Learning at Lely - Our New Podcast

I think that when you ask people, they will admit that teachers do not get enough positive accolades for the work that they do. You see it in the trashing of public education on a regular basis. Nearly everyone has a gripe and they're not afraid to speak up. However, when you see what educators do in order to teach their kids, you are amazed. Teachers are real heroes. They have to be nearly everything to every kid. It is an impossible job but most are able to pull it off. When visitors come through schools, they stand slack-jawed, amazed at the energy and passion with which most educators approach their profession. Teachers are amazing. I've known hundreds and hundreds over the course of my 30+ years in the profession.

One thing I always wanted to do was highlight the good work that teachers do in the classroom everyday. Some of it is spectacular and unique, and some of it seems mundane but is incredibly effective. The teachers with whom we entrust with our kids are able to pull off miracles everyday. People need to hear these stories, see what is going on in the minds of today's teachers, and witness the creativity and passion that teachers bring to their positions. Periodically on this blog, I will highlight the good works of the teachers around me.

In an effort to profile some of the awesome things teachers are doing everyday, we started a podcast called "Learning at Lely". The podcast is an attempt to shine the spotlight on teachers who are doing great things in their classrooms and also take a peek behind the curtain and see how the ideas came about and how those ideas were effectively implemented. I hope that listeners get a sense of all of the planning and creating that goes on when the kids leave the classroom. The podcast is a tribute to the good works of today's educators, a celebration of their accomplishments. We hope that we can connect with other educators to collaborate on projects and share ideas.

The first podcast is linked below and I will always have the most current podcast available in the side column of this blog. Take a few minutes to listen to a couple of amazing teachers, Caitlyn Carbonell and Katleen Milito, as they talk about generating ideas, creating a healthy, positive environment for their kids, and why they put so much energy into their craft. It is always a privilege to listen to teachers share ideas, and this episode is no exception.

MakerSpace in the Media Center

MakerSpace is an increasingly popular educational space that schools, libraries, and community centers are incorporating in order to get kids thinking and creating. What is a MakerSpace? Well, a common definition is, "a collaborative work space inside a school, library, or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools." (Makerspace.com)

I love the idea of a MakerSpace and so I've begun building one inside our library at Lely Elementary School. It is a place, smack dab in the center of our media center space, where kids can come in and use the tools to create and learn. We have building materials, robots, art supplies, circuit boards, and other tech tools with which kids can work. We are still building the space and we hope that by the end of the semester, we have a lot more stuff for kids to use.

MakerSpaces are important because they allow the kids to illustrate their ideas, build their schematics, express their creativity. Kids spend a lot of time in classrooms learning how to do things a certain way, and rightfully so. We need to teach kids literacy in language, numbers, and technology. There are certain things that kids should learn and we do a good job of teaching them. However, a MakerSpace is a place where there are no instructions, no "recipes" for making something.

A good MakerSpace, in my view, would resemble Edison's lab, or DaVinci's studio, or Bell's work space, or Tesla's area. It would be a place where tools and materials are abundant, but the child would have to put those tools and materials together to fashion something completely unique. These spaces give us a peek into how a child thinks, what processes they go through in their decision-making, and how closely they realize their visions.

There are lots of ways to run a MakerSpace. Some have "lessons" that the kids can complete, some have "recipes" or step-by-step instructions for the kids, and some no instructions or lessons. Ours is the latter, and for good reason. Kids experience the lessons in the classroom. If we provide for them step-by-step instructions in the MakerSpace, we don't get a chance to see their original thinking. They will be simply learning how to do what someone else wants them to do. Edison had no instructions. DaVinci had no instructions. They simply used the tools at their disposal, failed a lot, and eventually came up with something amazing. Do I think all of our kids will come up with something amazing in the MakerSpace? Nope. But I would like to see what they do come up with and also see their minds open up to the possibilities around them. I would like to see them get some practice in original thinking and creating.

We often see the best from students when they come up with something on their own. Our MakerSpace is an attempt to give our kids that forum. Kids will get time to learn and play according to what interests them, what motivates them. Our kids may discover things they like and areas where they excel. It is discovery-learning at its best. This is the value of MakerSpace and it is the best reason for every school to incorporate a MakerSpace into their program. Kids love a place where they can tinker, wonder, revise, ponder, imagine, and create. Our kids will be better off for having a MakerSpace, and so will our schools.

First Day at My New School

Today was the first day of school, which is always an exciting time of year. This year, it's even more exciting for me. I've transitioned from Middle School ELA teacher to Elementary School Media Specialist. I've wanted to be a media specialist for a long time. Heck, I've been getting kids to love reading for 30+ years so it's only logical that I'd want to extend my reach to the entire school.

Today was special. A lot of teachers brought their classes down so I could meet them and nearly all of the kids checked out books. It was gratifying to see them browsing and asking questions of us and of their classmates. I got a kick out of seeing their faces light up when they saw a book they'd been wanting to read and immediately grabbed for it.

Our space is a good one, but it needs a refresh. I have ideas and plans about how to revise the space in the media center to make it more kid-friendly and improve the learning experience for all of the students. It will take a lot of hard work, input from our stakeholders, a collaborative effort from our staff, and a little magic. I'm confident that the space at the end of the year will be quite different from what it is now. It has been a good media center, but I want to look forward and renovate it with the next ten years in mind.

Sitting here now reflecting on the first day of school, I feel like we are on the right track. We will be able to accomplish great things this year, both in design and execution of a great library program. Our kids' needs are great, but I'm confident that we can help all of our kids realize their personal and academic goals. With the talent and experience of the teachers and staff at Lely Elementary, there is nothing but great times ahead. I am grateful to be starting the year at such an excellent place. I look forward to what this year will bring.