The fog frost this morning was incredible. The kids and I rode to school in awe, looking down upon our town with its snow-kissed tree branches and houses with sparkling eaves. I bundled up and went for a run, despite the freezing temp and slippery sidewalks. To breathe in the idyllic winter scenery- making your average roadside shrub look like a nordic screen saver.
It seems the outdoors have finally caught up to the calendar. And although I feel so fortunate to have this be my view as I spend my days learning, researching, and volunteering, I can’t help but feel a bit frozen myself.
In the past few months I have taken formal classes and webinars, attended educator discussions and read numerous articles and books. I’ve studied trauma, expressive arts, play, outdoor classrooms, and student-driven learning methods. And while I’m ecstatic to try some things out, I have to admit I feel slightly…stuck.
I’ve joked lately that I’m not sure I can return back to the classroom seamlessly. That I’ve “drank too much of the educational reform Kool-aid”. I’ve been inspired and encouraged by all of these ground-breaking researchers and educators and yet change is slow. I get disheartened when I look around and see the same old thing being done in education, despite substantial evidence of the better.
So I had an extra coffee and put out my intentions in the universe. I said a prayer for guidance… how can we best give our kids the education they so desperately need right now?
I’m still waiting for the answer. 😉
But while I do, I’m happy to share that throughout all of this learning, certain themes keep repeating. A lovely sign that maybe, perhaps, THIS is where schools need to move towards…
#1 Social Emotional Learning Support: Yep. That phrase gets overused. But I’m talking in particular about teaching kids how to notice what they are feeling and what to do. How to regulate their emotions and ask for what they need.
#1B Boys can be sad too: Brush it off, ignore it, you’re fine, is not ok for our boys. Want to make them tougher? Teach them how to identify and admit emotions, how to confidently solve problems. (*foreshadowing of a future post)
#2 Kids need to move, preferably outside: I am not in the business of telling kids to sit down and be quiet. Although calm has its place, we need to be done teaching kids that learning only comes from silent obedience. Fresh air, sensory play, creative discussion-all of it.
#3 There needs to be more student-led learning: We need to let them talk, decide topics, and have ideas. Can we still check off our learning goals and not get side-tracked? You bet we can…and have more engaged and focused learning in doing so! Instead of thinking of ideas of how to teach the standards, what if we use their interests and connect it back to one?
#4 Value Recess: All humans need breaks. Obviously for fresh air and play and movement… but also for social. Kids have had a gap in peer interaction. Let’s teach them how to solve conflict, how to ask to join the game, and how to include the ones on the peripherals.
By the time I finished this post, the frost had melted from the branches, erasing the magical glitter and leaving behind large clumps of snow only. So maybe it’s fitting to end with a thought from Robert Frost. That sometimes…”the best way out is through.”
This week I read Rebecca London’s Rethinking Recess. My biggest takeaway is that recess should be organized. Not structured as in too adult-led and controlled, and not a complete free-for-all with little guidance… but organized. And we need wonderful humans to dedicate their time to playing with kids (the book calls them ‘Recess Coaches’ and I think it’s genius. Also inspiring for anyone working on changing the recess laws in our country!
Teaching the Good Stuff 