To encourage dialogue and reflection about the importance of finding ways to get or see a new perspective on things/situations, our question for the week is: What strategies do you use to ‘clear your head’ when you are experiencing challenges and want/need to get a new look or perspective on things? Be specific. A New (Renewed?) Perspective (Week of 10/17/21) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Blake's Guiding Lights
Our Students
Blake's Core Values: Respect, Responsibility, Resourcefulness, Reflection
Our Essential Question: How can we cultivate and curate the progression of student learning and growth?
Our Mission: Blake Middle School believes in a living mission statement, based on the concept that our community seeks and respects knowledge, integrity, character, wisdom, and the willingness to adapt to a continually evolving world.
The most important attitude that can be formed is that of desire to go on learning. - John Dewey
You cannot teach today the same way you did yesterday to prepare students for tomorrow. - John Dewey
This past weekend felt like a real ‘break’, having spent a couple of days with Maggie on a trip to Vermont (combined college tour with visiting my nephew and niece). It was great to see Maggie with her cousins and the time together in the car was wonderful - conversations, listening to music, time to just be, and some shared silence. Although I felt tired in a different way after the trip, I also feel a sense of renewed energy. On Sunday I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the ‘Reaching Into Medfield’ Collaborative Art Project at the Medfield State Hospital property - I highly recommend checking it out!
Students Learned So Much More During the Pandemic Than We Realize. Just Ask Them.
by Ben Kirshner, Beatriz Salazar, Arturo Cortez and Carlos P. Hipolito-Delgado in EdSurge
What we've learned is that two things can be true at the same time. The shift to online school led to struggle for many, and it led young people to act creatively and with ingenuity. The loss of in-person classes contributed to declines in test performance for some students, and it created new opportunities for student learning and inventiveness. Instead of so much focus on learning loss, let’s talk about learning gained.
Making the Familiar Strange
This disruption to familiar routines created new opportunities for student insight and learning...Opportunities to perceive the world anew—to make the familiar strange—are of critical importance for students, of all backgrounds.
This disruption to familiar routines created new opportunities for student insight and learning...Opportunities to perceive the world anew—to make the familiar strange—are of critical importance for students, of all backgrounds.
Seeing Student Ingenuity
Young people demonstrated ingenuity in how they picked up new hobbies and developed new interests during the nationwide lockdown.
Seeing young people’s ingenuity starts with the recognition that to be human is to be creative. Seeing it, though, is challenging if we equate test scores with learning or accept deficit-oriented lenses about the histories and cultural practices of non-dominant young people, their families and communities.
Family Responsibilities as a Resource for Learning
Students discussed the multiple ways they balanced familial responsibilities and interactions with schoolwork during the quarantine. For some of the students interviewed, it was about caring for the well-being of their family, while for others it was about overseeing their siblings’ education and/or assisting in the learning of others.
Caretaking roles, while valuable in their own right, also create opportunities for practicing a range of self-organization skills, such as prioritizing tasks, collaborating with others and managing time. These kinds of skills are essential for young people’s development, whether preparing for college or professional life.
Centering Student Ingenuity in Schools
The pandemic took a toll on students; our purpose is not to minimize those challenges. But at the same time, let us not buy into the dominant discourse of learning loss. It is fraught with deficit perspectives about minoritized communities and misguided assumptions about learning.
Instead of going “back to normal,” we should learn from this experience. What new lenses are we prepared to see the world with? What if students’ knowledge and skills gained by helping out with their families or pursuing their interests were brought into the classroom?
As we navigate this next phase of the health crisis, we can create opportunities for students to see the world anew through critical reflection, curiosity and creativity. Students have begun this work—let’s invite them to show us the way.
Sampling of Responses from Last Week’s ‘Question of the Week’: How can we help others feel supported and learn? Be specific.
- Being fully present - reminding myself that ALL students are OUR students is the mind shift that makes it easier for me to be fully present supporting others.
- Be kind and see if they seem hurt on the outside or inside.
- I think one way you can help others learn is make sure they are happy and feel good because I know when I am not the happiest I can’t learn as well.
- Positive reinforcement and patience.
- We can help them if they are stuck and we can encourage them to keep going and never give up. We can also offer help to them if they are stuck. and if they need help we can tell them that we will always be there if they need us.
- You can bring people up instead of knocking them down and telling them they aren't good enough.
- To help them if they’re not understanding things
- When a peer is struggling with a question, I could explain it to them.
As we continue to look at our systems and practices, carving out some time and space for new and renewed perspectives is important. This is true for ourselves, our students, and our families - and, our mission will help keep us on track with #willfulhope and #willfulaction.
As always, let me know of any questions/concerns.
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Take care.
Nat