Righting the ship is a weekly, perhaps daily event in schools. With so many competing interests, it's essential to consider the edscape as we navigate the minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months of the teaching year. What matters? What doesn't matter?
A children-first attitude matters and should set the stage for what we do in school. Keeping this focus center stage makes us positive, thoughtful, and centered with regard to what makes a difference.
Hence I have this in mind as I right the school ship at week's end.
Today I introduced the children to the idea of choreographing the schedule, finding the right mix of learning activities so that everyone is introduced to many ways to learn and a variety of content. This choreography at elementary school is meant to provide students with options to explore as they figure out what they like, how they learn, and what they need to be successful, happy learners. Our weekly schedule includes quiet times and noisier times, independent, whole class, and collaborative time, projects, paper-work, songs, indoors and outdoors, and more. The plan includes time to meet the standards, practice the skills, and embark on new, creative learning approaches--something for everyone.
Hence the schedule is set. Now I'm moving towards greater personalization and differentiation. During reading/writing workshop (also known as literacy studio) I'll make the time to meet with individuals in order to set goals, discuss interests, and respond to needs. I've started to understand more and more about individual's needs throughout the curriculum and I'm able to reflect that understanding in differentiated lesson design as well. The conversations with learners have started. We know more about what's challenging, and what comes easy. I'm there to coach and I remind students of that regularly. They respond by asking questions, emailing requests, and sharing challenges and success.
Next week we'll have a complete week of focused attention on goals, student needs, and interests--a new leg of the school year starts.
