My first visit!

It took a while to feel comfortable. The school had such a relaxed atmosphere that this teacher of 28 years could not relax! The sound (no yelling, screaming, teacher’s emotional tirade) was different, the smell (I’m not sure why but in hindsight, maybe it was no panicked fear from teachers or students?) was different. It is so difficult to explain but I think it is because the focus is being carried out. The 21st century school is taking the next step to move from a teaching institution to a learning institution.

My faith in education has been somewhat restored. Yesterday I witnessed children free to learn. This was presented in a form of relaxed, happy, and engaged students. I was looking around in all the classrooms and didn’t see the bored expression of a disengaged student! In one classroom, the teacher wasn’t spending time on skill learning, she expected them to research and find out how to work the computer program and then to video capture a demonstration of what they learned in a short 1-2 minute video.

In the open area of the school, the children were gathered around a table or seating area, discussing projects that they are working on together or just relaxing for a few minutes. I didn’t see mass discussions on off topic items. Yes, I would hear the question, “are you going to the senior trip?” but after a very brief discussion, they would get each other back on track.

I saw teachers engaging in one-to-one conversations with the students and the students. They were discussing the student’s project or projects, goals, or just the problem of the day. It’s not that they never get up and demonstrate or group teach, I saw that too, but the teachers don’t seem to feel they have to dominate the room for learning to occur.

Today, I’m hoping to see more of the plan for the student’s learning. What kind of projects are they doing? What is the time line? What about TAKS coming up in two weeks? They are an Exemplary School as rated by TEA but I haven’t seen any TAKS preparation posters! There were bulletin boards stretched out acroos the wall with newspaper articles about their school and some student work displayed. They school seemed focused on the conceptual learning which was happening, and not the Essential Knowledge and Skills. The students must be learning the state EKS but it is not the worksheet, overhead children’s mind blank that is usually seen.

I’m going back today.  Can’t wait!