It's so easy to prescribe what students need, want, and desire, but it's much more difficult to make time to listen to children and let them lead.
Children generally know what they need, and if we give them time to speak and make choices, they typically speak and choose well.
Too often we speak for children. Too often we think for children. Too often we plan and prescribe for what we think they need.
The real strength in teaching, learning, and parenting is to give children the voice, choice, and leadership they deserve with regard to the environment, experiences, and events that impact them.
One of the best ways to do that is to have a daily meeting. Other ways are to invite students to write emails, lead meetings, make changes and engage in meaningful discussion and debate.
Good teachers everywhere know that listening to children is essential when it comes to teaching and learning well. I want to lead 2017-2018 with this point.
