Your weekly source of learner-centered inspiration
Dear Educator,
This week, for the first time since February of 2020, I had the opportunity to visit classrooms. This is one of my favorite things as I have always loved connecting with teachers, observing students, and celebrating what is working.
In the midst of the pandemic, it is easy to get bogged down by the challenges we face. However, it makes such a difference when we focus on the positives and celebrate one another. When we focus on the good, the good gets better. This is not to say that we ignore challenges and only focus on the good. Instead, it means that we should create space to acknowledge and celebrate success. In this week’s issue of Bright Spots, I want to highlight the work we are doing with Allen County Schools in Kentucky to celebrate learning and broaden the view of success beyond narrow test scores.
With Gratitude, Katie
BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK
Celebrating What's Working
To kick off our work with Allen County Schools, the instructional leadership team met to share their most impactful learning experiences and align on the 10 Characteristics of Learner-Centered Experiences. We split up and went on a scavenger hunt to capture evidence of learner centered practices across the district. Within an hour, we had visited 83 classrooms and captured evidence of personalized learning, authentic application, agency, collaboration and more.
I love working with educators and planning for their aspirations of what they want school to be; however, it can be overwhelming to think about so many aspects that need shifting. As you continue to grow and evolve as an educator, it is crucial that you take time to walk through classrooms with the lens of what’s working. When you meet with students or colleagues, try to identify progress, growth, and positives that you can highlight and inform them on what you see.
Interested in discussing how you can celebrate what's working in your learning community? Let's connect!
Below are some resources to help you celebrate success and identify areas for progress in your context.
1. Learner-Centered ecosystems. As we strive to create education ecosystems that empower learners, we must ask ourselves: What’s possible in Learner-Centered Education? Read more about the movement championing education and learning into a new, learner-centered era here.
2. Observation is a component of learning. When was the last time you observed one of your peers? Check out my blog post to read more about why observing other teachers is critical to developing a shared understanding of what powerful teaching and learning looks like.
3. Teacher recognition. Check out these 10 teachers that are making an impact in their classroom by developing innovative curricula, thoughtfully engaging with their students, and finding opportunities to connect education to the world outside the classroom in Celebrating Teachers Makes A Difference.
4. Texas Learning Exchange webinar. Join Educate Texas, Getting Smart and Learner-Centered Collaborative this Friday, September 24 at 9:00 am PT, to discuss shifting the narrative and mindset from learning loss to accelerated learning. Registerhere.
LET'S SHARE OUR BRIGHT SPOTS!
How are you working to acknowledge the successes in your context? Use #LCBrightSpots to share your experiences on social media!
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Learner-Centered Collaborative, 49 Stevenson Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
