Your weekly source of learner-centered inspiration
January 11, 2024
Dear Educator,
It’s a new year and I am excited to be back with educational leaders and in classrooms. This week I was with the Muhlenberg County (KY) leadership team to align on learner-centered “look fors”, identify effective practices, and hone their craft of coaching educators to evolve their practices in service of the Muhlenberg Profile of a Learner.
I love facilitating these conversations and thinking about the simple shifts that can make a big impact. My bright spot this week is one of the simplest shifts (and often most underutilized) that can apply to every classroom: more student talk time.
With Gratitude,
We want to hear from you! Share your Learner-Centered Bright Spot with us here.
BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK
Who is doing the thinking in your classroom?
As I visit classrooms, I am always inspired when I see young people engaging in meaningful discussions and explaining their thinking. I have also seen this not happen—when there is no equity of voice and no expectation that all learners do the the thinking instead of just a few.
I was excited to see protocols and structures that foster engagement in place at Greenfield Elementary school. In one particular classroom, as learners prepared to create their own maps, instead of getting a lecture from their teacher, they were asked to talk at their table about what they noticed and reflect on a few guiding questions to identify distinguishing features of different maps.
All learners were expected to share and were held accountable for engaging with the content. There is a stark contrast in learner presence when a teacher or a peer shares information versus when learners are accountable for sharing their thinking with a partner or a small group to actively engage in the discussion and content.
As you begin the new year, I encourage you to take stock of who is doing the work in your classroom or school and think about the small shifts to ensure the learners in your context are doing more of the talking, learning, and growing.
How are you encouraging student participation in your classroom? Reply to this newsletter to share or tag me @katiemartinedu and #LCBrightSpots on social.
RESOURCE ROUNDUP
These resources and strategies offer big and small ways to actively engage learners in their learning.
2. Non-verbal participation. Speaking is not the only way to engage and these nonverbal participation strategies are great ways to get all learners actively thinking and learning.
3. Who is doing the thinking? The shift from teacher led to student centered learning often involves Small tweaks, Big impact.
LET'S SHARE OUR BRIGHT SPOTS!
How are you making sure learners are thinking in your practice?
Share your #LCBrightSpots on social media!
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