August 5 was an unusually coolish day in Missouri-which is great for me, because I detest hot weather. And by "hot" I mean anything above 83 degrees. August is usually miserable...and it will be again, especially now that I have jinxed it. But despite my loathing of the weather/climate, I LOVE this time of year...why? Because teachers are getting classrooms ready for a new year!
16 years of creating my own classroom spaces, 7 years coaching teachers and helping them create theirs, and now beginning a 4th year as a principal to approximately 35 learning spaces in the two buildings I supervise NEVER FAILS to bring on that excitement and anticipation for the start of a new school year. The hopes, the dreams, the goals...{sigh}!
People often ask what is the best part or what I like about being a principal-and usually I can just say "EVERY PART!" But I can be more specific right now: Getting to experience all of these staff members so energized is just inspiring. It gives me chills usually, and I just end up walking around with some kind of goofy grin on my face.
This year, in our quest to "transform teaching and learning" some of my teachers attended an in-district professional development day this summer (yes, in JULY!) and one of the sessions was about transforming learning spaces to better meet student needs--to be more student centered. Now I didn't attend this (unfortunately was forced to go to another training specifically for principals that was not NEARLY as engaging) but I can tell you...this session got some teachers FIRED UP (but not in the angry kind of way)! They rushed back to their rooms and began planning, moving, sorting, and recreating their classroom spaces immediately. I began receiving emails about furniture that was in storage, what to do with items they didn't want any longer, and sales that were happening at the local thrift store! They began throwing out terms like "watering hole" and let me tell you, the building was buzzing!
The amount of collaboration and teamwork that happens in my building is amazing on a regular day, but these people outdid themselves in the last two weeks. They had absorbed so much information about how to create spaces for students to work alone when needed, but also have areas to work in a variety of group sizes collaboratively and to find nontraditional ways to invite students to participate in learning that the energy just couldn't be contained.
I hesitate to name names in this piece because I am afraid I will miss naming someone who has been working hard at transforming space and I just haven't heard or seen it yet. I certainly don't want them to feel discredited for their work. I wish every reader of this could walk the halls and listen to some of these people talk about what they have created in their classrooms. They are so excited to offer students choice in where to sit and how to work and learn. You would get that goofy grin also!
Check out these for inspiration!
www.youtube.com/embed/4cscJcRKYxA
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ditching-the-desk-nicholas-provenzano?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=080515%20enews%20redesign%20ngm%20remainder&utm_content=&utm_term=fea2hed&spMailingID=12063315&spUserID=MjcyODEyMDU5NDIS1&spJobID=600331502&spReportId=NjAwMzMxNTAyS0
16 years of creating my own classroom spaces, 7 years coaching teachers and helping them create theirs, and now beginning a 4th year as a principal to approximately 35 learning spaces in the two buildings I supervise NEVER FAILS to bring on that excitement and anticipation for the start of a new school year. The hopes, the dreams, the goals...{sigh}!
People often ask what is the best part or what I like about being a principal-and usually I can just say "EVERY PART!" But I can be more specific right now: Getting to experience all of these staff members so energized is just inspiring. It gives me chills usually, and I just end up walking around with some kind of goofy grin on my face.
This year, in our quest to "transform teaching and learning" some of my teachers attended an in-district professional development day this summer (yes, in JULY!) and one of the sessions was about transforming learning spaces to better meet student needs--to be more student centered. Now I didn't attend this (unfortunately was forced to go to another training specifically for principals that was not NEARLY as engaging) but I can tell you...this session got some teachers FIRED UP (but not in the angry kind of way)! They rushed back to their rooms and began planning, moving, sorting, and recreating their classroom spaces immediately. I began receiving emails about furniture that was in storage, what to do with items they didn't want any longer, and sales that were happening at the local thrift store! They began throwing out terms like "watering hole" and let me tell you, the building was buzzing!
The amount of collaboration and teamwork that happens in my building is amazing on a regular day, but these people outdid themselves in the last two weeks. They had absorbed so much information about how to create spaces for students to work alone when needed, but also have areas to work in a variety of group sizes collaboratively and to find nontraditional ways to invite students to participate in learning that the energy just couldn't be contained.
I hesitate to name names in this piece because I am afraid I will miss naming someone who has been working hard at transforming space and I just haven't heard or seen it yet. I certainly don't want them to feel discredited for their work. I wish every reader of this could walk the halls and listen to some of these people talk about what they have created in their classrooms. They are so excited to offer students choice in where to sit and how to work and learn. You would get that goofy grin also!
Check out these for inspiration!
www.youtube.com/embed/4cscJcRKYxA
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ditching-the-desk-nicholas-provenzano?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=080515%20enews%20redesign%20ngm%20remainder&utm_content=&utm_term=fea2hed&spMailingID=12063315&spUserID=MjcyODEyMDU5NDIS1&spJobID=600331502&spReportId=NjAwMzMxNTAyS0