August 29, 2024

Dear Educator,

One of the eternal questions about change that always surfaces is: Which comes first, shifting mindset or taking action? My colleague, Meg Parry, shows how mindset and practice, no matter which comes "first," influence each other:

Imagine you have a small intuition that something could be different in your classroom or school, prompting you to make a minor change in practice. When this change succeeds, it confirms your intuition, encouraging you to try another small change. As this cycle continues, you gradually shift your mindset about what is possible for learners. You created a virtuous cycle of change, evolving into an upward spiral that catalyzes deeper and broader change in you and your learners.

We often wonder how to improve our practices, interactions, and communities. That is evidence of our mindsets about learners and their capabilities. When we let fear or doubt get in the way and ignore our ideas instead of testing them out, our learners (and us) miss out on what is possible. This week, I want to highlight an example of an educator who wondered how she might inspire curiosity rather than simply filling her students with knowledge.

With Gratitude,

P.S. My colleague Kelly just published this article on how we can prioritize relationships and community building, so we can "go slow to go fast" in the new academic year.

Creating Space for Curiosity and Wonder

If we subscribe to the idea that we are supposed to fill young people with knowledge and we don’t make room for their wonderings and questions, we shouldn’t be surprised when they stop asking questions and just wait for us to tell them what to do.

Melissa Thorpe believed it was important to encourage her learners to ask more questions. This “Burning Questions” board makes students' questions visible. More so, creating space physically and within her lessons allowed for student questions to be honored and encouraged.

Little ideas and shifts in our practice can make a huge impact and set the virtuous cycles of meaningful change in motion. How might you encourage students or teachers or your community to share their burning questions to inspire curiosity and a spirit of wonder?

Do you have a story about how curiosity and wonder have shown up in your learning community? Share your story here.

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

📖 Slow Down to Go Fast: 6 Pillars to Prioritizing Community and Relationships. "By focusing on building a strong community early on, we set the stage for accelerated student achievement and a more dynamic, collaborative learning environment." Learn about all six pillars.

🛠️ Enabling Conditions & Culture Self-Study. "This self-study tool helps you evaluate and enhance the key conditions that drive success in learning environments. By assessing your current state and identifying areas for growth, you can take concrete steps towards creating a learner-centered ecosystem." Access the self-study.

🎤 Embracing Competency-Based Education with Liz Perry and Bryanna Hanson. "How can we re-create assessment, grading, and reporting structures to really think about learning as something that takes time, comes from intrinsic motivation, and builds empowered learners?" Tune-in here.