"Shifting the Sun"

Carol, my sister, has a gift for finding just the right words that others have written--


"Shifting the Sun"

Sitting on my hands-- riding a rollercoaster

It seemed natural-- my career in education having been the richer for the mentors who accompanied me on my way—that it was time for me to pay it forward.

After two years of e-mentoring National Board Certified Teacher applicants, two extraordinary opportunities presented themselves. In the fall of September, 2005, Anne and I met through the commenting feature on her Teacher Cadet blogging project and I have had the privilege of mentoring her students through the comments on their blogs to date. In March, 2006, Darren put out a call for mentors for his students and described his expectations. Despite the risk and it was great as I am not a math specialist (Darren’s students are enrolled calculus and pre calculus courses), Darren allowed me to jump right in. And so began an incredible journey over the past 2+ years that has been a joy and a challenge.

Darren’s recent brilliant initiative has two of his incredibly bright and giving seniors mentoring the grade 8’s in the Thin Walled Classroom of Clarence and Barbara and posting their efforts to a comment blog. Hoping to support this remarkable project and these exceptional young mentors in some small way, I’ve left comments that I hope might that may be of value as they embark on this amazing trek. Today, as I’m writing, Clarence has described the beauty of this “circle”.

In my enthusiasm to share what have seemed to be effective strategies for supporting learners, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to sit on my hands and not get in the middle. Having only moved out of the middle (after an exhiliarating learning experience in MOOM ) late in my career, and striving to perfect my own hybrid practice of teaching with my mouth shut , I’m far from expert. And I find increased tension as those old “instructivist” urges periodically surface. It’s then that I do have to sit on my hands and remind myself of the joy of construction of meaning and the possibilities modeling offers-- Only then, can I hope that my fingers can help me find the right tone for the opening celebration of the post I’m reading as Grey-M did so effortlessly here .

I find the dissonance rising anew while seeking a focus for a comment that might deepen understanding, sharpen focus, or extend thinking. Seeking to understand the protégé’s perspective, and then constructing a meaningful comment that will encourage and nurture, with question that may lead to deeper learning is good, hard work (Grey-M’s comment is a perfect exemplar as is Mr. MrSiwWy's ), especially when distance prohibits gauging reaction by searching deeply into eyes or reading body language. So much easier just to tell; yet always cognizant of Mary’s response to my comments: “You said in such a way it was like a gentle whisper in the breeze.” and her podcast that affirmed that the comments had been of value, I sit on my hands again.

In e-mentoring, sometimes the silence that ensues following a comment is almost unbearable until I remember there is great beauty in the silence of thought that pulls one to new levels of learning. Hoping I’ve been understood, I accept the silence and consider instead the possibilities---

The possibilities for developing meaningful relationships that positively impact the lives of all involved. The possibilities that joyful learning and discovery may ensue. The possibilities that those “Aha” moments will truly be remembered. The possibilities of learning more about mentoring, them pushing my thinking as I push theirs (perhaps this notion of mentor/protégé should be renamed?)-- And the possibilities that their protégés will pay it forward too!

This from an educator of 35 years--- I shake my head in amazement at the maturity and excellence of these teens as mentors, constantly reminding myself that they’re high school seniors-- Filled with exhilaration and the trepidation that accompanies good learning, I’m wondering if Grey-M and Mr. MrSiwWy are riding the same rollercoaster on this trek with me?

Photo Credits:
http://flickr.com/photos/ghindo/609213042/
http://flickr.com/photos/nic/125931314/

A different perspective ?? and the possibilities---

A recent post and ensuing discussion on Konrad Glogowski’s Blog of Proximal Development caught my attention. After sharing his experience when a student attended a parent teacher interview, he concluded in Parent Teacher Interviews 2.0:

“It’s time to remind everyone involved that we are not here to dispense but to converse and engage. We cannot do that if the doors to our classrooms are closed to our students when their teachers and their parents meet to talk about their learning and the plans and strategies for the future.”

This caught me off guard, seeing these “conferences” (as they were called in my experiences) as opportunities for student, teacher, and parent to talk about learning. As did Chris Lehman’s comment:

” I always tell the kids, we talk to you, not about you.”

thinking about how “talking with” changes all dynamics.

In the comments, Clarence Fisher admits:

“When parents, kids and teachers are on board, it is an empowering experience for learners, but”………….

And Jen Ealy commented:

“And I have heard of other educators who teach at the secondary level, allow the students to help in the development of personal IEP goals, attend the meeting and actually run the meeting. The students have a greater ownership, confidence and pride when they are “in charge” of their future. After all, it is all about the best for our students.”

Thomas Carroll, in a 2000 article that is more than timely today, strongly advocates for networked learning communities in which the roles of student and teacher change dramatically to that of expert and novice learner in which he suggests:

”The teacher needs to get in there and be part of the learning process, actively engaged in solving the problem with the students and learning with the students—not teaching but modeling learning with the students by functioning as an expert learner solving problems and constructing new knowledge with the students.” Page 10 of 24

“The focus will be on the learning and collaborative knowledge construction in which we engage.” Page 20 of 24

What are the possibilities when we view conferences with students, parents and teachers as part of the learning process, that of reflection and evaluation? What can happen when we model for youngsters as an expert learner how we reflect upon and evaluate what we learn, scaffolding for them the skills they need to hold their own conferences?

In 2002 and 2003, having explored strategies for holding a conference and reflected upon all they had learned, rubric in hand detailing criteria for success, my students conducted their own conferences. Empowering is an understatement--- Parents glowed and asked questions of their son/daughter. Youngsters smiled, trembled, hesitated and for the most part carefully laid out all they had learned, areas in which they had done their best, where there was room for improvement and how they planned to improve. For youngsters who had not done their best, there were often tears interspersed and a renewed goal to take charge of their learning. Only when they and their parents had finished, did I enter in the conversations. What transpired was life changing in a number of cases!

What if we called them “Learning Conferences”? What if “student led” became the norm? Just imagine (leave the “but”s and the reservations behind) the possibilities!

K12 Online Meme

Time for a new blog meme to help us spread the word about the upcoming K12Online07 conference. Please share either three (3) reasons to participate based on your experience from last year or (if you didn't attend last year) three (3) things you hope to gain from the experience this year. I was tagged by Sheryl.

My three reasons:

1. Learning networks increase exponentially.
2. Presentations energize, rejuvenate, and empower.
3. The learning brings great joy!

I tag:
Anne Davis
Mark Ahlness
Vinnie Vrotny
Rachel Murphy
Darren Draper
Brian Crosby
And anyone else who would like to help us spread the word... tag you are it.

Help Wanted: K-12 Online Committees

We are looking for volunteers to serve on five different committees assisting with the 2007 K-12 Online Conference this year. I am the convener liaison for the Live Events committee, charged to:

…handle live events during the conference, our culminating event “When Night Falls” and fireside chats.

Please consider donating some of your time as a member of the Live Events committee! More info about volunteering is available on the conference post announcing committees!

Got tagged!

Never good at games, but tagged by Wes, here's 8 Random Facts!

The rules first:

1. Post these rules before you give your facts
2. List 8 random facts about yourself
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names, linking to them
4. Leave a comment on their blog, letting them know they’ve been tagged

The 8 Random Facts:

1. I’ve really become a good vegetarian, low-fat, no-cholesterol cook over the years.

2. MOOM (Moving out of the Middle), an online course from Concord Consortium, profoundly altered my perspective on teaching and learning.

3. When I was 56, harnessed and rigged, I climbed 50 feet into the trees to walk a wire with a student as we pushed our comfort zones.

4. I actually built a file cabinet from a set of directions and it stands to this day.

5. I’m a very amateur gardener who loves nurturing and watching things grow.

6. Over 25 years in Cleveland Municipal Schools, I cherish fond memories of my students.
   

7. At one point in my teaching, when class met via video conference with students on laptops and content online (and nothing ever worked), I really disliked technology.

8. Some of my favorite music is Gerry Mulligan/Stan Getz jazz.

Breaking the last two rules and tagging all who read this to play!

For the love of the journey--

A morning’s brief, badly needed rain shower, hearing the parched earth sigh with some relief—

Enchanting melodic songs of the birds, soothing breezes and cooler temperatures displacing the hot, heavy air—

Hours in the veggie and perennial beds, weeding, supporting, nurturing more blooms and an upcoming harvest under a bright blue sky—

A lazy conversation in the shade with a contractor rebuilding the deck, remembering family gifts given and celebrating his talents—

A skype call with a dear friend, planning an exciting new project—

A former student’s email, sharing and thanking for giving—

At the wildlife preserve, walking, pushing harder, and contemplating—

Queen’s Ann Lace, beautiful against the dry grasses, blowing in the light breeze—

An aging German Shepherd, almost purring as the brush groomed his heavy coat—

A special laugh with my soulmate, loving and respecting him more each day—

So thankful for so much given, realizing again the pure love of the journey—
Cherishing each step, each sidetrip, each challenge, each conversation--

Hoping we can help young people to do the same?