Today Marks the 1 Year Anniversary of the day that I gave my TEDx talk.
A HUGE day in my life for many reasons. The one that pertains to this blog is that up until that point, I had not pushed myself to express my ideas on a long term, global level. I had already been sharing my ideas of how to positively impact change in education, but this was the day that it was taken to the next level.
I share it again because as I took the time to rewatch the talk myself, it put into perspective just how much we’ve accomplished in only one year with the development of Indi-ED and it got me excited to be sitting here one year from today to see what we will have accomplished.
Remember, at that time I was running Indi-ED as a small scale summer program with only a few families from the school that I was currently working at. Only a few short months later, I committed to leaving my teaching job in a traditional school and began putting together all of the components necessary to launch this year. In reality, no small feat. Now today, we have designed a yearlong program with forward-thinking families who have come from a variety of public schools, private schools, charter schools, and homeschools.
What made me feel even more proud as I rewatched the talk, was that within this first year’s development, we have remained committed to what we know to be true about what is best for kids and what will create genuine change, and it’s been highlighted even in our short 11 days together thus far. (See below.)
Lesson Learned: Sometimes, daring to act boldly is entirely worth it.
Second Lesson Learned: If you build it with integrity and honesty, the right “they” will come.
This past week also marked the first hurricane to make landfall in Florida in about a decade.
With the influx of rain and flooding, all of the schools in our area closed Thursday and Friday which left me, get this, genuinely bummed out!
Yes, I was BUMMED out that I was going to miss two days of work because I was actually PUMPED to go! The three days that we were lucky enough to have that week provided just a taste of what they were about to embark on as they have begun their first inquiry cycle and what I touched on in the TEDx talk.
Not only are they getting a chance to get in touch with their feelings through their yoga health unit, but they’re also learning about how their brains work in their neurology unit in science, and will be tying it all together through their first inquiry unit as they investigate a topic of their interest and consider it through a self-awareness and leadership lens.
The week prior, we discussed all of the components of the learning cycle: how do you actually generate a quality idea, how can they access different information, what making connections to professionals will look like and how it will enhance learning, as well as coming up with a variety of things that they’ll be able to create and showcase for themselves.
Which led us to Monday when they were ‘released’ and set out on their first task to investigate the qualities of what makes a quality leader. You could feel the energy and excitement rising.
They were having conversations about dedication, being passionate, and being a positive leader so that the people that you worked with would respect you, etc. Some had conversations, some watched videos, some looked up articles, some used tablets, some laptops, some their cell phones (yes, appropriately and to help them learn) and the conversations took on a more meaningful direction than any rules I’ve ever had to enforce. They were discussing how to be a quality human.
After they were able to investigate for a bit, we discussed why we gave them the time to do this work and true to form, they nailed it.
“Because WE are going to be leaders.” –L.M.
Yes! No matter what you decide to do in life, whether it’s on a large or small scale, whether it’s a team of 100 or a team of 4 of your family, they will all be a leader in one way or another and it’s important to start planting those seeds at an early age instead of when you’re forced into the role without ever considering it before. Long term impact initiated. I didn’t want to have to stop them.
The next day we took a trip to our local library where the kids met with another expert in their profession to learn about some ‘old school’ forms of gathering knowledge.
They learned from a librarian about the Dewey Decimal System, about how the library was organized and even a bit of history. Even I didn’t know that it was one of the oldest in the country built by Andrew Carnegie where he intentionally designed the historic staircase because he believed that people should ‘step up to knowledge’. (Cheers to that sir!) The kids were even able to touch an antique heater which most had never seen before. Don’t get those pleasant little surprises sitting in a classroom.
What stood out to me again was the enthusiasm that surrounded the experience. After Zack was finished with his lesson. The kids were able to finally break out to get their hands on more information that tied to both leadership and a topic that they were interested in investigating. With NO pressure or mandates, in the real world they joyfully broke out and found books about leadership styles, snakes, musicians, medicine, art, and history to name a few and got to reading.
Then on Wednesday, (which was honestly a near PERFECT day from start to finish!) we refocused on what they’re end goal was. What would they actually create with their findings? True to the day’s individualized theme (during math they all worked on their individual Learning Action Plans, during indoor recess because of the rain, they all choose activities that suited their individual needs, etc.) they were allowed to investigate a product that they wanted to create. Again, enthusiasm from every direction!
Two young ladies giddily watching a video on tips about how to create a documentary. One young man reaching out to find tips on coding. 3 young men working together to begin electronically drafting a project. Two young ladies finding resources. Another young man finding his quiet space to just get to work! It was BEAUTIFUL!
And then, the hurricane. To be continued.
Lesson Learned: Sometimes, patience is a necessity.
Lesson Learned: Kids are capable if they are led in the right direction.
We also just returned from a short trip back home to visit a few family and friends and when my husband and I were sharing our favorite parts of the trip on our way back, I realized that it was the moments in nature simply being with them that were the best.
Spending time with my grandfather and mother on his back porch. Listening to his stories, laughing at his jokes, remembering the sights and sounds of our time there.
Spending time with my aunt and uncle at their home. Playing on the water, sharing peaceful meals together, and feeling their supportive energy and love.
Spending time with one of my best friend’s and her children. Playing with them and watching her as a mother of two and just being proud of her.
Lesson Learned: The little things really are the big things.
Which brings it all together for me.
At the time, did I realize the magnitude of what would come of the TEDx talk and what still may? Not exactly. But because I’ve remained true to following my passion and appreciating what’s really important in life, I know that I’m consistently taking steps towards becoming a better version of myself and those are leadership qualities that I am happy to share with my students and the world.