are completely focused on their learning. I have been part of these conferences with students for 25 plus years and each time I walk away tired but even more in awe of the amazing students who I have the pleasure to work with everyday. While our students were planning their individual meeting agendas the energy in the room was 'alive'. When they came to share their plans - one after the other - they were excited, nervous and independent but excited, really exited; knowing they have time with their parents to share, to show and talk about their learning. As a teacher it is energising and motivating; I and constantly learning from my students. I am still in awe of one student, I have been thinking about his conference all weekend; he opened my eyes to his reality. He has been learning English for about 18 months. He confidently conducted his meeting in four - yes 4 languages. He was AMAZING. He was passionate about his learning, his strengths and challenges and he explained this thoughts about goals for future learning. The four adults sitting at the table are all invested in the learning of this boy, he knew that and communicated to all of us language switching constantly. When I looked at the boys father he was staring at his son with tears in his eyes, his pride was obvious. He looked at me and then looked at his son and said "thank you" followed by words I clearly didn't understand. My student looked at me and said, "My father said 'Thank you to me for being the boy that I am. He is a businessman, he has worked hard his whole life, he works away a lot, but he never imagined he would ever be as proud of me as he is right now." He smiled and so did I, not wanting the tear to roll down my cheek. As teachers we sometimes get the opportunity to see into the world and lives of our students outside of the classroom, it is not always great but then sometimes is it so powerful it prompts us to see things just a little differently. |
AuthorTeaching in an IBPYP school; interests: student agency, technology integration, growth mindset & the continuous cycle of improvement that is the world of education, learning and being! Archives
June 2018
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