As a parent, I want my children to be motivated learners. I want them to do well in school, go to college, find a great career they love. I am all about learning, growing, and innovating not grades specifically. My oldest son gets A's in all AP courses, learning has never been a struggle for him. He is driven and focused. But, he wants to go to a community college for two years, gain some experience, then go to UNM. He understands that paying more money to go to a university does not guarantee you success in the job market. I did the same thing. I didn't know what I wanted to do in my life when I graduated high school, I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but then I got side tracked with travelling and experiencing the world. So I chose to go to community college for two years, got all of my boring classes out of the way and then transferred to UCLA when I was ready to hunker down and learn. The difference in cost $30 a unit versus $300. So, I made the right choice. That decision did not alter my life plans even remotely, what it did do is give me time to "find myself" and set a plan. In other words, I got creative.
I think even back then I had a bit of mindful sense amidst a little common sense. How can we get our students to get creative and innovate? Not necessarily to forego entering a 4-year university right out of high school, but to think for themselves, to be empowered to make their own decisions? It has to hark back to the classroom, even before high school. We have to set up our classrooms to be flexible and student-driven but also challenging and thoughtful in where students truly have to think for themselves. They have to design and implement their own learning plans, be given strategies for self-actualization. But, most importantly, be taught the reasoning and problem-solving skills that will guide them forward in life. The sooner we let them make their own choices, positive or negative, the faster they will own their decisions and make healthier ones. Everyone needs to fail and falter in order to forge ahead and eventually succeed.
Breathing deeply and quieting the mind is one of the best strategies a teacher can teach their students. Before a test, during a stressful collaborative assignment, even simply in the hustle and bustle of classroom life. If students have a way to release tension and refocus they will remain more motivated and engaged in their learning. Everyone has moments of doubt or uncertainty where they lose sight of their goals whether immediate or long-term. Reflection can get us back on track of course, also meditation, but to realign quickly with little effort, deep breathing will always calm the nerves and "re-center" our wandering minds. This strategy is not a new one. Many businesses have adopted meditation and calming techniques to help bolster energy and focus but it often bypassed by the classroom setting and I don't understand why because for many students that is a very stressful, fast-paced, competitive, chaotic place. A strategy to calm the mind and refocus intentions is just as necessary for children as it is for adults.
Creativity and innovation spawn from a quiet mind. The spark comes from a point of convergence where our experiences meet our deepest thoughts. When we can calm ourselves and be aware of our ideas, when we pay attention to the little voice inside our head, we can find the creativity within us. We all are creative, it can just be harder for some to hear theirs. In a noisy classroom full of collaboration and individual opinions it can be challenging to hear our own. Finding calm and balance quiets the exterior din in order for us to concentrate on our internal drive and motivation. Innovation is the voice that tells us, there is a better way. The voice that gives us confidence to lean in to the problem and solve it no matter the result. The voice that recognizes the need to think things through before we act upon them. We can only glean a glimpse when we let the quiet extinguish the chattering and murmurs of the outside world. Seek quiet, calm, and balance and creativity and innovation will follow.
The most important mindful strategy we can teach our students is to think for themselves. To question everything, to never accept anything at face value, to seek what is true for them, to find their voice and let it guide them towards analyzing, problem-solving, critical thinking and inquiry. The mindful quiet, brought about by deep breathing and reflection should be the leap that takes them to self-awareness. The more they understand what they like, why they appreciate things and dislike others, why they see things the way they do, the more they will embrace their individuality and learn independently. Teaching our students mindful breathing, reflection, self-awareness and motivation will guide students to becoming independent and creative thinkers. Feeling safe to take risks, think about things in a new way and discovering strategies that work best for them gives students the foundation to steer their own learning. Creativity and innovation are the result of awareness and attention. When students sync their inner thoughts with their experiences they become reflective, mindful learners.
Independent thinking can flourish in a classroom when students and teachers collaborate together to design lessons. When students and teachers communicate effectively through check in's and mindful learning circles. Students need to be able to identify their own way of learning and find tasks and assignments that will help them learn best. A makerspace, Socratic Seminars, Edcamps, debates, museum walks are all activities my students have helped me develop and implement in my classroom. When they are struggling or have mastered content we have remediation and enrichment circles where they support and motivate each other to do their best. A sense of community is key, each individual voice is an instrument both purposeful and integral to the community. All instruments combining into an orchestra of ideas and opinions and ultimately a consensus of knowledge. A stage of musicians conducting the opera, the beautiful piece of music that is learning and cooperation at its best.
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