“When we look to learners, we can see what’s working, what’s challenging, and ultimately we can start to envision what’s possible. Evolution in education is about using insight from our own experiences, research from the field, and new tools and approaches to adapt our practices to best meet the learners where they are.”
As we head into a new school year, I’m grateful for educators who not only look to learners they serve but embrace being a learner and evolving to meet the changing needs of our world.
With Gratitude, Katie
I'd love to hear from you! Reply to this email to share your Bright Spot this week!
BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK
Giving Students the Room to Reflect
As I was facilitating a workshop to kick off the year with the team from Middlesboro High School in Kentucky, Kristen, a science teacher, shared a check-in form that she had used last year. Through conversations with her team, they took an effective practice that had helped her understand students’ emotions each day and evolved it to create a slide so that each student could reflect on their emotions over time.
This shift wasn’t about Kristen’s practice not being good enough. The initial strategy had worked well but she reflected on her goals of having students have ownership and agency to guide their path and she evolved the tool to see how it could be even better.
The beginning of the new year provides an opportunity to reflect on our goals and create small tweaks to our practices to ensure that we are constantly evolving to meet the needs of the learners we serve–and this applies to all of us. I look forward to hearing about how your practice evolves this school year and the impact it has on learners!
Interested in discussing how you might evolve education in your context? Let's connect!
Below are some resources to help accelerate a shift towards learner-centered principles and practices in your school or district.
1. Sneak peek into Evolving Education. For a glimpse into how educators can harness new technologies, learning sciences, and pedagogy that centers learners and learning, check out the introduction to Evolving Education.
2. Learning lives everywhere! How are you evolving in your practice this school year? Kickstart your back to school planning by identifying your learner-centered priorities with this tool. Download now.
3. Get to know your students. Here are 10 strategies that you can use to get to know your students and continue to build relationships throughout the year in any learning environment.
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How are you evolving in your practice?
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Learner-Centered Collaborative, 49 Stevenson Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
