During the month of May, we enter a phase of reflection. The end of the year brings challenges of antsy students but also the anticipation of both celebrating learning and envisioning a classroom of new ideas for next year.
Hold this question in your thinking as we share and converse around content this month: How can we use reflection to maintain momentum, positivity and progress in our learning communities?
“The question, “What is the purpose of schooling?” may be the most important one we can ask at this point in history. The answer will determine whether our graduates will perpetuate (and perhaps escalate) the problems we face, or whether they will have the knowledge, motivation, and tools to solve them.” - Zoe Weil
What is the mission in your school or classroom?
In her Digital Library article available for download below, author and TEDx speaker Zoe Weil calls for us to push the limits of what we envision as possibilities for our students and their futures. We have the capacity to educate children who could address global issues, she argues, yet this success is dependent on the commitment from leaders and policymakers to allow schools to places where acquisition of knowledge is actively linked to making contributions for a better world, participating in a democracy and creating solutions.
Through four, short student profiles, we hear real examples of what this could look like and sound like for students in our own classrooms. Zoe gives advice and inspiration to go beyond the 4 Cs and include “the 3 Rs of reverence, respect, and responsibility”.
As you reflect upon highlights of your school year, which memories were those of students contributing their voice and talents to the world beyond their desks? Reach out to colleagues including your learning network outside of your district to share ideas and support for creating daily links between content, students, skills and the world around them.
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Wondering where to connect online? Start by signing up below for Heinemann's Online PLC! Each week, we'll share content from the Heinemann Digital Library as food for thought and discussion. Our conversations can occur in comments here on the blog, on Twitter using #OnlinePLC or in our Facebook Group. Looking forward to sharing content, conversation and camaraderie!
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