Inspired!

Travelling . . .  learning (with no grades and academic forms) . . .
add teaching to the mix and the guy is living the dream!


LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

A re-post

It's exam week.

There's all types of questions this week: multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching. But the weight of exams in the way my students are assessed and graded are small, almost insignificant. It's the essays and projects and journal entries; and the "reporting" (where each child gets a chance to be teacher for one session, and it is up to them to teach the class a certain topic) that count, because how they explain it will tell me if they understood. If they understood, and can relay it to their classmates, and can apply it to everything else - that is what counts. The more creative the presentation (one student presented his topic - oceanic island habitats - as though it was a tour. He was the pilot, and all of us were passengers and he explained the islands as we "passed over them in his tour plane"), the better.

Admittedly, we give them tests just so that they know how to take them. We do not focus on the exams, or make a big deal out of them, really. Interesting thing, though. They took a standardized test at the end of the year and, wouldn't you know it, all of them rated "above average" and "excellent" and there was even one or two "superiors."

I am glad and flattered and relieved that the teachers at my school are allowed to let the children lead; and that our jobs do not depend on how well the child will do on a standardized test.

The kids at our little school may not have memorized all the capital cities of the world; or the dates when the world's events happened; but they can tell you the similarities and differences between religions and cultures; and how we are all different, and yet, all the same. They may not be very good at computing percents and decimals; but they can tell you, from first hand experience, about social entrepreneurship. And the oldest one of them turned 12 two weeks ago.

I came across this post, from Teacher Tom (whose blog is in my Google Reader):

A must read for teachers, for parents, for standardized testing supporters.

Teacher Tom: This Is What We Are Up Against




We may be in a different place than Matt Damon and Teacher Tom; but the troubles of education are the same.

Journal Prompts and Responses

Today's Journal Prompt:

You are in front of a mirror, and your 21 year old self is looking back at you.  What questions would you ask?  How would your 21 year old self answer?

Some interesting responses from the 9 - 12's:

Q: Are you a good artist?

A: Yes, and we're still better than mom.

Q: Do you have a job?

A: I'm still looking for one, but I applied to graduate school.

Q: Do you still like to read?

A: Yes.  I treasure books.  I kiss their covers.

Q: Do you still see our friends from when we were kids?

A: Yes.  Always.

Q: Are you still interested in Lego?  

A: Yes, but mostly for display.

Q: Future self, is the world clean now?

A: Yes it is, thanks to you.

Journal prompt extension:

Describe yourself at 21.  

What are you wearing? Where do you live? How do you feel?

A: I wear jeans and t-shirts.  When it's a casual day, I wear shorts.  I solve for x just for fun.

A: I have black hair and green eyes (ah, the wonders of science!)  I feel fabulous and joyous everyday.

A: I have short black hair with silver highlights.  I'm wearing black jeans, black t-shirt.  I have my guitar.  I'm chillin.'

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This exercise was originally meant for adults, "What would you say to your 21 (16, 8, 10, etc) year old self?  What advice would you give?"  But I turned it around to suit the kids, as we are currently learning about identity - understanding ourselves and, eventually, others.

Which got me thinking, if I faced my 21 year old self in a mirror, what would I ask her?  The answer: What were you thinking!? Then we'll laugh, and marvel at how everything turned out pretty good.