🤔 The Real World, Stories, and Appreciation

Here are some recent snippets from my weekly review. Each week I look back and record what I've been thinking, reading, and experiencing in the classroom and in life. Think, Learn, Share, Repeat.

• Real World - It is tough to prepare students for the rapidly changing “real world”. It makes sense to help them develop their self-directed learning skills and their ability to collaborate with others. This will put them in a position to adapt as the world changes. By fostering an environment of continuous learning and adaptability, students can gain the confidence and skills necessary to pursue new challenges and opportunities. Encouraging students to take ownership of their learning and to seek out new knowledge and experiences can help them to become lifelong learners and successful contributors to society. It is our responsibility as educators to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the real world and to equip them with the tools and skills necessary to thrive in an ever-changing global landscape.
• Grades - Standards-based grading has its own challenges, but the upside makes it worthwhile. This type of grading frames school work as something that facilitates learning rather than an activity used to earn points.
• Tunes - Incorporating music into the classroom can help students focus, relax, or get energized. Plus it’s fun.
• Stories - One of the best ways to get someone interested in something you’re trying to teach them is to wrap it in a good story. Stories can help to contextualize ideas and make them more relatable, which can lead to a deeper understanding and better retention of the material.
• Appreciation - Balance is the foundation of appreciation. You need some of one thing to appreciate another. This applies to various aspects of life such as work and leisure, socialization and solitude, and health and indulgence. Balance is essential to appreciate different aspects of life. What areas of your life do you need to balance for a greater appreciation of them?
• Quote - “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” -Voltaire
• Let Go - When you let go of the pressure to be perfect, you can focus on making progress toward your goals. It's important to remember that progress doesn't have to be perfect - it's the small steps that count. When you allow yourself to take imperfect action, you can move forward and achieve great things.
• Targets - Learning targets are not magical. They provide direction and help with focus. By setting clear learning targets, students can understand what they need to achieve and can take ownership of their learning. As teachers, it is important to communicate these targets clearly and provide students with the resources and support they need to achieve them. Ultimately, the goal is to create a learning environment where students feel empowered and motivated to succeed.
• The Glue - Routines and traditions are the glue that holds a culture together. This is true in the classroom and at home. One of my favorite traditions that helps me bookend the week in a positive way is our family’s differentiated dinner on Friday nights. We hit the grocery store and everybody gets what they want which usually ends up being entirely different meals. Routines provide a sense of stability and continuity, which can be especially valuable in today's rapidly changing world. By establishing meaningful traditions, we can create a sense of belonging and connection that helps us navigate the challenges of daily life

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