Start. Stop. Continue.

Today was my last day as PYP Coordinator so now that that chapter has ended (paused?) I’m able to begin to think about moving back into the classroom.

I haven’t been in the classroom for two years and a lot has happened in that time. I discovered blogs for the first time. I joined Twitter. I participated in many PYP workshops. I have done lots of my own professional learning and facilitated others’ professional learning. I’ve been in classrooms and planning sessions from Pre-K to Grade 5 and for every single-subject. I started my Masters of Education.

All of these experiences have re-shaped the way I understand teaching and learning and have completely changed who I am as an educator. It is for this reason that I have chosen to go back in the classroom and try my hand at being a PYP teacher again.

In short – I want a do-over!

This upcoming school year there are many new things I want to try, old things I want to try to let go of and a few things from my previous life as a teacher that I will likely continue.  Here is what I’m envisioning:

Start.

• student blogs
• paper-less (or at least a less-paper) classroom
• class Twitter and Instagram
• 20% time
• student set-up classroom and student created class schedule
• digital portfolios
• YouTube videos for parents
• culturally responsive teaching
• daily reflection time
• student authored reports
• back channeling in the classroom
• MakerSpace
• Making Learning Visible
• stand-alone math and literacy inquiries
• provocations
• Mystery Skypes
• using a PYP day planning template
• using a blank PYP unit planner
• split screen teaching 

Stop.

• “doing school”
• worksheets
• tests
• using the word “work”
• teacher created exemplars
• bump it up walls
• rewards and punishments
• spelling lists and spelling tests
• trying to “cover” the curriculum
• having a teacher desk
• laminating things
• homework
• reading logs
• one -size-fits-all summatives

Continue.

• building authentic relationships with students
• individualized student success plans
• playing with students at recess
• community circles/classroom meetings
• class blog
• Daily 5
• Visible Thinking Routines
• Kath Murdoch’s Inquiry Cycle
• individual learning conferences
• co-constructing rubrics with students
• modelling conflict resolution
• have students write report cards for me
• trying to remain pedagogically neutral
• writing notes to students
• making sure I’m never too busy to improve 
• student ownership of learning 

I know this seems like a lofty set of goals and I know there will be bumps, stumbles and reality-checks along the way, but that is all part of why I wanted to go back into the classroom in the first place! I’m committed to being the type of risk-taker I hope my students become.

I also know that before I’m ready to try any of this,  I need to first be an inquirer and dive deeper into understanding the why and how behind the whats on this dream-list.

So, on that note… let my summer professional learning begin!

Wish me luck!