Belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us. Because this yearning is so primal, we often try to acquire it by fitting in and by seeking approval, which are not only hollow substitutes for belonging, but often barriers to it. Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance. -Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection What’s more obvious to you: Knowing you belong? Or the keen (often painful) awareness that you don’t? I can clearly recall times in my life when “belonging” escaped me. When my family moved mid-4th-grade year and I sat in a new classroom, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. My hair had been recently cropped short. I wore glasses for the first time. No one talked to me. It seemed everyone was petrified of the new girl who cried every day. In middle school, I didn't wear the trendiest clothing brands, had early 90s permed … [Read more...]
#53: Why Don’t We Wonder in Schools Anymore? with Bud Hunt
Will and Lyn talk with educator and library administrator Bud Hunt who asks us to consider when we stopped making schools a place of wonder? We discuss the connections between literacy and making ("making is a fundamental thing that people do"); a library's purpose as a community space where people can engage in civil discourse; "drone literacy" (it's a thing!); what we actually mean by "modern literacy" and how we can support teachers and learners in becoming most literate; and the algorithms influencing and often censoring our digital interactions with one another (Noble's Algorithms of Oppression is referenced). Thanks for tuning in! … [Read more...]
Connections and Community in a Modern Learning World
In our last Shifting Conversation post, the 250th in the series, Bruce shared the evolution of Modern Learners over the last five years, a few of the tools we use to thrive (and survive) as a team, and the pivots we made along the way. Since Bruce and Will have spent the past week traveling to facilitate Modern Learners’ Labs in Perth, Auckland, and Christchurch, Missy and I are eager to share more about who we are and what we have in store for you. It’s interesting, isn’t it, how we amplify lists of “Skills all Workers Will Need in 2040” and remark, “Did you know our students will be working in jobs that don’t even exist yet?” and with this certain amount of rhetoric comes the reality of living and working in a fluid, dynamic, primarily online learning environment. Occasionally we have to stop and consider what a different time and place this world of modern learning really is, and how it influences not only our work, learning, and connections with other educators, but also our … [Read more...]
#49: Dr. Joe Sanfileppo discusses Relationships, Leadership and Learning
In episode 49 of the Modern Learners podcast, Missy and Lyn talk with Superintendent Dr. Joe Sanfileppo of the Fall Creek School District in Wisconsin. Joe is known in educational leadership circles as "the relationships guy," a dynamic school leader who speaks often about the role of relationships in learning and who celebrates loudly the accomplishments of his teachers, students, and community. The #gocrickets message is more than just a hashtag, but a rallying spirit around the ideals this school community stands for. Throughout this podcast we talk with Joe about: *ownership of learning throughout the organization *how teachers share their learning at Fall Creek *buy-in vs. trust *the need to provide time, resources, and opportunities for learners and adults *making ownership of learning a priority in a time of standardization and mandates *his belief in the power of affirmation to approach critical conversations about learning #gocrickets! Resources … [Read more...]