In past years, I've ambitiously published a long list of summer learning opportunities for educators. (Last year, I never quite got anything published.)
This summer, I will start smaller and focus on the stories and articles I added to my Chrome reading list this past year. In the rush of a school year, there are just too many that I never found the time to explore. Time to remedy that!
This summer, I will start smaller and focus on the stories and articles I added to my Chrome reading list this past year. In the rush of a school year, there are just too many that I never found the time to explore. Time to remedy that!
To help me hold myself accountable, I will explore one or two articles each week and add any that I find valuable to this post. Stop by weekly or wait until the end of the summer to be part of my learning experience.
I hope you find something valuable as a teacher and learner to bring to your students and colleagues in the Fall. I'll also share a few quotes as a preview to each reading.
(There is a lot to unpack in this article, but it has me thinking about how I can enhance engagement while slowing down the pace of my content. Probably easier said than done, but I am on it. )
Students seem more distracted than ever before. When given an assignment, they struggle to get started or to stick with it over time. Many of them lack the endurance to continue reading for longer than five minutes, even when they are reading for fun. As one teacher noted to me, “I can’t compete with twenty-second videos where you can swipe away if it doesn’t capture your interest in a nanosecond.”
Deeper learning begins with a bold premise. Empower teachers to empower students. It recognizes that creative teachers don’t need an instruction manual so much as a set of tools.
Deeper learning invites students to linger with ideas, make connections across disciplines, solve authentic problems, and wrestle with uncertainty. It requires focus, reflection, and creative risk-taking. And that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when teachers build systems of depth with one small move at a time.Students seem more distracted than ever before. When given an assignment, they struggle to get started or to stick with it over time. Many of them lack the endurance to continue reading for longer than five minutes, even when they are reading for fun. As one teacher noted to me, “I can’t compete with twenty-second videos where you can swipe away if it doesn’t capture your interest in a nanosecond.”
Deeper learning begins with a bold premise. Empower teachers to empower students. It recognizes that creative teachers don’t need an instruction manual so much as a set of tools.
Story 1: Reigniting Passion for Teaching After a Difficult Year
(I know this one barely qualifies as being part of the year, but I like the positive spin it puts on getting ready for next year.)
On one hand, teaching is deeply meaningful work. On the other, it can drain your energy like nothing else. No matter how bright the good moments are, ending the year feeling inspired is tough.
Psychologist Dr. Rick Hanson says our brains are like velcro for negative experiences and like teflon for positive ones. A single negative interaction can stick with us far longer than a string of successes. That’s why we have to dwell on the good. Without intentional reflection, the hard parts of the year will drown out the bright spots.
You may not be tired of teaching. You may just be tired of how you’ve been teaching. Trying something new can rekindle your energy.
Come back next week, and I'll hopefully have some more articles to explore. I hope you are having a great summer!
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