Over on Instagram I have been sharing some of my absolutely favourite provocations. What are provocations?
Teachers, What Questions Are You Asking?
What am I doing in class that my students should be doing for themselves? What skills and understandings do students need to take on more of the heavy lifting of learning? How can I create more calm in the classroom? How can I create the conditions for students to be more inquisitive and curious in their learning? What should I coach and model for my students? What should I hold up and speak to in class to create clarity and direction for students? How can I be more transparent and supportive in my practice? How can I ensure there is equity in learning?
MindShift Article: How Can Teachers Nurture Meaningful Student Agency?
Recently I had another piece published with the good friends at MindShift KQED titled How Can Teachers Nurture Meaningful Student Agency? I love collaborating with MindShift as time and time again, they bring thoughtful and informed articles to educators around the world.
This particular piece focused on exploring authentic student agency with an aim to bring clarity to how educators can begin to move beyond defining agency as merely a choice over assignments. The accompanying sketchnote by the ever-talented Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt further illustrates these views (see below). Please have a read!
“Students need to feel psychologically safe if we are to ask them to take on a more active and meaningful role in their learning, which is why as we nurture student agency in our classrooms, it’s important that we also nurture relationships, trust and risk taking.”
Teachers, What Are Your Values?
When I begin to work with a new class of students I always share with them my core values. I share what I believe in, what goals I have for our time together and my why.
I ask them to hold me accountable to these values. I share that teaching can be a difficult and demanding job and that I want them to let me know if I stray from these values.
I ask them to join me in making these values a central part of how we spend time together. I invite them to engage in these values and to embrace them each and every day.
I encourage them to explore their own values as a learner and how, together, we will aim to discover our individual strengths and stretches so that we can begin to bring these skills to any context or future endeavour.
So what are my core values?
Nanaimo & Ladysmith School District Collaborative Inquiry
Recently I had a fantastic session with fellow BC colleagues from Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools as we worked together to frame their collaborative inquiry focus this year on connectedness, engagement and belonging. Despite the unique challenges we face in sharing and collaborating virtually, with over 80 teachers at five settings, it was an amazing partnership, one in which I am very much looking forward to reconnecting with during their action research this year. This dynamic group and the various PLCs involved are doing some amazing things. Stay tuned to hear more!
ISTE20 LIVE: Inquiry in a Chromebook-Infused Classroom
I am looking forward to presenting at ISTE20 LIVE with Holly Clark as we combine our passions and expertise in an interactive session titled Inquiry in a Chromebook-Infused Classroom! Discover how inquiry can become a driving force in a Chromebook classroom. Get an overview of how to create meaningful learning experiences that put students at the center of their learning and deconstruct the differences between personalized and individualized instruction. Please consider joining us! Register here and participate in this PD from the comfort of your home.
Roland Park K-8 Magnet School Book Club
Teachers at Roland Park K-8 Magnet School, an IB school in Tampa Florida, are engaging in an Inquiry Mindset book club. I am looking forward to tuning in to their learning and see where this takes them.
Did you know we have a free book club guide that’s over 20 pages full of rich collaborative questions for situations just like this? Find it at my website in the Exclusive Content area.
3Ps in a Pod Podcast & the Arizona K12 Center
Recently I was a guest on the #3Ps in a Pod Podcast hosted by the Arizona K12 Center (shout outs to Mary and Angelia!), an amazing organization offering training programs and opportunities to AZ teachers. I was a guest along with Kass Minor as we shared our joint passion for inquiry. The episode is a bit of time away from dropping but I wanted to share my deepest gratitude to the Arizona K12 Center for bringing me on as a guest. Selfishly it was fantastic to ping ideas off of Kass and learn from her expertise and experience. Also, the Arizona K12 Center is doing some amazing things. I am constantly impressed with the direction they are going and the impact they have on AZ teachers. We have a special partnership in the works, one in which I am so excited to share more about…but you all will have to wait a bit longer for the announcement. Stay tuned!
Reimagine Washington Webinar
Recently I was hosted by Reimagine Washington and Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman to share my passion for inquiry with this great group of educators. I am continuously thankful for the direction schools are taking towards inquiry, student agency and equity. The more I share and connect with teachers around the world, the more I observe this unwavering truth: the ways in which kids learn are changing. Happy to be a part of a school of thinking that supports this change. Thank you for having me Reimagine Washington!
International School of Basel Partnership
One of my partnerships this year is with the International School of Basel in supporting them in their inquiry implementation with a specific focus on student-centred assessment frameworks, or evidencing as I like to call it. Assessment can have negative connotation, one that suggests comparing students to one another, reducing their learning to a percentage or a letter grade. Evidencing suggests that we are actively engaging our learners in the process of gathering learning evidence to guide our next steps and help them do this on their own. Essentially we are aiming to enrich our understanding of evidencing with a lens on empowering learners at ISB. Stay tuned for some of the resources used in this work.
