Reflection

This past week during #IMMOOC Live Dwight Carter left me processing the word reflection.

Dwight stated that, “Reflection is at the heart of our practice. Always reflect on how you impact a situation. Our response becomes another person’s event.”

After mulling this over on Wednesday evening, I began processing how much reflection should be at the heart of our daily classroom life.

As we wrapped up the first nine weeks this week, it was natural that many students were beginning to really process what was going to be shown on their report card. I could hear the chatter throughout the day and decided that we needed a circle to discuss reflection.

As we sat in a SEL circle, something my students are very accustomed to, I told them this circle was going to be different. I sat on the floor with the students. I am a critical part in their learning and they needed to see my on their level. This circle was going to focus on the students and I having a real conversation about grades and learning outcomes.

As I sat there I expressed to the students that grades are not my focus, knowing that students have a difficult time getting past the grade. We discussed how being a great student isn't about the grade, it is about the process of forming, adapting, molding, adjusting, failing, and taking risks to become the student you want to be. We are a work in progress. Effort and attitude are greater than the grade.

As I spoke, many students were nodding their heads and many shared how they feel when they have failed at a task, test, or situation. I needed my students to know that learning is so much more than the grade that goes on the paper. I needed them to see that I was proud of their progress. I was going to be their cheerleader through it all. They needed someone in this moment to give them strategies on what to do when you are disappointed and angry. We reflected together on what we could do going forward to learn from our mistakes. We brainstormed strategies. They were real with me and I was real with them.

On this day I realized that I had the chance to impact a situation just as Dwight Carter stated. The way I responded to this event in particular was going to affect my students’ reactions to learning. I reflected on my ability to impact how learning is viewed and how my students can reflect on all learning experiences. We can all use reflection to gain insight from our small setbacks and our successes. I hope that my response to my students in this circle will affect their future events.

-LL

Custom Made

After diving into a book study over the summer on Student Voice: The Instrument of Change by Russell Quaglia, I reflected on where I excel and where I fall short when including student voice in our classroom. Quaglia's words inspired me to make changes to increase student voice and create a custom made classroom. "The real challenge lies in listening carefully to what they are telling us, reflecting upon it, learning from it, and leading change with students by our sides. Listen, learn, and lead."

My personal teacher goal this year is to increase student voice in both process and product. I started by asking: what does this look like, Where do I begin? What will I do to learn more about increasing student voice? I quickly realized that I don't know all the answers right now. I don't know what opportunities will present themselves in and out of the class room. I don't know who I will interact with that will feed my goal. The one thing I do know is that students thrive when they feel heard and valued. Any step I can take to create the environment where student voice and choice are present and active is a step in the right direction.

All three of my reading blocks filled out a Google Form that asked 3 simple questions to get feedback on the first 6 weeks of school. You see I began the year telling students what reading stations they had to complete, the time they had to complete it, and when to switch to the next station. I realized very quickly that I was dictating way too much of what happened in OUR classroom. 

I immediately reevaluated and made changes to our process. For the past couple of weeks, students have been given a menu on Google Classroom that offers required, optional, and extension opportunities/stations. Students get to complete them in their desired order and have all week to complete the required stations. Some students have needed a little more guidance on what order they should complete their stations and other students were able to better manage their time. My hope is that over time all students will be able to monitor their learning, know when more time is needed on certain stations, and when to push themselves to the next learning opportunity. I am looking forward to watching them take ownership of their learning all with a little guidance.

The results of the first "feedback form" left me feeling excited about our partnership in their learning. Some students offered suggestions, some offered what they loved, some offered areas to improve, and some offered no comment at this time. 

The form gives students a chance to voice their opinion without having to say it out loud. I have many students that may not feel comfortable sharing their spoken voice, but through this avenue they are given an opportunity that works for them. All comments are taken, read, and processed. All students are heard. All students are shaping our classroom.

This is just one way I am adapting and changing our environment to best meet the needs of the students. Student voice in both process and product is our goal. We will work as a team this year to increase their voice and choice.

We are a team, we are working together, we are building voice. We are a custom made classroom thanks to my students.

-LL

Connection First

Before I can innovate, I must create the environment and cultivate the relationships with my students that allow them to move forward to become innovators. Create the place. Create the atmosphere. Create the relationships.

A few things I have considered and put into place before taking the next step:

*Reach out. Show my students that I can be trusted. Allow my students to see me taking risks and being vulnerable on a daily basis. They deserve a guide that has them as their #1 interest. It may be tough, but I know when my students step out on a limb to create and innovate they know I will be there for them at every attempt.

*Reflect. What am I giving my students?

The questions I have to ask myself include:

*Do they feel safe?

*Do they feel heard?

*Do they feel seen?

*Do they believe I value them as contributors in our classroom?

*Is our classroom learner-centric?

Honestly, some days can cost more than I have to give. However, I don’t give up. I pour and I keep pouring because I know that classroom life depends on these relationships. My students depend on me to lead them to wonder, explore, and become forward thinking innovators. They depend on our relationships.

*Restore- I have to take care of myself, so I can continue to give my students what they need to become innovative thinkers. This past August, before my students showed up for a new year, I had the privilege of listening to Adam Saenz speak. He reminded us that as teachers we should check our dashboard light that reminds us when we need to be filled up. This dashboard light should be checked often throughout the year. He spoke about the power a teacher holds. The power to make a difference. I realize that my students need me to be present not only physically, but also mentally. I must be mentally prepared to take them on this journey.

*Empathy. Put myself in my students shoes. What do they need? Give them hope. Give my students the vision to see what they are capable of and what they can accomplish when provided the tools and environment. Build them up. My relationships with my students sets the tone for the atmosphere in which they will learn.

"Individualizing education and starting with empathy for those we serve is where innovative teaching and learning begins." -George Couros

It takes courage to let go of where I am and reach for what is ahead. I hope to give my students the same courage.

Now we have the connection and are ready, ready to be innovative, take risks, wonder, and create.

-LL

Falling into Change

Change. Change is everything I am living right now. I experience it daily and can't escape it. New school, new colleagues, new students, new ways, and new expectations for myself. I am drowning in change, but something about it feels right. Brene Brown captures this perfectly when she says, "Lean into the discomfort." Lean, well, I may have just fallen into the discomfort instead. It is hard being new. I have only ever been "new" one time in education; however, I truly believe that I was placed in this position for a reason beyond my control. While I am loving my new home, I am looking forward to finding my groove and the chance to impact those around me. I will move through the discomfort and will create opportunities for my students to learn and lead. We will be risk-takers together.
With this season of change, I begin my second session of #IMMOOC with a fresh perspective. I am joining with an eagerness to define where I need to go and what I need to continue on my journey of becoming an innovator.
I realize that this "change" I have been given is a chance to learn, connect, and grow as an educator. Now, I just need to make the magic happen and watch amazing things happen.

Why I READ

Why do I read? 

Books are filled with words. Words that together have meaning, take you on a journey, transport you to a different world, expose you to new ideas, inspire you, encourage you, create emotions, and can can be a solace when you need to step out of reality. 

Words matter. They change who we are, who we will become, and who we hope to be. 

Our talk in reading class this week was just that, words matter. Why do they matter? I got answers like: they express emotion, explain things, teach us, they can change who we are, take us to new places, and allow us to use our imaginations. 

I have been changed by words. Words that have stuck with me. Words from books. Words from people. People have spoken words and put thought into the words that will stick with me for a lifetime. These words have encouraged me, pushed me, kept me going, made me question my why, and caused me to put my words on paper. Words in books have given me the ability to learn more about my craft and have transposed my thinking. Take away all the books I have experienced and my life would be very different. I wouldn't have traveled to the thousands of places without these books. I wouldn't have been inspired. I wouldn't have been introduced to the people or characters I have met over the years. I am who I am today because of all the words I have read and the words that have been spoken to me. Words matter. 

I hope that my students this year will find that their words matter. I hope that they find meaning in others' words. I hope that if they haven't found a love for reading, that I can expose them to words that will inspire them. 

Why do I read? Because words matter.

-LL

(This post was inspired by @taramartinedu post on "Why do You ____?")

Pioneer or Settler?

Recently, I came across an article written by Christine Caine called "Six Characteristics of a Pioneering Leader", and after reading it my mind was racing at the connections to education and my current leap of faith.
(I first became intrigued with Christine Caine  while attending the IF: Gathering conference for Christian women in Austin, TX. Mind blown. She speaks with such conviction and instantly makes you want to pour love into yourself and others.)

 "It takes courage to let go of where we are and reach for what's ahead. It takes courage to uproot--mentally, emotionally and sometimes physically--to press on and fulfill what God's called us to do. To embrace new roles. Launch new ventures. Expand our reach."                                                           -Christine Caine

Caine defines a pioneer as someone who is "the first to open or prepare--a way, settlement, or region--thus opening it for occupation or development by others." She says a pioneer goes first, before everyone else. They are selfless, persistent, committed, bridge builders, self-starters, intrinsically motivated, and forward-thinking. They are a leader.
This is what educators should be pressing toward. As educators, we must open the path for our students to become pioneers themselves. We are the example for our students.

We need to learn to become flexible in a role and allow ourselves to move forward even when we don't always know the outcome. Take ourselves where we have never been. We want to guide our students, but be open to new territories. We have to let go, become flexible, and reach forward. Our students need us to be pioneers.

On the contrary, Caine defines a settler as someone who is "sedentary, stationary, maintaining." There are some parts of education that must be maintained, but we must be constantly be looking to develop ways that prepare our students for their future. In other words, we need to avoid becoming that educator that is a settler. The educator that does what they have always done. No excuses.

I am looking forward to paving the way for students in my new role. I am looking forward to showing them what it is like to be a pioneer. I am taking a big faith step to expand my reach and fulfill the calling that has been placed upon me.

What have you been called to do? Will you be a pioneer or a settler? My hope is that we all will become pioneers that pave the way to new and better ways for our students.

-LL

Christine Caine's "Six Characteristics of a Pioneering Leader" Article

Life Lessons.

 The article "30 Things About Life Everyone Should Learn Before Turning 30" by Nicolas Cole focuses on how our lives are full of lessons, some are small and others take a lifetime to learn. I got to thinking about my life and what lessons are most relevant to me as an educator.

During this school year, we have focused on Social Emotional Learning in our classroom. We had the opportunity to spend the first five days of school creating community within our classroom, understanding self regulation, and developing strategies to support students during the year. 

Nicolas Cole pinpointed some of the life lessons that our students need the most to be a successful citizen, develop their self-worth, and create relationships with others.

1. The most important relationship in your life is the one you have with yourself. 

-My students started the year by reflecting on the positive. Students were able to share with their peers positive aspects of their lives. Some students had more to share than others. Now, at the end of the year, all students have more positive things to say about themselves.
My students and I have built one another up all year long. The main focus for my students: YOU MATTER. Before you can create solid relationships with others, you have to feed into yourself. Part of my role as their teacher is to feed into them as well. I build up my students to enable them to cross bridges they never thought they could.

2. Trust is built through actions, not words. 

-As their teacher, I have to prove to my students they can trust me. I show them what that means by showing up every single day, greeting them at the door, asking them about what is going on in their lives, and making sure they know I care no matter what happens. My actions speak louder than my words. 

Finally, the life lesson that spoke to me personally is...

3. You are only as good as the last risk you took.
-Cole states that success over the long term is about constantly pushing yourself to take the next big risk. My students deserve a teacher that is willing to take risks in the classroom. They deserve to learn in an environment where risk taking is promoted and modeled. I am willing to show my students what happens when you fail. They have seen me time and time again get up and keep on moving despite setbacks and challenges.

My hope is that my students will walk away this year feeling more confident in themselves and their abilities, leave here a better person than when they showed up, and know that I loved them day in and day out. I am proud of their emotional growth and it all goes back to those first five days.