Jane's Pocket Change: Always Learning
It goes without saying that our students learn so much every single day that they are in school. It is equally true that our phrase the “learning experience” applies to all of the adults at CSW, too.
It goes without saying that our students learn so much every single day that they are in school. It is equally true that our phrase the “learning experience” applies to all of the adults at CSW, too.
I was recently privileged to participate in some presentations to our Progressive Education Lab (PEL) mentors from our teaching fellows, and I learned a lot as I watched these beginning teachers and their more experienced mentors. The session reminded me of our August PEL Mentor Workshop up at the Putney School where we all answered the question: What would you tell your younger self (as you sit here as an experienced teacher)?
In no particular order, here are the answers from about 25 teachers and 5 senior administrators:
• Our students want to join us in our passion.
• It's less about content. If teachers are purposeful about their teaching, it will come.
• Make time and space to know the ways that students see and do things differently.
• Tell your younger self you like teaching.
• Students are not responsible for your success.
• When you think you know stuff, take a break, and think more about the learners in the room.
• Slow down; take the time to be in the moment. Listen. Don't obsess on the set answer.
• Learn from other master teachers and learn from students themselves. "What are we going to learn today?"
• Understand group dynamics. Press the reset button.
• Pay attention to your classroom, each and every day. What's happening for every student today? How does that connect to a diverse classroom?
• Do not be afraid to simplify.
• Teaching does not need to look like magic--be clear and explicit with goals and direction.
In addition, for you, as a practitioner and human being:
• Have compassion for self, children and colleagues.
• Be less judgmental.
• Make space for failure and discovery.
• Keep a culture of care at the center.
• Enjoy the naïveté of being new! You don't have to know everything.
• Have fun.
• Seek a balanced life; stay healthy.
• A surprise can be success, not failure; you opened up the space.
• Build mentors for yourself. Create soft landings (do this for kids too!). We are not fixers—we are listeners; sit with students.
• Listen to parents; validate them—you and your students’ families have the same person they care about.
What an honor and a joy it is to be here, in our school, where deep learning of all kinds truly matters.
____________________________________________________
Pocket Change is a web diary written by Jane Moulding, head of school.
I was recently privileged to participate in some presentations to our Progressive Education Lab (PEL) mentors from our teaching fellows, and I learned a lot as I watched these beginning teachers and their more experienced mentors. The session reminded me of our August PEL Mentor Workshop up at the Putney School where we all answered the question: What would you tell your younger self (as you sit here as an experienced teacher)?
In no particular order, here are the answers from about 25 teachers and 5 senior administrators:
• Our students want to join us in our passion.
• It's less about content. If teachers are purposeful about their teaching, it will come.
• Make time and space to know the ways that students see and do things differently.
• Tell your younger self you like teaching.
• Students are not responsible for your success.
• When you think you know stuff, take a break, and think more about the learners in the room.
• Slow down; take the time to be in the moment. Listen. Don't obsess on the set answer.
• Learn from other master teachers and learn from students themselves. "What are we going to learn today?"
• Understand group dynamics. Press the reset button.
• Pay attention to your classroom, each and every day. What's happening for every student today? How does that connect to a diverse classroom?
• Do not be afraid to simplify.
• Teaching does not need to look like magic--be clear and explicit with goals and direction.
In addition, for you, as a practitioner and human being:
• Have compassion for self, children and colleagues.
• Be less judgmental.
• Make space for failure and discovery.
• Keep a culture of care at the center.
• Enjoy the naïveté of being new! You don't have to know everything.
• Have fun.
• Seek a balanced life; stay healthy.
• A surprise can be success, not failure; you opened up the space.
• Build mentors for yourself. Create soft landings (do this for kids too!). We are not fixers—we are listeners; sit with students.
• Listen to parents; validate them—you and your students’ families have the same person they care about.
What an honor and a joy it is to be here, in our school, where deep learning of all kinds truly matters.
____________________________________________________
Pocket Change is a web diary written by Jane Moulding, head of school.
The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.