The forum kicked off with a series of school visits to area schools known for their progressive work around schooling in the Boston, MA and Providence, RI communities. Participants were invited to join in discussion and learn from practitioners in schools that are working to continually improve through the implementation and growth of the 10 Common Principles.
Over the two days of the conference there were a variety of teacher-led presentations about improving pedagogy in classrooms and serving students better. Focused conversations around inquiry, helping students to use their minds well, crafting essential questions and using various methods to allow students to show what they know and are able to do. Highlights from the teacher-led conference were two exceptional presentations by Washington teachers. Amy Lavold, teacher at Lincoln High School/Lincoln Center from the Tacoma School District facilitated a session titled: I am the Master of My Fate: Understanding Resiliency. This session focused on the real work that has occurred at the Lincoln Center to equitably crate high-level rigor in every classroom ensuring that kids graduate college ready and that the achievement gap ceases to exist. Jennifer Zamira, also of Lincoln High School shared: The Classroom’s a Stage: Building a Bridge to College Preparedness through the Canon, giving participants practice in bringing the classics to “life” for urban kids through creative interaction, drama and fun.
Highlights also included some of the great thinkers of our time inspiring us all to continue to dream for the future and continue to press on in the work. Dennis Littkey, founder and co-director of Big Picture Learning and The Met center put student voice front and center as he shared his vision for continued expansion of personalized learning. His work to capitalize on kids’ passions as a strategy to overcome obstacles has truly created a model worthy of consideration and/or replication for all of us. Many at the conference were thrilled to hear that he is launching a college to counter the dysfunction in post-secondary education. Statistically, 86% of first generation students who make it to college fail to earn their degree and/or drop out. His work may very well reshape how we think about post secondary learning.
Deborah Meier and Alfie Kohn invited us as a group to consider the ideas of work, play and learning and how all three interface within schools today. Their conversation reminded each of us to consider the whole child and whenever possible resist the lock step initiatives that have time and time in our nation failed to yield consistent results. Perhaps the most powerful quote of the dialogue came from Kohn who challenged us to “consider that the most important factor in schools isn’t engagement, but rather joy.” Inspiring to think about the learning that could happen and the challenges that could be overcome if there were more joy in each classroom, each day, for the benefit of students and teachers alike.
Debbie Meier’s quote, “Only secretly rebellious teachers have ever done right by our least advantaged kid,” left us with encouragement to think outside the box and push the assumptions of the systems, schools and leaders around us.
Both Hanson and Kelly return to Seattle from Providence, RI eager to engage our colleagues, schools, teachers, and leaders to continue to push for more innovative ways to meet the diverse needs of our students.
Look for several innovations from Abeo School Change in the months to come to offer more support and keep the Coalition ideals alive and well in the Pacific Northwest.
From Andrew Kelly, Abeo Executive Director
From Andrew Kelly, Abeo Executive Director
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