teaching, learning, leading and life
Written by Graham Vogt
Over the past two years I have thought and written a lot about community; I have placed the concept at the core of my personal practice and Cohort21 Action Plan. In this time of intense challenge and deep reflection, the very idea of community is, perhaps, more important than ever, and so I find myself … Continue reading “At Rosseau Lake College, Community Endures (and Strengthens!)”
Written by Graham Vogt
We are each others’ single biggest resource and so we must search for ways to access and leverage that. I believe it begins with the endless assurance of collective support through endless, collective celebration. Each morning at RLC we gather in a circle as a school (yes, we’re that small and it’s awesome!) to offer … Continue reading “It Begins With Culture: Fostering and Leveraging a Healthy Community Eco-System”
Written by Graham Vogt
Cohort21 for instance is without a doubt the gold standard of a supporting culture and the outcomes as measured through the amazing initiative of hundreds of empowered educators speak for themselves. I read this memoir by Yvon Chouinard – he’s the guy who started Patagonia – over the summer, and it offered such a powerful … Continue reading “Let Your Students Go Surfing!”
Written by Graham Vogt
Warning: this post veers dangerously into that “cohort21 as a cult” sentiment so often captured in blog posts, twitter shout-outs and face2face confessionals. If this makes you feel uncomfortable, well… don’t allow it to! Embrace the magic! What do you say when someone asks “what is 21st Century Learning?” I don’t know, maybe something like … Continue reading “Reflecting on The Cohort21 Advantage: 21st Century Learning”
Written by Graham Vogt
It really is a test. Am I ready/willing to take a moonshot of my own? Where do my beliefs truly lay? How far am I willing to go? IT was even theatrical. I was at the absolute height of my enthusiasm, channelling a famous American, pleading for the essential role of “dreaming and imagination” at the … Continue reading “A Few Thoughts on Moonshots”
Written by Graham Vogt
To an ever-growing extent, the very concept of grades, or the attempt to accurately quantify learning, is a lingering artifact from an increasingly extinct approach to teaching and learning. If grades are a necessary component of the larger institution of learning, then I believe it is the responsibility of the 21st Century Educator to re-imagine … Continue reading “Down With Grades! Can We at Least Talk About It?”
Written by Graham Vogt
This past week in our Discovery Program (Grades 9 and 10) we “disruptED” the general routine of learning with a symposium on the skill of “presentation”. It was awesome for all the reasons we imagined it would be awesome. It was also awesome for many reasons we may not have fully imagined. All of these reasons … Continue reading “The 48 Hour Challenge… Building a Skill and So Much More!”
Written by Graham Vogt
And here is my pledge: I WILL REFLECT CONSISTENTLY. NO REALLY, I WILL. This is not quite an Action Plan, I’m not confronting any particular aspect of my practice, I don’t yet have cause and effect. But hopefully it will both capture and inspire action. Quite simply, I will intuitively follow the path of reflection … Continue reading “call it ironic, call it postmodern, I’m reflecting on reflection…”
Written by Graham Vogt
Sneaking through the woods, I stumbled upon a group of Grade 9 students, in a close circle, reading aloud from a zombie novel, while hiding from the threat of zombies. That strikes me as pretty rich learning. And this was the kind of experience I witnessed again and again throughout “Zombie Day”. The day itself, … Continue reading “Zombie Day: Collaboration, Imagination”
Written by Graham Vogt
On the day of the launch of my action plan, a classroom of ninth grade arms shot, with enthusiasm and pride, into the air. I had just asked “who, in this group, is a reader?” I was stunned by the overwhelming response; over 80% of the 40 students I’d gathered together that morning were describing … Continue reading “Action Plan Update: It’s All About the Celebration!!!”
Written by Graham Vogt
NOTE FOR NON-ENGLISH TEACHERS: Please don’t be put off by what appears to be English heavy content. My needs are far reaching! It’s an age old struggle for an English Teacher: I love Shakespeare and the kids hate him. Worse still, I understand exactly why they hate him. I hated him too. Passionately. Actively even. … Continue reading “Mistaken Identity: Shakespeare in the Classroom”
Written by Graham Vogt
It is my first Cohort 21 face to face meeting, and I am mesmerized… and inspired, intimidated, overwhelmed, exhilarated and terrified. I don’t really know what I am. We’ve moved on to the next discussion/idea/innovation and I’m still whirling to resolve ten minutes ago, two hours ago, the morning introductions with all of the energy … Continue reading “Cohort 21? What Have I done?”
