Becoming Connected

George Couros states that "as educational leaders, we must promote and capitalize on open, connected learning." This got me thinking. Am I connected? What does this look like for my students and for me? I am just stepping onto the path of being connected. Up until I started #IMMOOC, I would have been what George calls a "lurker" on Twitter. I just got on to explore, read, and maybe throw out something we had been doing in the classroom, but connected is not how I would describe myself. If I connect myself to others, I can better my practice. 

Derek Sivers' video "Obvious to You. Amazing to Others." says it all. This is me. This has been my struggle all along. In this video, he talks about how we think our ideas are so obvious, but our ideas might just be amazing to other people. We should just put it out there and let the world decide. Sometimes this is easier said than done. I don't intentionally keep my ideas to myself to hoard them, but find myself wondering if my ideas are really that great. I listen to other educators and wonder how they came up with such innovative ideas. Cue the "Let it Go" music.  I just need to let it go and put it all out there because all the ideas I have used from other people might just have been "obvious."

So, being a connected educator, gives us the ability to see what others are doing and can empower us to make changes in our own classrooms. I can walk away with new ideas and tweak them to fit my own classroom. I do this all the time when talking with my other friends across the district, so why not do this on a more global scale? Why not share my ideas and gain more from others that are also just trying to do what is best for their students?

Be More Dog #IMMOOCB3

At the beginning of the year, my principal showed us this video Be More Dog. Immediately, I felt this feeling of freedom. Why can't we all be more dog? Why can't we allow our students to be more dog? This video really opened my mind to the fact that our students come to us each day to learn, not just got to school. I wondered if our students came the first day feeling free to learn, or was it just another start to a school year.

As I reflect back on the previous years: what worked, what didn't work, what needed to change, and how did my role effect the students, I found that culture was something consistent over the years that I felt made a huge difference in how the year went. My students have looked forward to being in fifth grade, and I need to make sure this isn't just "school" for them. I need to give them a place where they aren't just looking for answers, but rather looking for problems to solve. I need to give them a place to explore, create, and interact with other students and adults. I need them to feel like they have a voice and people will listen. I need to allow for deep exploration. I need to empower my students.

George Couros said, "Imagine what school would look like if we really focused on empowering learners." I question myself often and what I offer to the students. Am I empowering learners in my classroom? Am I allowing my students to be more dog? Am I allowing my students to to run freely with their learning? Or, am I getting in the way?

WEEK 3 Reflections #IMMOOCB2

After this week's YouTube Live and Twitter chat, I walked away feeling empowered to unleash my students' potential. I feel behind in the process of being innovative, but realize you have to start somewhere. I must model, listen, and be open to taking risks, if I expect my students to chase their dreams. It is less about what I am doing, and more about what I am letting my students do.

Creating Culture #IMMOOCB1

Our culture is established at the beginning of the year when my students take an oath stating what they will do over the course of the year. This isn't for me, this is for them. This is a promise to themselves to be open to learning and leave fifth grade a better person than when they came.

My goal is for students to be able to reflect on their learning experience and feel confident about what they accomplished beyond test scores.  I want students to look back at the end of the year and feel like they were loved and cared for, they were supported, they were built up, and they were given the courage to keep going when it didn't seem possible.

The culture of our classroom is that of a welcoming home. I remind them often. This home is where we learn together and grow together. This home we spend our time in creates a culture where all things are possible and where innovation can exist.

I PROMISE to....
be kind to others
offer a listening ear
learn from others
open my eyes to new ideas
ask questions
honor other's differences
be responsible for learning
have fun
laugh
build up my classmates
challenge myself
keep trying.

Challenging Our Own Mindset- Week 2 #IMMOOC

We expect great things from our students, but what about our expectations for ourselves? Students notice our reactions to different situations. They watch our every move. Are we modeling what we are teaching?

George Couros says that we look for our students to encompass the characteristics of "empathizing, problem finding and solving, risk-taking, networking, observing, creating, bouncing back, and reflecting." These exact characteristics "should be embodied in our work as well." We must model what we expect from our students. We must also encompass this mindset.

To get to the innovator's mindset, we must first challenge our own growth mindset. I have been guilty of questioning if I have what it takes to keep up with other educators that I perceive to be a step ahead of me. We all have setbacks and get caught up in comparing ourselves to others, but we have nothing to prove. We are in this for the students. We are in this each day to create new and better learning opportunities for our students. My focus should be on my ability to innovate and move forward.

We are able to open the door for new experiences and use our talents to lead us to new and better ideas when we have an innovator's mindset. I believe we can stop trying to prove ourselves, and instead we can put our energy into using our strengths to make an impact on students. We can use our energy to connect with other educators and share knowledge to benefit the students.

George Couros reminds us that "our role is to empower students to see themselves as innovators who take responsibility for their own learning and leading." We must also be empowered because what we model is what we get.

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

I am not one to step out of my comfort zone, in fact, this blog sits well outside of my comfort zone. I have never claimed to be a writer, so this way of expressing my thoughts, reflecting, and connecting with others is just downright scary. I put too much emphasis on how I will be perceived and don't give myself enough credit for what I have accomplished.
I have been questioning how often I force myself to be vulnerable. I realized that I may be keeping myself from doing great things. Couros states it so clearly when he said, "Change is an opportunity to do something amazing."

Recently, I was invited to read The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros and join in the IMMOOC conversation on innovation. I bought the book and immediately felt intrigued. In just three chapters, it has transformed my thinking and caused some serious reflection.

George Couros defines the innovator's mindset as the belief that the abilities, intelligence, and talents are developed so that they lead to the creation of new and better ideas. Having taught in the same school for ten years, I am challenged to continue pushing the limits and opening the doors to better learning opportunities for my students. My students must focus on creating something with their knowledge. The only way they will accomplish this is by providing them the experiences and support. I have to prepare my students for real life and make meaning in the classroom that sticks with them. The learning opportunities have to fit their time, their goals, and their future. I look forward to my students learning alongside me each and every day.

When someone walks into my classroom, I believe they can feel the sense of community within our 3 1/2 walls. Couros says this type of environment sparks us to focus on  "What is best for this learner?" and  that by "individualizing education and starting with empathy for those we serve is where innovative teaching and learning begins." This right here is where it all lies--a safe place to drive your learning into new directions.

My students come feeling excited to learn and curious about what we are doing, although, as their guide I am not naive to the fact that I have a long way to go in the design thinking process. I want for my students to enter the room and feel comfortable making mistakes, taking risks, and chasing their curiosities. I love the idea that Couros says we must embrace that everyone in the classroom is a teacher and a learner.

My goal is to design with students what they need/what works in hope that they leave more curious than when they walked in. I will create the better pathway and innovate.