Launch
News & Notes for East Middle Faculty and Staff
Mindful Minute
How Awesome
Looking Forward
- What is it that you have wished you could do, but there's a system in your way?
- What would you restructure if you could?
- What would you keep just as it is?
Years ago, Ms. Powell and Ms. Dugle gave me permission to take on a group of students during what was then an intervention period for most. Without knowing fully what I was doing at the time, I allowed students to design their own learning experience for 6 weeks. It felt like a complete mess- at first. 3 students studied drawing, 1 researched colleges, 5 wanted to learn cursive, 2 just wanted the time to be quiet and read...you get the idea. I had a class going in what I felt was 500 different directions. I had to make this meaningful, but if I didn't make it manageable for myself, no one would be successful.
So, I gave them each 2 success criteria:
- choose an ELA academic standard to master through their learning
- produce something for an audience
Through conferring and creation of a process portfolio (back then, all paper) some crazy good learning occurred.
I saw one of those kiddos not too long ago. He said, "You remember that time you let us learn whatever we wanted? That was cool."
Don't get me wrong, this was NOT perfect instructional design by any means. I did not know about structures for personalized learning, genius hour, or 20% time. I probably did not have the rigor I might have now that I am better researched in those areas. But, I remember that class like it was yesterday! There was energy like I'd never experienced before and I was impressed by student creativity in their own project designs more deeply than in most I had designed for them. What does that mean?
For me, it means that even before I "heard" that more student voice and agency in learning makes a difference, I knew it. It means that even before experts told me to let go of total control of the learning environment, I knew I needed to.
So, as I look forward to next year, I want to let go and make a little bit of a mess with all of you. A beautiful mess. Are you ready?
Take some time to read the blog below:
Ms. Dugle to visit East Middle on Wednesday
Tuesday Afternoon
What's Happening This Week?
Tues- Data Teams; East Middle Share Fair (meet together in library, then breakout sessions); Club Day
Wed- No Team Leader Mtg; Ms. Dugle to visit East Middle
Thurs- Data Teams; Dr. Neihof in the building in a.m.
Fri- Schoolwide Spelling Bee in library in a.m.