My FB feed is very, very full of ppl posting this photo and tsk-tsking the instinct to commemorate life thru photos pic.twitter.com/VCOCuVqUd7
— Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) September 27, 2015
I love what this picture captures. The woman circled in the picture inspires me think about being present more often. Actually, being more present in the moment has helped me to better understand the change process.
Change often happens as a response to recognizing when the conditions are right to take the next steps. The Alton Darby Creek Collaborative project is a reflection of this kind of moment. We are in the middle of this grand collaboration and we sense the urgency to capture the moment and work hard to re-imagine learning experiences for kids. During the change process, we need to know when to slow down and when to speed up.
To accomplish this, we need to pause and reflect often. We need to celebrate what we've accomplished, but we also need to be completely honest with ourselves about how we are making progress. We need to keep looking for answers.
Sometimes it's through a conversation with a colleague that affirms our thinking.
Or it could be a blog post that pushes you to clearly define the idea you have.
One thing that motivates me to keep looking for answers is my own personal vision for learning that many of you share as well -- Flexible learning driven by student-inquiry, multi-aged groupings, and kids learning through solving real-world problems. It's what I see in my mind's eye, but I know we still have a ways to go.
Our project makes me think of running a relay race -- Racing to the next person with the baton in hand, clearly seeing your goal. Pacing yourself so that you can be responsive to the race.
Our goal is achieving our vision for learning, but I know that if we are too focused on our vision of what we want for learning, it might cloud our present reality and cause missteps.
A distracted runner drops the baton.
To get to where we want to go, we have to be in the moment and responsive to the present with a gaze towards to future.
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| https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4091/4976497160_026165c6cd_b.jpg - Labeled for noncommercial reuse. |
Keep being observant learners, collaborators and thinkers! Through this we will create new learning experiences for kids!
Have a GREAT week!
-Herb
Articles Pushing My Thinking
Staying the Same is Ultimately Falling Behind http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/11864
We Find What We Look For In Our Students – So What Do We See? http://chriswejr.com/2015/09/21/we-find-what-we-look-for-in-our-students-so-what-do-we-see/#.VgfkInUkcox.twitter
Change: Choose the crockpot over the microwave... http://www.justintarte.com/2015/09/change-choose-crockpot-over-microwave.html?spref=tw
Digital vs Digitized Learning http://wp.me/p1yBnd-mP
Upcoming Events
Sept 28 -- School Community Meeting -- Community Cardboard Challenge, 10:45
Sept 30 -- Mumkin Pickup 4-7pm
Oct 2 -- BAC meeting, 8:30
Oct 5-9 -- Fall Conference Week, Conference Night is Oct 7.
Oct 5 -- PTO General Meeting, 7pm
Oct 6 -- Building Improvement Team meeting
Oct 9 -- Interims due if no P/T Conference
Oct 10 -- Community Cardboard Challenge, Heritage Middle School, 9-12pm
Oct 14 -- IAT Team meeting, 3:30
Oct 16 -- COI Day, No School for Students
Oct 23 -- Staff Meeting w/ Dr. John
Oct 26 -- Yearbook Cover Contest begins / State of the Schools @ Bradley H.S.
Oct 28 -- IAT Team meeting, 3:30
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