November 6 Professional Play Date

Changing the way we do schools requires a change from the ground up. All real reform in history begins that way. So, we need to listen to the people involved at the point of contact in education - students, parents, teachers, and school leaders.

What if schools were places where students could...

. . . trust all adults to care about them? feel safe at school? engage in more real-world experiences? feel safe while expressing their own desires and determine the way they are evaluated in a trusting, safe environment? have input on their educational path? express themselves in how they're evaluated? showcase their entire range of abilities? not be afraid to fail, but be determined to keep trying? build on strengths not fix what's weak? have the time to think? use their technology naturally? use technology to the max? design their own learning experiences? follow their interests? explore interests and passions? "teach" other students? establish a love for learning? smile? play? laugh? have fun? love to go to in the a.m.? have access to diverse creative activities? make? have regular, purposeful physical ed? learn to code? learn to think? move forward without being burdened by staying within grade level? not have to worry about a bell ringing? be given time to ponder and act on their thoughts? not be afraid to fail (growth mindset?) feel ok to fail (and get back up again!) discover the "big picture?" not be told to be quiet? play (socialize?)

work and learn collaboratively? learn and show their learning in different ways? co-develop the assessment of learning? design their own learning experiences? understand why they are learning something? choose a pathway to learning that was engaging/meaningful to them? choose what they learn? go back to art & music & other extra curriculars (even if "math" is "cut?") have the choice with EVERYTHING (books, assessments, etc.?) feel success without points or grades attached? pursue their passions? not worry about questioning for fear of reprisal? not know where the front of the classroom is? feel safe enough to be themselves? be encouraged to make mistakes? be treated with respect no matter what they seemed to be? redo and improve their work until it was "perfect?" ask their own questions, rather than teachers asking the questions? not be confined to constraints of time? exhaust outside resources beyond the textbook? do presentations of their thought processes? be creative and confident? know how they are progressing and move beyond? work on what they were interested in discovering? have choice in what and how they learn? real world authentic experiences? lead a lesson they are knowledgeable/interested in? student generated projects? tell the teacher what they want to learn about? not be confined or constrained? risk takers? play? connect instead of collect? have choices in learning? be a part of their own learning plan and assessments? learn with interests and passions? solve real world problems? be exposed to new things? create their own businesses? build, make, play. . . have fun while their learn? connect with experts around the world? fail often? learn in a collaborative environment? connect globally? learn languages (coding, Spanish, Sign Language?) make more independent choices about their learning? be prepared for 21st century jobs? be free to make mistakes? feel like they truly have a voice? be creative? produce instead of consume? know that they matter? explore their passions? not be overwhelmed with tests? feel valued and important part of school culture? love to be each and every day? learn how to collaborate successfully? be more active while learning?

Then we would need teachers who...

  • smile and laugh with children.

  • have growth mindset.

  • are open to deep self-reflection.

  • are creative and innovation.

  • are comfortable with being uncomfortable.

  • are flexible and creative.

  • have passions.

  • are flexible.

  • encourage creativity.

  • are flexible and agile.

  • are always collaborating.

  • are open to change mid-stream (of a lesson/project/etc.)

  • have fun.

  • take risks.

  • foster a growth mindset.

  • personalize learning.

  • have help from other adults.

  • facilitate, not pontificate.

  • are creative.

  • collaborate.

  • chase student passions.

  • are flexible.

  • try new ways of teaching.

  • are flexible.

  • think outside the box.

  • enjoy kids (who act like kids.)

  • embrace dancing over marching.

  • don't sell students short.

  • share ideas.

  • have passion about being a teacher...go the extra mile.

  • listen and discover more about students.

  • are adaptable.

  • will not be afraid to take a risk or try something different.

  • share and take risks.

  • learn.

  • follow their passion.

  • kid compatible.

  • connect with kids and families.

  • collaborate.

  • are role models.

  • are innovative.

  • are constant learners.

  • diverse.

  • love kids and learning.

  • are flexible.

  • are life long learners.

  • are open to change.

  • are ready to evaluate old vs. new practices.

  • are creative.

  • let go of expected outcomes.

  • are willing to try new things, push status quo.

  • work together, listen and collaborate.

  • think outside the box.

  • teachers who can put ego aside for best practices.

  • ok trying new things.

  • trust each other.

  • are willing to change and compromise.

Then we would need parents who...

  • will be supportive and accept change.

  • are not "helicopter" parents.

  • are willing to be experts at school and share their expertise with students.

  • listen to their children and learn from them.

  • can support this environment.

  • let kids chase their passions.

  • are supportive of change and innovation.

  • trust the big picture!

  • support change.

  • insist on no homework until high school.

  • trust the big picture!

  • are partners in their child's education.

  • trust the process.

  • willing to let an "idea" fail (teachers and students.)

  • growth mindset.

  • communicate with and support their child's teacher.

  • support schools.

  • support creativity and risk-taking in the classroom/at school.

  • are supportive.

  • participate in the learning experience.

  • contribute expertise and passions.

  • communicate.

  • give grace.

  • are open to change midstream (of a lesson/project/etc.)

  • can successfully partner with teachers.

  • aware of students' growth areas and needs.

  • are comfortable with change.

  • share their expertise.

  • want to be involved in learning.

Then we would need leaders who...

  • listen to colleagues.

  • are supportive of teachers risks.

  • let go of control.

  • encourage different ways of teaching.

  • be a leader.

  • evaluate success differently.

  • build a positive, safe culture/climate at school.

  • are visionary.

  • help facilitate this ability to change.

  • allow teachers to experiment.

  • are students.

  • get a vision for a world of abundance.

  • we can put faith in that we are on the same page? Heading in the same direction!

  • are visionaries.

  • are a part of the design experience.

  • allow for an encourage risk taking and change.

  • explore new possibilities, research, reach out to others.

  • listen to the kids.

  • are willing to break from the norm.

  • leaders who have daily time for professional development.

  • leaders who support teacher creativity.

  • are open to change midstream (of a lesson/project/etc.)

  • support teachers through evaluating practice.

  • walk in kids' shoes.

  • continue to learn and search out resources.

  • are not afraid to change.

  • embrace failure.

  • take risks.

  • have experienced being in a classroom.

  • are brave.

  • are flexible.

  • have growth mindset.

  • lead by example.

  • celebrate success.