Last week, I had the opportunity to sit with some students, one of whom had just been named class valedictorian. As we chatted about her classes and what her experience had been like, she shared that she’d always been in Seminar (special classes for “gifted and talented” students) until the district got rid of these programs.
When she was in “regular” classes with her peers, she admitted to being astonished about the low level of the coursework. She recalled, “they were talking about where commas belong or don’t, not talking about real issues, analyzing text, and writing to share meaningful ideas” like she had been accustomed to in her Seminar classes.
I knew exactly what she was talking about. I experienced it as a student, teacher, and a literacy coach. When students don’t demonstate a firm grasp of the fundamentals, it is all too common to keep drilling the basics. It feels necessary and impossible to do anything bigger if they don’t have the basics, but more often than not, it is a symptom a disengagement and lack of relevancy. When you can create purpose for the writing, an audience for the discussion or project, the attention to detail and the basics increases becasue their is an authentic audience.
This conversation was front of mind this week while visiting schools in Mineola School District with the League of Innovative Schools. One of my many bright spots from the visit is the badges and scales that drive high quality learning and agency. More on that experience, below!
With Gratitude,
