My best learning experience

Welcome to you Cohort 21 Blog. This journal is an integral part of your Cohort 21 experience. Here you will reflect, share , collaborate  and converse as you move through the C21 Action Plan process. 

This is your first post and an opportunity to share a little bit about yourself as a learner and leader. Please respond the to the following prompts below:

1) Reflect on your own personal learning journey and K-12 education. Identify one learning experience that you can point to as having made a significant impact on some element of your own growth and development. It could be that teacher and subject that really sparked significant growth or a trip that opened your eyes to a whole new world or way of thinking or a non-catastrophic failure that you learned so much from.  Briefly describe the learning experience and identify the various supports, structures, mindsets and relational ingredients that were put in place by the teacher or facilitator that directly contributed to your growth and success. 

Throughout high school I enjoyed all subjects related to math and science and I continued to  struggle with English (writing essays in particular). In the 11th grade I had an awesome teacher that taught me many things in English that changed my views about writing.  This transformation happened when she suggested I meet up with her during lunch hours to get feedback on my assignments. These regular meetings created a personal bond where we got to know each other more on a personal level.  Feeling more comfortable gave me the confidence to express myself more freely in writing which then enhanced my grades. I also connected with other students who needed the same support and we helped and edited each others work.   I now realise making a small connection with someone can go a long way. Teaching and school life is not all about academics; creating personal bonds and getting to know students on a personal level is just as important.

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2) What is the one Learning skill (MOE) or Approach to Learning (IB ATL) that you feel is MOST important in this day and age? How do you intentionally build it into your curriculum and develop it in your students throughout the year?

I believe a very important learning skill that all students need is collaboration.  Cooperation, empathy, being able to advocate for oneself, taking turns, striving to achieve one common goal and social skills are all part of collaboration.   We build this into our curriculum when we have class discussions or class meetings and define this learning skill (in student language) so they are able to apply these skills with their daily work or assignments.  Carpet work is part of our Montessori environment where students need to work side by side, share materials and help each other. A lot of discussion happens when students need to share materials to complete their work.  Collaboration is not an easy skill to teach so we continue to model and enforce this daily. Collaboration is essential to have a calm and peaceful environment

 

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3) Insert an image below that best captures the essence of that Learning Skill or ATL. (Click on the “Helpful WordPress Video Tutorials” link in the left hand sidebar to learn how to insert it)

https://www.shutterstock.com/search/children+collaborate

(Insert Image here – **Don’t forget to give the image correct attribution to let everyone know where you got it from** )