When we work within a large school board such as the Calgary Board of Education, it can be challenging to see how we are all connected. As I begin this school year, outside of the classroom, I feel privileged to be able to learn with many amazing educators. I am curious about how to support our collective impact and what becomes possible when we make our work visible to each other.
As part of professional learning at CBE’s summer literacy sessions and at various schools, I had many opportunities to dialogue with colleagues and consider: How are we designing learning spaces to amplify literacy learning? Using loose parts teachers explored the ‘Cave, Campfire, and Watering Hole Theory’ to prototype classroom spaces and engage in conversation about how we might use space to impact student learning.
As part of professional learning at CBE’s summer literacy sessions and at various schools, I had many opportunities to dialogue with colleagues and consider: How are we designing learning spaces to amplify literacy learning? Using loose parts teachers explored the ‘Cave, Campfire, and Watering Hole Theory’ to prototype classroom spaces and engage in conversation about how we might use space to impact student learning.
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At Fish Creek School, teams of teachers wandered through classrooms as they discussed what they were willing to let go of to make room for new ideas. Some teachers reimagined the allocation of their space to increase student real estate and decrease ‘teacher only’ space. Spaces to come together as a large group, or ‘campfires’, were moved from the traditional Smartboard location to include new focal points such as book collections or Wonder Windows.
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With the return of students to classrooms, I read tweets where students shared their ideas about what they needed their classroom spaces to include. Giving our students’ voice and choice in their learning is an important component of personalized learning.
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I admit, I was a Twitter fan before but now I am even more convinced of the power this tool has to connect learners and make thinking visible. What did I learn today? I learned that while I cannot always see the continuation and impact of professional learning face-to-face, digital spaces offer great opportunities to build community, invite collaboration, and accelerate our collective impact.
@HeatherMMckay – Learner, Teacher, CBE Specialist (K-12 Literacy Strategy)
I’m wondering how might 'Everything I need to know... I learned in Kindergarten' bring more joy to all classrooms?
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