Well we made it through our first week on this adventure safari in curriculum innovation. I can honestly say every single student's thinking and willpower have been challenged. We are, for lack of a better word, amazed at the effect our first day's activities had on (especially) those students who typically have trouble understanding an assignment, completing it "to our expectations", keeping up with their peers, finding themselves bored easily etc. We watched them open the documents, peruse and select their first document, read, watch and/or listen intently, and appear to be truly engaged in their learning. It was a beautiful thing. The whole room was humming along.
But enough about them.
The success of this venture hinges on a depth of collaboration the likes of which I haven't experienced in my entire teaching career. At the risk of sounding pretentious: I've been teaching since 1991, passed National Boards (while raising 3 small children by myself), served as network teacher facilitator, been the Vice Principal of a Chicago Public IB school, have more college degrees than I will ever need--that's off the top of my head~but never and I mean never have I collaborated with others to this degree of intensity and vulnerability. In order to experiment with the infinite possibilities of this model, Brigid, Aubrey and I have cannon-balled into the shark tank. I am thankful for the honesty, vulnerability, and flexibility of these thought-partners and action heroes. I am also thankful for the wonderful staff at Wildwood School. Not one person has wandered over to our 8th grade "cave" to squash our efforts with negativity. Yet. After all, it's only the 7th day of school.
This work demands, supports, and (with the right people) develops professional and--dare I say it--personal growth.
I'm one of those teachers who likes to have new lessons planned almost to a script. I have been known to wow my students with powerpoints to go along with my teaching (just in case I get sidetracked). I'll admit that once I'm "in the zone" I'm fine with careening off into discussions, writing prompts, collaborative conversations, analysis I never thought possible-- and anything else my students are open to--but I don't feel comfortable 'winging' it at the onset. It stresses me out.
Since this is uncharted territory, powerpoints and detailed plans aren't really an option. Well, I guess they're an option, but that would take the student-ownership out of focus, now wouldn't it? And so I am left vulnerable and twisting in the wind as beautiful learning takes place, as students are forced to THINK and maybe even give up and then pick themselves back up and forge ahead and ultimately, magically, ENGAGE.
This is working. We know it's working. We are fortunate to be given a long enough leash to experiment and grow--as we watch the students transform into independent learners. And the students? Well, they have no leash.