Letting Go
One of my greatest learning experiences came when I went on a Boy Scout campout to Cumberland Island with my son’s scout troop. I was invited with the “dads” because they needed another driver from Atlanta to take troop members. (A dad had canceled at the last moment!) I didn’t really know how things operated on their campouts because my husband always went with our son. I learned so much. The leader explained to me when I tried to help out a camper with a situation that their philosophy was for the scouts to make their own decisions and they would live with their decision and the consequences. It was really hard for me as a mom to keep my mouth shut and let go when I saw situations. I noticed they did not use the boxes to store food supplies. That first night the raccoons got in the bags hung in the trees. No one from our group will ever forget to use food storage boxes when they are available at a campsite!! The leader explained to me the boys learn best from their own experiences. I agree! I had to take off my mom hat and wear a scout hat when I was with the troop.
I also had to learn to wear my teacher hat in the library at my middle school when I first started working there. I was so happy to be working in the library! The kids learned I would look up books or information for them when they asked for help until the librarian explained she wanted the students to use Destiny to find books and information. She explained we knew how to use Destiny but the kids needed experiences so they could become confident users! I agree with Grant Wiggins, “Transfer is the bottom line” for all of us!!
In the Connected Learning webinar, the discussion, “technology is like oxygen – something for all learners to use” hit home with me. It is a part of our student’s lives and we need to make technology a part of every classroom. Learning is not limited to our classrooms and libraries like it was when I was growing up attending school. We are able to connect online to the world. After viewing the video, I asked myself: why is BYOD working in England and Africa but not in my school? We have had seven superintendents in the ten years I have worked for the county. We are having to regroup with each change in administration. I hope we have some continuity soon. I know parents and voters recognize we need technology and better schools because they just voted on May 24, to renew Esplost for tax dollars to go for schools and technology. I agreed with the comments in the video, “Technology isn’t optional! The real world happens online. “
I think technology can help us build our best schools! Students understand that’s one of the important life skills for their futures. I think project collaboration is a way to help students work with others and remove the stress of finding the correct answers to quizzes. As we model acceptance and support for our students’ projects, it should help them build their confidence to explore new ideas and technology tools for their future roles in this 21st-century.
I love your hat analogy. I have never taught as a mother. I now have two girls and I am returning to the workforce this fall. I have always been a strong teacher pushing my kids to independence. It's going to be interesting for myself to see if I have changed any after becoming a mother. I wonder if I can leave my mom hat at home.
ReplyDeleteWe have started to have the same problem of superintendent turnover and that has trickled down into our school with our principal and vice principal. It's hard changing out complete administrations each year when they each have their own prerogative and ideas.
Thank you for your great post.
Having children certainly does change your perspective many things in life, but especially when it comes to how to teach students. I can see how you would struggle as a parent to let go and allow students to struggle a little with content. These types of experiences are invaluable to them however. If we constantly stand over their shoulder and spoon feed them information in neatly designed lessons, we may do well on our TKES evaluation, but ultimately we are patronizing the students and crippling them for the future. I think inquiry and project based learning are terrific and challenging all at the same time. It will not be easy to let students have the kind of freedom they need and failures will occur. However, high expectations will ultimately raise the work output of all students with the right amount of scaffolding.
ReplyDeleteEven as a non-mom, I can imagine that letting children on a camp-out figure out how to do things on their own would be even more stressful than letting students in the classroom do their own thing. In the classroom, at least you have them somewhat contained. But on a outdoor trip? You are a much braver soul than I!!!
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