Final Reflection…The beginning of the end

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It feels both strange and premature to be posting my action plan. I feel like I’m still running off in all directions.
I haven’t achieved my vision but I’ve realized that if I’d held on to “my” vision of the plan I wouldn’t have come nearly as far. I’ve let go of my goals of creating fancy tracking programs, digital dashboards and badges to focus on stripping away barriers between students and engaged learning. I have many hopes…I crave watching students jump into learning with abandon, I urge them to recognize that the curiosity that intrudes their thoughts is not a distraction but rather an opportunity, I wish teachers could feel like they have permission to disregard their lesson plans to follow the lead of student interest.

But…I know that there have been so many years of training that have gone into the creation of teachers and students who feel obliged to get the grade and teach to the grade. In listening to middle school students, middle school teachers and administrators, there are so many barriers; time, ministry expectations, tradition and culture to name a few. From the outside it almost looks like changing the way that we teach, learn and recognize success is a foolish goal.

All it takes, however, is a short conversation with a student about music, sports, social media,  or injustice to feel emboldened, to be reminded that there is passion in there. The headmasters list was the first casualty in the work towards a more holistic, relevant and experiential middle school program. I’m going to venture and say that the best is yet to come!

Below is my attempt to explain what is was that I was working on and thinking about this year. It’s long…sorry!  I should also draw your attention to the title: Recording #4 HA! Yep, that is exactly how many attempts it took for me to figure out how to get the darn thing to work, I didn’t even attempt to name this baby.

Here’s to Cohort 21 for nudging me to shift my mindset, to try new technologies, and not only make some moves but also to consciously consider my movement forwards, backwards, sidewards and upwards. Thank you!

Who am I, and what am I capable of?

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I wonder sometimes if we are doing our best, as learners, as teachers, as community builders. In some ways we are doing our very best- pushing back within a system bent on helping four-year-olds move from reading level 2 to 3, set on helping twelve-year-olds stay focused, still and compliant and helping sixteen-year-olds get on the honour role. Despite this system, maybe our best means that we push buck the systemthe boundaries of what is expected of US, we push OURSELVES to be more authentic and to teach the way we know students will learn even if it’s not what they (or their parents) are used to.
It is sometimes difficult to know if being a great teacher means being on top of the incredibly long (ministry informed) to-do list or if it means bucking the system altogether.

There are moments where being my best self as an educator is eato-do-listsy.
In these moments I feel connected to the students and to my values. I feel like the to do list becomes filled with things like;
-“were they excited”
-“did they care”
-“were they chatty and engaged”
-“did they fail but keep moving forward”
-“did they take risks”
-“did they connect”…
It seems like teaching and learning with this to-do list in mind should be easy, and yet there are so many days when easy isn’t the word I use to describe my classes.

In many ways I am lucky. I am a middle school French teacher, a senior school leadership teacher, I am leading faculty through the development of a new middle school Global Leadership program and the senior school community service coordinator. I love the variety. I love how many opportunities I am afforded and how many ideas, conversations and paths I get to follow. And then I am asked to pick an action plan! ….ONE!!!

I have had too many, fleeting but, fantastic moments lately to make deciding where to launch my motivations clear cut. I have been inspired by the work my leadership students have produced in our first design thinking project. I love how the “how might we…” has led to “what if…”, “I bet…”, “it’s crazy but could be so cool if…” I love the way students begin to see their potential when teachers set things up and then take a step back. (Thank you cohort 21 for the design thinking tool kit!). I have been beyond excited to see community connections deepen and expand and know that community engagement is truly the work that makes my heart glow.
I have been rejuvenated by an approach to French language learning that puts students and their personal path towards confident communication, centre stage. Any of these projects could be my action plan.
Despite all of the potential, I have decided (at least tentatively) that it is my work with the middle school that needs my attention, and your (yes you- cohort 21er) insight.

And so my action plan will focus on our Middle School program. It will focus on developing a program where students see themselves as capable, confident and caring young people. I hope to help build a program that inspires students to be curious and engaged and that builds a sense of autonomy,  mastery and purpose. This is a tall order. It may require a little system bucking (down with you- headmasters list!). It may require us to be patient before the to do list of “were they excited”, “did they take risks”, “did they connect” is achieved. It will require new ways of teaching, new ways mastery autonomy and purposeof seeing the potential within our students, new ways of seeing ourselves as co-educators. It will require my peers  and I to thoughtfully and thoroughly ask the question…

“How might we create a middle school          program focused on helping students            answer the question ‘Who am I and              what am I capable of?'”.

I look forward to every last minute of it 🙂

 

The spotlight…

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Despite the fact that my blog post began in the last few moments of our first F2F meeting it’s taken me a week and a half (make that a month and a half)  to work my way back to my site.
I’m an enthusiastic learner, not afraid to take risks or to slide outside of my comfort zone. I believe wholeheartedly in the value of sharing one’s journey in order to more thoughtfully reflect and more collaboratively progress. And yet…I am not particularly fond of the spotlight. To me the spotlight is intimidating and claustrophobic. I am blinded by it rather than buoyed. I’m the kind of gal who would rather a pot luck picnic than a wedding day. The kind of teacher who loves shifting the balance of power from teacher to student.
 bryant-growth-mindset-ccs-iStockphoto

As I mull these feelings over, I’m coming to the realization that being in the spotlight does not need to be about attention grabbing or ego. I’ve been watching the pro’s… the @lesmcbeth who shares her Ss successes and and who sets out the online version of the welcome mat so naturally. The @MrsGanley  who’s #doorswideopen is spreading the potential that opening the door can have in building a collaborative community. The @DerekDoucet1 who reminds me how valuable discomfort can be (“Sitting beside @alainarobcon at #cohort21 chat “that looks terrifying” – it’s important to be comfortable being uncomfortable #gafesummitTO) and the @jmedved and @Think_teach  who herald others in the spotlight in order to share it and spread it.

Our first F2F was exciting and inspiring. I was reminded how easily it is to share enthusiasm, knowledge and community when in a room full of people who love the same things.
Though I’m not quite there ….YET….I’m on my way to shifting my view of blogging from one that leaves me slightly self conscious about my on-line presence,to the view that really we are all simply searching, sharing and highlighting our enthusiasm and all of the amazing work of those who surround us.
As I look up directions and get my travel mug ready for the second Face2Face I feel ready to learn, ready to take risks and ready to chare….fugure I might as well tap that publish button to prove it

Welcome to Cohort 21

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c21_logo_mediumWelcome to Cohort 21. This is the first post on your new blog. This journal is an integral part of your Cohort 21 experience. Here you will reflect, share and collaborate as you move through the C21 learning cycle towards your action plan.

Cohort 21 is a unique professional development opportunity open to CIS Ontario teachers and school leaders who are seeking to explore  what it means to a teacher in the 21st century.