Your weekly source of learner-centered inspiration
June 13, 2024
Dear Educator,
It has been fun to celebrate young people as they end the school year and reach milestones that propel them to the next phases of life. A few weeks ago, my daughter had her end-of-the-year banquet for lacrosse and the coach shared personal stories and specific kudos for what each girl brought to the team. As a parent, there is nothing more meaningful than seeing your child celebrated for the gifts and strengths they bring to different contexts.
As educators (and coaches), we have the opportunity to get to know young people, see them for who they are, and grow them in powerful ways. In this week's Bright Spots, I want to share some examples of how you can celebrate critical skills that young people demonstrate.
With Gratitude,
BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK
See Them, Know Them, Grow Them
In many schools, awards ceremonies and accolades are reserved for the highest GPA or perfect attendance. Still, more and more schools are broadening the definition of success and teaching and recognizing when students demonstrate critical skills that matter in school and life.
Based on their unique Portraits of a Learner, districts such as Laguna Beach and Logan County are making it easier for teachers to celebrate young people in various ways—shining the light on things like effective communications, empowered learners, and empathetic citizens.
I love seeing this broader view of success celebrated and how educators are growing these skills in young people. It's a practice and a mindset that recognizes the many ways young people contribute to their learning communities.
How do you celebrate the skills you value most in your community? Share your story here.
RESOURCE ROUNDUP
Explore the resources below to learn more about how you can see, know, and grow the learners you serve (and yourself!).
1. Blog: Reflect, Rest, and Rejuvenate This Summer. The end of the school year can be both exciting and stressful. We celebrate the year, take care of final grading deadlines, and say goodbye to our learners—all while running on our last bit of fuel. As you end this school year and start a well-deserved summer vacation, take a moment to reflect, so you can truly rest and rejuvenate. Reflect here.
2. Podcast: Empowering Young People to Thrive in All Areas of Life. It's well known that we see a significant decline in learner engagement as they progress through their primary and secondary learning journey (and why learner-centered education is such an important topic!), but it might surprise us to learn how a similar trend shows up in youth sports. What is the experience young people are having that make them give up on something that at its core should be fun and engaging? That’s one of many questions that’ll spark your curiosity as you tune in and learn more from Kirsten Jones. Tune in.
3. Strategy: Support Learners in Understanding Themselves. In order for learners to make high-quality decisions about their learning, they need to develop a strong sense of self. Who am I? What are my strengths? How do I learn best? As educators, we can support this self-discovery through use of frameworks, tools, and time for self-reflection and exploration. Explore here.
LET'S SHARE OUR BRIGHT SPOTS!
What are your learner-centered Bright Spots?
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Learner-Centered Collaborative, 1611 S Melrose Dr., STE A #334, Vista, CA 92081