Each year is a new opportunity for professional growth. One goal for myself this last school year was to search the possibilities on how to best share what I do know works in a classroom. It takes a village and we all must do our part. The most challenging aspect is to find willing leaders who will allow you a public forum to present this knowledge. Of course we see public speakers at conventions all the time. How do you get into that niche without first starting small. At the end of the previous school year, my district asked for individuals interested in presenting at our district in-service, I jumped at the opportunity. We submitted an abstract of our topic to be considered.
One of the abstracts chosen was mine, Learning Stations and their Purpose. Maybe my background experience makes me more open to the idea of moving within the classroom, offering students a measure of choice and an appropriate amount of individual freedom in their learning. So much more application of skills previously taught is possible when the student is given the time and opportunity to do so. We all know even within the same grade students learn different ways, at different rates and with individual curiosity. To expect them all to do the same, at the same time and in the same way is completely unrealistic. It will frustrate student and teacher. However this model does come with great versatility which often involves great pre-planning on the part of the instructor. When I view myself as a facilitator rather than the "teacher" the model has greater success for all parties in the classroom.
We are in the midst of a general overall societal shift, and education is part of the shift. In today's world, a successful learner possesses these 5 key components, emotion, optimism, experimentation, innovative thinking and collaboration. As teachers, if we fail to make this necessary shift, we will fail our students and even ourselves. We will run the risk of becoming complacent and stagnant and worst of all, lose a curious mind.
I am confident, despite the challenges this presents, I was called to this profession. Serving children in attempts to widen their world of experiences within the resources the school and society is very important to me. I vow to always strive to find new and innovative ways to create curiosity in the minds of these young children.
I guess not only is it my love for them as the children they are now, but it also serves as an investment in our future generations.
