Editor's Note
The Fall Edition Team of Making Learning Personal has created a little something for everyone. I'm excited to share a continuing partnership between Leadership Development and Making Learning Personal. Their first installment is "An MBE Take on Blended Learning - Part 1: Student Agency." Other articles discuss student engagement at the high school and primary levels. Check out station rotation through the lens of middle and elementary school classrooms. Cohort Four Vanguards may find the coaching article interesting, and there is something of interest to many in the article reviewing some of the recent incredible professional learning experiences right here in FCPS. Hopefully you have a professional moment to read, think big, and aspire to the next small step to take with your students. Remember to stop along the way, reflect on what's been accomplished, connect and share your work, look forward to the next small start, and don't forget to stop and smell the roses.
All of us on the Innovation Team wish you and your families a restful and joyous Thanksgiving Holiday.
Heather Rose
Innovative Learning Team
MLP Editor
An MBE Take on Blended Learning: Part 1 - Student Agency
FCPS Leadership Development, Organizational Development
Visit any staff lounge or educator collaboration session, and you may hear educators discussing student agency and the importance of students being active participants in their own learning. Exactly what is and what isn’t meant by the term “student agency?” As stated in OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030, “there is no global consensus on the definition of “student agency” and the interpretation of this idea can be vastly different among different cultures.” OECD continues that student agency is not a personality trait, and it is not a synonym for “student autonomy,” “student voice,” or “student choice.” According to Renaissance EdWords, student agency is “learning through activities that are meaningful and relevant to learners, driven by their interests, and often self-initiated with appropriate guidance from teachers. To put it simply, student agency gives students voice and often, choice, in how they learn.”
A Little Choice Can Make a Big Difference
Molly Murphy, Middletown Primary School
Though she be but little, she is fierce ~ Shakespeare
This quote is one that many are familiar with and it is one that we can apply to our schools. Our littlest learners may be small, but that does not mean they aren’t capable. I had the privilege of hearing from author Dr. Katie Martin the other day. In her book, Evolving Education, she talks about redefining success. Our society is changing, and with that, so should our definition of success. Dr. Martin talks about how spending more time developing expertise, agency, and a sense of belonging allows students to be more equipped to chart their own path towards success. Instilling the habits of student agency early in education will set our learners up for a successful future.
The Four "R'S" of Student Engagement
Christina Tongyai "TG", Frederick High School
While the above scenario isn’t true, students did not care. They loved it. I can’t take full credit for this idea. I borrowed it from another teacher and tailored it to my classroom. It was developed by a math teacher as a review game for her high school math students. Me? I teach English at the high school level, but at the time Avengers: Infinity and Endgame movies were the biggest joy of children of all ages. It made sense to use something that students found relevant to my advantage…and it worked. 100% engagement from every student for an entire class period. Even my student who normally slept through class, woke up and played. I learned then that there is more going on here than meets the eye.
Stationed for Success
Kristen Herr, Oakdale Middle School
The Station Rotation model can reinvigorate your classroom culture, rejuvenate your relationships with students, and provide natural opportunities for differentiation and student agency. Station Rotation is my absolute favorite model of instruction. I started using Station Rotation in instruction long before my Vanguard journey started, so naturally I was drawn to this blended learning model.
Station Rotations, Embracing It Into Your Classroom
Shannon Schneider, Middletown Elementary School
Truth: Welcome to November; where the crossroads are meeting. You have spent the last several months building relationships, establishing routines, setting expectations and managing your classrooms. BUT, you’re not done there! The time has come to evolve the relationship, further expand classroom routines and dig deeper into your expectations. YOU are ready, YOUR students are ready. If you haven’t yet, it’s time to take the leap into station rotations.
From Coach to Coach
Ann Lewis, Urbana High School
As I step into my "Coach Year” of Vanguard, I am excited to be able to apply my sports-team coaching style into the academic environment, like I do in my classroom each day. I hope to be able to lead by example (as I tried to do as a coach on the field) in the hopes of helping to transition new teachers into this incredible program. In general, I have found that as preparation and communication increase, the skill, comfort level and overall success of the team and individuals within the team also increases.
The Falsity of False Dichotomies
Laura Shearer, Innovative Learning Team
I have been one of the lucky ones to participate in three different, distinct professional learning opportunities over the past week. While each learning experience looked at education through a different lens, I was intrigued to find a common thread stitching together all three.
Vanguard Teacher Program
Email: eric.haines@fcps.org
Website: vanguard.fcps.org
Phone: 301-644-5182
Twitter: @EHaines24