Learning journey, play, idea-catchers, articulation, creativity

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March 22, 2013

I found a quote somewhere in my studies of the past year and wrote it onto the bottom of my quote collection. Google search returned no connection to a source; I do not know who wrote it but I can so thoroughly connect with their sentiments that I am devoting a page to reflections on this quote.

“Teachers are overworked and underpaid,

What energy it takes to turn a torrent into a trickle;

Then to direct that trickle down narrow,

Well-marked channels.”

This is the perfect metaphor for all I have learned in many decades of working in the teaching profession. If I can leave anything profound to the rising generation of teachers it is this: the children arriving at my first grade classroom door knew how to learn and were full of 6 years of doing it brilliantly! And no two of them were alike in their learning; their interests; their genius. Let them teach you their different ways of knowing.

Stop expending effort turning this torrent of learning into the trickle of conformity demanded by workbooks and standardized tests and bells ringing. Instead, step into the flood by following their natural learning journey. Remember you are their resource not their reason, find out their background knowledge before presenting your ‘great’ (curriculum) idea. Let them ask the questions that indicate personal gaps between knowing and understanding; let them re-arrange and play with the new information until it works through their bodies and into their minds to filling understanding gaps.

Provide opportunities for them to explore all the media, all the different ways of showing how their understanding can be articulated; articulation is the best assessment.

Imagination and creativity are expected of our learners; frequently demanded in workbook pages, no less! Until prior knowledge and present learning connect in understanding (and is articulated) there is no framework on which to hang the power of imagining. And the habit of recording thoughts and ideas assists in this development. 

Creativity feeds on the power of imaginative connections, examining possibilities and turning them into visible products or services; every learner can make a difference in this world if we learn to follow the natural learning journey in their world.