Reflecting to Move Forward in the New School Year
The core of my focus for my students is always about ACCESS! If they can not access then they will not engage and if they are not engaged they will not learn. The lesson plan may look amazing on paper with all the links to the standards and common core curriculum included but if steps are not in place to accommodate for how the student will access; the lesson plan will have no affect or meaning for the student.
These visuals reinforce my reflective thoughts in regard to students and the importance of giving them access to curriculum based on their unique and individualized learning needs. Offer options so that students can have the control to choose the avenues that work for them. One size does not and never will fit ALL…
As teachers we must be flexible and recognize the unexpected teachable moments that incidentally may happen in the context of the originally planned lesson and run with them. Students need to be supported using the tools that they understand and are comfortable using. We, as educators, must be willing to learn new tools to support learning in the 21st century. If the aim is to create lifelong learners of our students we must model life long learning in our own lives.
Learning styles are different for everyone and as educators we must make it a point to learn what style works best for each student. A learning style is personal; we all have preferences. I view myself as a visual learner. I need a visual in order to retain and comprehend optimally. What is your preferred learning style? Additionally, what engages you as a learner? What are you interested in and what motivates you to do your best work? These are important questions to ask in order to learn about our students learning preferences. We are almost two months into the school year, and these answers should be presenting themselves.
The dolphins jumping in the photo at the beginning of the post are the visual reminder for me to keep things meaningful, engaging, and most of all POSSIBLE so that my students will all be able to ACCESS and reach their true potential as participating learners in the 21st century.
Wishing you all a great school year!
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