First Week of Instructional Plan
Hello! I am excited to be working on an instructional plan for my school! I work at Cannon River STEM School in Faribault, MN. We use place based, project based and inquiry based learning, along with our outdoor environment to teach our students to be great questioners, researchers and independent thinkers who are also cared for and encouraged to be their true selves. We sit upon 52 acres of wooded land that we use regularly to teach. We work hard to teach our students 5 core values (perseverence, respect, responsibility, acceptance and curiosity) and to use a growth mindset as they work through challenges.
While, we have our share of academic issues, one thing that I am passionate about is the staff's emotional intelligence and resiliency. We ask our students to engage in critical thinking about their resiliency and attitudes, but we rarely do so ourselves. We, as adults, find it hard to use a growth mindset, assess our attitudes and work on ourselves to reach a higher potential. I am focusing on creating a plan to engage the staff at my school (all staff as our school is smaller and collaborative in nature) in learning about how they respond to situations and how to grow and learn to respond in more emotionally beneficial ways-for both themselves and those around them.
While we have an expectation of being independent adult learners, some of the characteristics that will be present definitely won't fall into that category. Since I am talking about emotional intelligence and resiliency, it is important to note that some learners will be engaged and ready to grow and develop a healthy dose of self-reflection, while others will be hesitant, and non-trusting. The latter will need some encouragement, compassion and guidance to understand that this isn't about being "wrong", but rather about expanding on the people we are and understanding the way we can better take care of ourselves while also more effectively communicating with others.
I will want to appeal to the learner in terms of encouraging growth and dialogue with others to create some curiosity regarding differing perspectives and emotional IQ's. Hands-on activities and unique ways to learn about ourselves will be critical to maintain excitement and readiness to engage in this topic. I will also need to be aware of sensitive discussions and create an environment of safety and trust in the process.
While, we have our share of academic issues, one thing that I am passionate about is the staff's emotional intelligence and resiliency. We ask our students to engage in critical thinking about their resiliency and attitudes, but we rarely do so ourselves. We, as adults, find it hard to use a growth mindset, assess our attitudes and work on ourselves to reach a higher potential. I am focusing on creating a plan to engage the staff at my school (all staff as our school is smaller and collaborative in nature) in learning about how they respond to situations and how to grow and learn to respond in more emotionally beneficial ways-for both themselves and those around them.
While we have an expectation of being independent adult learners, some of the characteristics that will be present definitely won't fall into that category. Since I am talking about emotional intelligence and resiliency, it is important to note that some learners will be engaged and ready to grow and develop a healthy dose of self-reflection, while others will be hesitant, and non-trusting. The latter will need some encouragement, compassion and guidance to understand that this isn't about being "wrong", but rather about expanding on the people we are and understanding the way we can better take care of ourselves while also more effectively communicating with others.
I will want to appeal to the learner in terms of encouraging growth and dialogue with others to create some curiosity regarding differing perspectives and emotional IQ's. Hands-on activities and unique ways to learn about ourselves will be critical to maintain excitement and readiness to engage in this topic. I will also need to be aware of sensitive discussions and create an environment of safety and trust in the process.
I think it is so true that as adults, if we teach something to students we should be held accountable to practicing what we say and teach in front of students too. I look forward to what kind of training you will develop.
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