Down the Rabbit Hole

Down the Rabbit Hole

Over the past few years, we have heard about schools transforming the educational experience from straight-lined, mundane, outcome (summative test) driven to the free-flowing, choice and real-world skill driven classrooms. Yes, there has been a movement, and we’ve made strides as an educational unit, but we’re not even close yet!

Yes, we want to make schools more remarkable for our kids AND staff alike, but what does that look like/feel/sound/smell like? I believe that this is where the genuine and unintentional disconnect in thinking that we are transforming our schools and classrooms, and what is truly taking place. 

What may be an amazing and mind blowing conversation for one teacher, most of the class is sitting there being lectured to, while the teacher converses, with one kid. How can we ensure that students are able to express their comprehension and passion for a topic without having a drawn out 12 point conversation? How about a pic collage that has the twelve points covered with a caption? Or an essay that takes her stance in the class discussion of Romeo & Juliet? What about a set of Q & A on Twitter or Flipgrid (And maybe just maybe, not all of the questions come from the teacher!)? 

All of these are ways that we can reach the kids where they are at, and all it takes a little trust. Trust that the students are going to do what they choose to the best of their ability, but more so as administrators, the trust in the teacher to carry out their well laid plans.

So imagine you took the leap down the rabbit hole, and as you fall further and further from what you know and are familiar with—do you panic and reach out to grab at roots and rocks to try and hold on or just let go and see what comes next? If we continue to grab at the lines that lead back to our safe places, we will never allow ourselves to discover a new level or depth to our abilities.

This is where we are in our teaching and learning and really leading—do we continue to hold on to the things that we are familiar with? Or do we just let go and really see what comes next? Don’t get me wrong, it’s not just close your eyes and hope for the best, its having an understanding of what is best, and where we should go—just maybe we don’t know the exact path to get there, or how long it’s going to take to get close to where we want to be.

With some of the leaders we have around education, the ones that are truly letting go of what “we have always done”, there are some awesome things in store for all of our kids.  

Where will you choose to be in this paradigm shift?