In previous posts I have written about the importance of having Process Observers to provide feedback on meeting processes. In addition, I have written about improving one’s practice by observing and listening to ideas from a Focus Student. In this post, I want to consider how using the Process Observer ideas around language, tone-of-voice, and body language can support deeper learning from (and in service to) Focus Students.
We Got This
My Why
It’s interesting to me that this, my 50th post, brings me back to my “why.” I’ve written in previous posts about the importance of knowing one’s why, and acting within one’s why.
“We are drawn to leaders and organizations that are good at communicating what they believe. Their ability to make us feel like we belong, to make us feel special, safe and not alone is part of what gives them the ability to inspire us.”
– Simon Sinek
Today I want to delve deeply into my why and the reasons behind my why.
My Why:
“Be a mirror to reflect back to our students their beauty and brilliance
so they feel: belonging, safe, heard, seen, valued, joy, and LOVED.”
We Got This: Tools for Teams and Teachers
This year, a team of teachers at my site read the book We Got This. Equity Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be, by Cornelius Minor. I highly recommend the text, in order to become a more reflective teacher, to center student voices, and to ensure that classroom practices and curriculum work for students. It is a rich source of planning and reflection tools. In this post, I want to share a few of the tools that we have used and found to be extremely useful.
Continue reading “We Got This: Tools for Teams and Teachers”
Equity and Access: The Universal Design for Learning Guidelines
Just as we design buildings to be accessible by all people, we should design accessible learning opportunities. No two learners are alike – we are as unique as our fingerprints. If anything is a constant in education, it is that we can expect variability in the students and the adults with whom we work, each with individual strengths and goals. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework through which educators can intentionally plan for a variety of ways to access, engage with, and express learning. The learning is towards rigorous and meaningful goals. This is a huge move toward high outcomes for all learners. In this post, I want to share some thoughts and resources around UDL.
Continue reading “Equity and Access: The Universal Design for Learning Guidelines”