Rethinking Learning
As you can see from the images above, play is an opportunity for kids to imaginatively create, tinker and explore the endless thoughts running through their heads. So what happens to that innate passion of exploration? I was recently tagged by Zack Kruger on Twitter. The Tweet referenced the video below. I would encourage you to take a couple minutes and watch the video as it explains how play leads to creativity.
With the large amount of initiatives and mandates at the local, state and federal levels, it is easy to lose sight of the characteristics of meaningful learning. Memorize, regurgitate, repeat is unknowingly becoming engrained in the traditional classroom.
Who's to blame? It would be easy to point fingers at initiatives, class sizes, limited funding or any other fill in the blank _______ excuse. As coach Charlie Stumpff once told me, "You can be part of the problem or part of the solution." Will you be part of the problem (blame game) or part of the solution (do what you know is best for kids)?
Contrary to popular belief, teachers didn't get into teaching because of June, July and August. They got into teaching because they were passionate about being part of something bigger than any one person. We should create a "We before me mentality" in our schools.
When you put "me" before "we", you start to default to the blame game: I don't have time, I can't differentiate my lessons because I have to stay on the pacing guide, I have too many interventions, so worksheets will have to do for keeping the other kids busy, I score kids on being able to comply, not their ability to create, communicate, collaborate or even think critically.
However, when we shift our thinking to "we" instead of "me", then we start to see great things happen. Yes, it might take me more time to redesign this lesson to allow for more student choice, but one size doesn't fit all and I should embrace all my students' learning needs and styles because #kidsdeserveit. Yes, I will feel out of control at times by letting my students infuse their passions as they demonstrate their understanding of skills and concepts, but I know #kidsdeserveit. Yes, I will have lessons fail, but it will reinforce the culture that we are all learning together and learning can be messy. Play is a powerful vehicle for students to get their creative juices flowing. While it might be hard to venture off the path of initiatives, mandates and more, the mindset of "we" empowers us to think differently about our instruction and do what we know is best for our students because #kidsdeserveit. As George Couros said, "Change is an opportunity to do something amazing!" What mindset will you embrace? Me before We? or We before me?
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Andrew FenstermakerInstructional Technology Coordinator | Innovation Coach | Google Certified Innovator | Presenter | Blogger | Adjunct @UiowaEducation | Owner @kids_f_i_r_s_t |