I love the Twitterverse. I've been on Twitter almost 5 years and have quite a few followers. I also love to follow new people that have new and innovative ideas. I have recently discovered a kindred spirit that lives on the West Coast (where my heart lives, but that's another post). Her name is Vicki Ven Ouden (@vicki_den) and she is ah.maze.ing. She started the #5x5 strategy revolution in her primary classes, and I have caught onto it in recent weeks. I was asked to present to the staff at my school about Empowering Modern Learners and the Models of Learning we choose to use at our school. We talked about Knowledge Building, Design Thinking, Inquiry and the Blended Learning Model. I then asked staff the question: How might you construct a representation of your current model of learning using a 5x5 strategy? (5 items; 5 of each item). The staff was a bit hesitant to start, but then many of them were quite eager to show their thinking. The image above was created by Kindergarten educators. Their thinking was to show the concentric circles of the image of the child and how the child is in the middle, with educator, parents and community around the child. The keys represent the 6 domains that we observe in our students through the Ontario Kindergarten document (Belonging and Contributing, Self-Regulation and Well Being, Demonstrating Literacy and Numeracy Behaviours, Problem Solving and Innovating). The blocks represent risky play, and the animals are the children observing each other and learning from each other. The image below shows the process of the educators' thinking. There was a lot of collaboration and thinking that went into this process. It gave the staff a different way of showing their thinking, and I got to show them how wonderful loose parts are!! How might we use loose parts and the #5x5 strategy with our learners? Do constraints help our learners to be more creative, or too reserved?
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There are lots of things I used to believe....
I used to believe that I was indispensable at work. That the school would grind to an ever-loving halt if I wasn't there. That I wouldn't get that proverbial gold star for perfect attendance as a teacher. It's not true. The world doesn't stop if I'm not there (at least not for some). I used to believe that I had to ask permission. Now I justify after the fact. I used to believe that there was nothing more exhilarating than a well prepared worksheet that got my point across and that children would LOVE to fill it out and remember it forever. Enough said. I used to believe that I had to know everything. Nothing can be further than the truth. That's what Google is for. I used to believe that I didn't make much of a difference. But I do. I make a difference to people every day. And usually, it's a different person each day. But I do make a difference. I used to believe that there was such a thing as a bad kid. No sir. Just kids that speak a different language that we need to interpret and understand. Being mindful, being present and being real are things I now believe. Listening, asking questions and being calm are ways that I show my beliefs. What do you "used to believe?" How has education changed for you? Well, it's another new year. 2018. A year of promises. A year that's almost 1/12th over. And the start of a new blog/website for l'il ol' me.
Over on the Facebook, a wonderful educator and publisher, Mark Barnes of the Hack Learning Series of books asked what people would be doing that was new in 2018. I cheekily replied, "Small potatoes, but thinking about blogging". He seemed psyched about it, so I thought, "Maybe this is doable." I have been on a bit of a journey this year at my school. I'm no longer in a homeroom class. Instead I am an IKST (Intensive Kindergarten Support Teacher) as well as working with four grade 1 classes to give their teachers planning time support. The topic of choice for those periods? Maker Ed. I work with the BEST TEAM IN MY SCHOOL BOARD. (Shout out to @MrJCampbell1, @Ms_A_Held, @MrSchuermann and @MrFinleyj). It's amazing going to work each day with these individuals and their big ideas and their big ideals. Along the road of my journey, I have discovered many new educators and theorists to follow along and learn from. Big love to @angelastockman and all of the signposts and Twitter peeps she has sent my way. I have reconnected with one of my university friends, Melanie Mulcaster (@the_mulc) and we have found a mutual love for STEAM and Maker Ed. So, blogging may have found its way back into my wheelhouse. We'll see what comes of it, but I am excited again to share some of my learning and ideas with the world. |
ME!An educator. A family gal. A lover of Maker, craftiness and all things wool related. ArchivesCategories |