TED
November 5, 2009
11.5
Today and tomorrow I will dedicate much of my time to an event I am organizing in NYC, TEDxEast. If you are not already familiar with TED go to TED.com and check it out. Innovative thinkers and idea makers in technology, entertainment and design…
to see my event’s lineup www.tedxeast.com
to watch the livestream tomorrow www.livestream.com
Today, try something new.
November 4, 2009
11.4
Even if the level of noise and activity is a bit unnerving at first- today I would challenge you to try something new in your morning meeting. Whether it is adding an art review, letting the children run sections of it, abandoning calendar activities, changing the seating, beginning with a question for open discussion, not squashing side conversations- do something, one thing- new.
Who talks? We all do.
November 3, 2009
11.3
It was a fantastic morning with a group of teachers in New Jersey and one of the most interesting parts was the fact that they noticed that I did not shush everyone for their side conversations that took place while I was talking. If learning is a social activity, and knowledge is constructed with others then I am willing to wager that most of the side conversations were about the content and related to what I was saying to varying degrees. We discussed the idea that listening and learning do not look the same for each of us…talking about giving children freedom to express and explore their own learning and processes…it was a hot topic of debate in only the best way! So I ask you- can you only be heard when there is absolute silence?
Children making sense for themselves
November 2, 2009
11.2
Someone made a comment in a class the other night that got me thinking… when interacting with students are we making order for them (in conflict, use of time. choices) as opposed to giving them the opportunity to make order for themselves…
Art review in assemblea
October 30, 2009
10.30
While I was in Reggio I participated in morning meetings in which the children reviewed and offered feed back on each others’ art work. They loved it, it gave everyone an opportunity to see and discuss patterns in their work, ideas and even use of materials. It gave students an opportunity to share their feedback and learn how to give and receive it.
Revisiting conversation threads
October 29, 2009
10.29
Every so often is it useful to re-visit the conversations that may have started at diferent times during your morning meeting and ‘pull the threads’ of these conversations to check in and see what connections the students have made. You might want to begin with something like, “Remember (last week, month or the other day) we talked about … I was thinking about it again and wondered if you were.”
See where it goes from there.
Building a base
October 28, 2009
10.28
All behaviors take practice to learn and master- begin together and not talking over each other, taking turns, using tools, language and our spaces. It is a cumulative effort that shows itself in response to small efforts. It is not enough to ask children to come and sit on the rug and anticipate they will understand not to wiggle and whisper to their friends. This cumulative effort is probably one of the most important aspects of learning in schools- this asks for a cumulative, regular effort on the part of the teacher to demonstrate, make clear and support the integration of new behaviors. I say all of this as I see quite often at many levels of schooling the expectation that if we TELL people something they will somehow magically DO what they are told- DO meaning understand and be able to replicate the action or skill. Where is the space to practice and try things out? That is the space we need to stretch out in schools. The place to practice.
It’s raining!
October 27, 2009
What a fun day to go outside and play- it is raining where I am. The whole way the world looks is different in the grayish lighting with the darker sky and the shiny surfaces…talk your kids on a walk in the rain. Collect stuff or take a camera and take pictures…look at these tomorrow or another day this week in a different morning meeting. What do the students notice as unique ? What do they remember about walking in the rain? How is it different than a dry day? The smells…sounds?
Getting families inside the story
October 26, 2009
After having spent the weekend with my family- I would love to share my stories with my students (I see them Wednesday). There is a great part of developing an identity that is tied to time and experience with family- are we giving kids an opportunity to talk about this with us and each other? This might mean specific questions- but do not be afraid of getting too much information or making things uncomfortable as the reality of family circumstances emerges in surprising ways- this is life, let’s embrace it.
