Now Hiring: Elementary Innovators.
I sort of always have blog post ideas swirling in my head and I usually just toss things around until I feel I have enough to flesh out something worth reading. Well, I've attended a few evening events lately that have had a similar theme that I think is worthwhile to share.
Last Tuesday, Southwest Michigan First hosted an event called "Excellence in Education." This event focused mostly on educators, and how to create a culture within our schools where educators are teaching to their talents, and passions. They also focused on growing the Southwest Region and how education connects into the future of our community, and state. Currently, there are jobs available-they are just availalbe in areas that require a different type of thinker, and a different skill set than what our current work force is prepared for. So, how do we "ready" the next generation?
Hmm....
While still reflecting on what we can do to better our little corner of the world, I attended a screening of an independent film called "Most Likely To Succeed." Here's a quick clip:
The majority of the film was focused on the model of a high school in California that is trying something new. The school is called "High Tech High" and is the antithesis of a "traditional education classroom." Here's some shocking fun facts for you.
At High Tech High:
Teachers are hired on a 1 year contract only. At the end of one year they are either renewed, or...not. Either way-if you felt every year you needed to teach to your highest power, how do you think that would affect student engagement? Now-I think it takes a very special culture among the staff to function within that level of uncertainty. But then again, if you're doing your very best at all times-you really have nothing to worry about...hmmm...
There are no textbooks or set "curriculum", no tests, and very few "grades." Teachers are expected to teach content that they feel is important in a way they are passionate about. Often, they were paired with another teacher to share ideas and talents across classes. Oh, and there are no school bells, or set changes of "subject." Scheduled times for Language, Math or Science wasn't how this school was structured.
Instead of testing student knowledge in a traditional way, students work together to create a presentation for quarterly project nights. On these nights, students, staff, parents, families and community members come to the school to see you present the information you've learned. Students often create all of their presentation themselves, and sometimes had to even decide the best way to communicate what they learned, instead of a teacher designing and directing what the project would "look like." Some students put on a play, others created models, art, etc. Oh and uhh...kids were choosing to stay late at school to finish their project for those nights. CHOOSING TO STAY. Because they wanted to be successful and took pride in their work. Novel thought.
They don't focus on teaching the standards, and in some cases felt they only taught 40% of the expectations taught at other public schools. Forty. Percent.
Demographics are similar to other area schools, as students apply to attend and are then chosen from a lottery based on their zip code. Yet, standardized test scores (that they do not teach to) are still around 10% higher than the state average. (though....I have to argue the fact that the students who apply to go to the High Tech High are ready for the challenge and interested in their education. They have committed to their educational process.)
98% of a graduating class continue to college.
Those are some pretty high percentages for a school that isn't teaching nearly the amount of information as general education schools. 40%?! and still scoring higher than the state average?! How is that possible?
Oh...it's because they teach kids how to THINK. QUESTION. ENGAGE. PROBLEM SOLVE. PERSERVE.
This leads me to my point, and also a focus of the film. What kind of student do you want your child to be?
Let's go back for a minute to our desire to grow this wonderful Southwest Michigan Community. When looking to grow a community, we are looking for innovation. Innovation is a new idea, product, or method. However, innovation doesn't happen when someone just does the same math, in the same way, repetitively. Innovation doesn't happen when someone is building computers using the same steps I showed them in class. Innovation happens when someone QUESTIONS the status quo. Innovation happens when someone sees a problem, and works to solve it.
Innovation is a direct result of PERSERVERENCE.
Do you think any of the big names in technology, science, the arts, literature, or any other field got to where they are by just riding the easy escalator? NO! They worked, challenged themselves, and probably failed or were rejected many times over before they finally caught a break. There are many failed experiments and versions of technology, before they finally create a product that is consumer ready. The difference is in how we respond to failure. Is it the end of the road, or do we learn from it, question, redesign, and run another trial?
All this talk about the community, innovation, leaders, the future; it all leads me back to your Kindergartener.
Your Kindergartener is currently about 2 months in to their first year of full day school with some serious standards. We have a responsibility to teach your child certain "standards" or curriculum, yes. But we have an even greater responsibility to teach your child how to think for themselves. How to independently problem solve and how to identify better ways of doing things. We encourage discussion, debate, critical thinking, and creative solutions. There is a mindset change happening in education right now, and in order to prepare our children for the workforce they will eventually join, it is necessary to encourage innovative thinking when we teach the standards.
I'm working to change my classroom into more of a "makerspace" for my students. I want my students to practice creating and inventing skills, the same way I want them to practice reading and writing. I have a goal to provide materials for students to tinker around with and see what they can create in those brilliant brains of theirs! Kindergarten is the perfect time to encourage the natural creativity and wonder in a childs brain before they grow more fearful of the failure. It's our job to provide them the opportunity and encouragement, and also to help guide them through the process by asking probing questions to help narrow down why something went wrong and how to fix it next time. In all things, be careful not to always just provide the answer yourself--ask, what do you think? Why might that have happened? It's important for us to encourage kids to continue to try-because when a child wants to learn, they are capable of anything.
Hooray! before I had the chance to update this post, our DonorsChoose fundraiser was completely funded! If you would like to support my vision for an innovative classroom, please visit DonorsChoose.org and search for Mrs. Charles Classroom with zip code 49088. Here, you can make a donation in the way of a DonorsChoose gift card that I can use for future classroom materials.
Thank you SO MUCH!
