I want to start today with two assumptions first assumption everyone
assumptions first assumption everyone
assumptions first assumption everyone here has read a book second assumption
here has read a book second assumption
here has read a book second assumption everyone here has had a book changed
everyone here has had a book changed
everyone here has had a book changed their life now show of hands how many
their life now show of hands how many
their life now show of hands how many people here have had a book changed
people here have had a book changed
people here have had a book changed their life many of us for me it’s hard
their life many of us for me it’s hard
their life many of us for me it’s hard to choose one book because reading
to choose one book because reading
to choose one book because reading continues to change my life but there is
continues to change my life but there is
continues to change my life but there is one book I want to talk to you about PHA
one book I want to talk to you about PHA
one book I want to talk to you about PHA Brownlee’s student diversity it was that
Brownlee’s student diversity it was that
Brownlee’s student diversity it was that book and a courageous principle that
book and a courageous principle that
book and a courageous principle that changed the trajectory of my career as a
changed the trajectory of my career as a
changed the trajectory of my career as a teacher and drastically aprove improved
teacher and drastically aprove improved
teacher and drastically aprove improved learning in my classroom teachers cross
learning in my classroom teachers cross
learning in my classroom teachers cross a threshold in their career it happened
a threshold in their career it happened
a threshold in their career it happened sometime between that chaos of getting a
sometime between that chaos of getting a
sometime between that chaos of getting a job getting out of university and then
job getting out of university and then
job getting out of university and then standing in front of 20 or 30 students
standing in front of 20 or 30 students
standing in front of 20 or 30 students and some point in your career where you
and some point in your career where you
and some point in your career where you get comfortable with teaching and it’s
get comfortable with teaching and it’s
get comfortable with teaching and it’s at that threshold that they have to
at that threshold that they have to
at that threshold that they have to decide is their occupation going to be a
decide is their occupation going to be a
decide is their occupation going to be a job that provides them with quite good
job that provides them with quite good
job that provides them with quite good holidays an adequate pension or they
holidays an adequate pension or they
holidays an adequate pension or they gonna cross that threshold and see their
gonna cross that threshold and see their
gonna cross that threshold and see their occupation as a calling that has the
occupation as a calling that has the
occupation as a calling that has the potential to influence the lives of
potential to influence the lives of
potential to influence the lives of students both now and for future
students both now and for future
students both now and for future generations my fifth year of teaching
generations my fifth year of teaching
generations my fifth year of teaching was that year for me but I want to tell
was that year for me but I want to tell
was that year for me but I want to tell you first a little bit of the backstory
you first a little bit of the backstory
you first a little bit of the backstory it was the summer of my fifth year of
it was the summer of my fifth year of
it was the summer of my fifth year of teaching we did as we always did in the
teaching we did as we always did in the
teaching we did as we always did in the summer we did what was modeled for us by
summer we did what was modeled for us by
summer we did what was modeled for us by my parents and what we model for our
my parents and what we model for our
my parents and what we model for our children now summer is for reading and
children now summer is for reading and
children now summer is for reading and as summer turned to fall I picked up
as summer turned to fall I picked up
as summer turned to fall I picked up student diversity and could not put it
student diversity and could not put it
student diversity and could not put it down dinnertime honey I just got to read
down dinnertime honey I just got to read
down dinnertime honey I just got to read my book
my book
my book it was changing everything and when I
it was changing everything and when I
it was changing everything and when I was done that book and I let out a sigh
was done that book and I let out a sigh
was done that book and I let out a sigh my wife said that good and I said this
my wife said that good and I said this
my wife said that good and I said this changes everything
changes everything
changes everything I couldn’t sleep at the end of that book
I couldn’t sleep at the end of that book
I couldn’t sleep at the end of that book I asked myself a question what would
I asked myself a question what would
I asked myself a question what would happen
happen
happen if I started the year as a teacher doing
if I started the year as a teacher doing
if I started the year as a teacher doing no planning and you know one good
no planning and you know one good
no planning and you know one good question prompts others what would
question prompts others what would
question prompts others what would happen if the students planned their
happen if the students planned their
happen if the students planned their learning I literally could not sleep
learning I literally could not sleep
learning I literally could not sleep it’s August I’m forming my principal I
it’s August I’m forming my principal I
it’s August I’m forming my principal I have to meet with you right now I have
have to meet with you right now I have
have to meet with you right now I have an idea so exciting that is going to
an idea so exciting that is going to
an idea so exciting that is going to change my classroom and change learning
change my classroom and change learning
change my classroom and change learning in my classroom in the school maybe even
in my classroom in the school maybe even
in my classroom in the school maybe even the province the world who knows and
the province the world who knows and
the province the world who knows and he’s like it’s August can’t it wait till
he’s like it’s August can’t it wait till
he’s like it’s August can’t it wait till September I’m like no this changes
September I’m like no this changes
September I’m like no this changes everything now put yourself in my
everything now put yourself in my
everything now put yourself in my principal shoes he did to his credit
principal shoes he did to his credit
principal shoes he did to his credit agree to meet with me in August we get
agree to meet with me in August we get
agree to meet with me in August we get together in his office and he’s like
together in his office and he’s like
together in his office and he’s like Darren what’s the idea
Darren what’s the idea
Darren what’s the idea I’m like Kurt I don’t want to start the
I’m like Kurt I don’t want to start the
I’m like Kurt I don’t want to start the year with any planning I am still
year with any planning I am still
year with any planning I am still shocked that he didn’t just laugh
shocked that he didn’t just laugh
shocked that he didn’t just laugh straight in my face and say no or maybe
straight in my face and say no or maybe
straight in my face and say no or maybe he did laugh and covered it up with a
he did laugh and covered it up with a
he did laugh and covered it up with a cough and I was so idea blind I missed
cough and I was so idea blind I missed
cough and I was so idea blind I missed it but if he laughed he didn’t laugh
it but if he laughed he didn’t laugh
it but if he laughed he didn’t laugh long and he asked me a question that
long and he asked me a question that
long and he asked me a question that continues to profoundly impact me as I
continues to profoundly impact me as I
continues to profoundly impact me as I support others in innovation what would
support others in innovation what would
support others in innovation what would that look like and I rattled off a
that look like and I rattled off a
that look like and I rattled off a million miles an hour I’m gonna ask
million miles an hour I’m gonna ask
million miles an hour I’m gonna ask questions I’m gonna get to know the
questions I’m gonna get to know the
questions I’m gonna get to know the students I’m gonna see what their
students I’m gonna see what their
students I’m gonna see what their passions their interest of course I’m
passions their interest of course I’m
passions their interest of course I’m gonna meet the government expectations
gonna meet the government expectations
gonna meet the government expectations and that was long before voice choice
and that was long before voice choice
and that was long before voice choice personalization were buzzwords and
personalization were buzzwords and
personalization were buzzwords and education and many years before the
education and many years before the
education and many years before the province embarked on a transformed
province embarked on a transformed
province embarked on a transformed curriculum here in BC so he looked at me
curriculum here in BC so he looked at me
curriculum here in BC so he looked at me he was quiet for a moment and he said so
he was quiet for a moment and he said so
he was quiet for a moment and he said so if I’m hearing you right you’re gonna
if I’m hearing you right you’re gonna
if I’m hearing you right you’re gonna take this group of students you have
take this group of students you have
take this group of students you have you’re gonna get to know them and then
you’re gonna get to know them and then
you’re gonna get to know them and then you’re gonna fit this prescribed
you’re gonna fit this prescribed
you’re gonna fit this prescribed curriculum to your students exactly
curriculum to your students exactly
curriculum to your students exactly simple right to his credit with a few
simple right to his credit with a few
simple right to his credit with a few stipulations he gave me the green light
stipulations he gave me the green light
stipulations he gave me the green light the week before school I still pretended
the week before school I still pretended
the week before school I still pretended to be busy
to be busy
to be busy I hung borders put up bulletin boards
I hung borders put up bulletin boards
I hung borders put up bulletin boards arranged desks put him in groups of two
arranged desks put him in groups of two
arranged desks put him in groups of two groups of three groups of four back to
groups of three groups of four back to
groups of three groups of four back to groups of two again but really if I
groups of two again but really if I
groups of two again but really if I believed in this new idea
believed in this new idea
believed in this new idea I couldn’t plan much past day one day
I couldn’t plan much past day one day
I couldn’t plan much past day one day one was a disaster a complete and total
one was a disaster a complete and total
one was a disaster a complete and total failure I did all the community building
failure I did all the community building
failure I did all the community building get to know you that’s all feel good
get to know you that’s all feel good
get to know you that’s all feel good about school after summer break
about school after summer break
about school after summer break activities but I was just waiting for
activities but I was just waiting for
activities but I was just waiting for the moment that moment where I could
the moment that moment where I could
the moment that moment where I could stand in front of my students and write
stand in front of my students and write
stand in front of my students and write on the board what do you want to learn
on the board what do you want to learn
on the board what do you want to learn this year silence and then it’s middle
this year silence and then it’s middle
this year silence and then it’s middle school so a few sarcastic comments from
school so a few sarcastic comments from
school so a few sarcastic comments from some of the boys in the back in that
some of the boys in the back in that
some of the boys in the back in that moment I realized that they didn’t
moment I realized that they didn’t
moment I realized that they didn’t believe that I actually cared about what
believe that I actually cared about what
believe that I actually cared about what they wanted to learn by eighth grade the
they wanted to learn by eighth grade the
they wanted to learn by eighth grade the system had taught them that what they
system had taught them that what they
system had taught them that what they wanted to learn wasn’t important or part
wanted to learn wasn’t important or part
wanted to learn wasn’t important or part of education and it was in that crisis
of education and it was in that crisis
of education and it was in that crisis that I created two guidelines that keep
that I created two guidelines that keep
that I created two guidelines that keep me going when things don’t go well the
me going when things don’t go well the
me going when things don’t go well the first is if you thought it was a good
first is if you thought it was a good
first is if you thought it was a good idea don’t quit what does that teach
idea don’t quit what does that teach
idea don’t quit what does that teach students and more importantly if you’ve
students and more importantly if you’ve
students and more importantly if you’ve done your research you’ve come up with a
done your research you’ve come up with a
done your research you’ve come up with a great idea and it’s start both starts
great idea and it’s start both starts
great idea and it’s start both starts going sour your job becomes figuring out
going sour your job becomes figuring out
going sour your job becomes figuring out what details you missed that turned a
what details you missed that turned a
what details you missed that turned a good idea sour they’re not perfect but
good idea sour they’re not perfect but
good idea sour they’re not perfect but giving up is easy it’s following through
giving up is easy it’s following through
giving up is easy it’s following through this difficult it took three weeks three
this difficult it took three weeks three
this difficult it took three weeks three weeks of me feeling lost like a
weeks of me feeling lost like a
weeks of me feeling lost like a rudderless ship on the high seas three
rudderless ship on the high seas three
rudderless ship on the high seas three weeks of students going home and saying
weeks of students going home and saying
weeks of students going home and saying mr. speak sment know what to teach us so
mr. speak sment know what to teach us so
mr. speak sment know what to teach us so he’s letting us decide and even better
he’s letting us decide and even better
he’s letting us decide and even better we get to decide whatever we want to
we get to decide whatever we want to
we get to decide whatever we want to learn I was just lucky that we were in a
learn I was just lucky that we were in a
learn I was just lucky that we were in a community where parents were highly
community where parents were highly
community where parents were highly supportive and moms came in asking
supportive and moms came in asking
supportive and moms came in asking gentle questions rather than demanding
gentle questions rather than demanding
gentle questions rather than demanding change now and dad said come fishing
change now and dad said come fishing
change now and dad said come fishing with me on the riverbank
with me on the riverbank
with me on the riverbank I wanted to have a conversation about
I wanted to have a conversation about
I wanted to have a conversation about what was going on in the classroom
what was going on in the classroom
what was going on in the classroom rational conversations between caring
rational conversations between caring
rational conversations between caring people
people
people led to meaningful understanding and it
led to meaningful understanding and it
led to meaningful understanding and it was a conversation with colleagues in
was a conversation with colleagues in
was a conversation with colleagues in week two that changed my trajectory and
week two that changed my trajectory and
week two that changed my trajectory and brought learning to a whole new level by
brought learning to a whole new level by
brought learning to a whole new level by the end of September I had realized that
the end of September I had realized that
the end of September I had realized that I had started the year with the wrong
I had started the year with the wrong
I had started the year with the wrong question I should have started the year
question I should have started the year
question I should have started the year with two questions one what do you care
with two questions one what do you care
with two questions one what do you care deeply about and two what concerns you
deeply about and two what concerns you
deeply about and two what concerns you most in the world experience has taught
most in the world experience has taught
most in the world experience has taught me that those two questions lead to
me that those two questions lead to
me that those two questions lead to deeper learning in a way that what do
deeper learning in a way that what do
deeper learning in a way that what do you want to learn this year never will
it was near the beginning of October
it was near the beginning of October that we had a plan
that we had a plan
that we had a plan two hundred ideas distilled into five
two hundred ideas distilled into five
two hundred ideas distilled into five questions and it became my job to figure
questions and it became my job to figure
questions and it became my job to figure out to synthesize the information the
out to synthesize the information the
out to synthesize the information the interest with the ministry expectations
interest with the ministry expectations
interest with the ministry expectations so that was a long Thanksgiving weekend
so that was a long Thanksgiving weekend
so that was a long Thanksgiving weekend both for me and my family because the
both for me and my family because the
both for me and my family because the first times all was the hardest and it
first times all was the hardest and it
first times all was the hardest and it took me an entire weekend to put all the
took me an entire weekend to put all the
took me an entire weekend to put all the pieces together in a way that could
pieces together in a way that could
pieces together in a way that could prove but I was actually a professional
prove but I was actually a professional
prove but I was actually a professional and could pull this off the questions
and could pull this off the questions
and could pull this off the questions that the students came up with in that
that the students came up with in that
that the students came up with in that first year why is there war what should
first year why is there war what should
first year why is there war what should I be when I grow up how can we save the
I be when I grow up how can we save the
I be when I grow up how can we save the planet is aquaculture going to destroy
planet is aquaculture going to destroy
planet is aquaculture going to destroy the Skeena River salmon fishery and why
the Skeena River salmon fishery and why
the Skeena River salmon fishery and why are there homeless my job as a teacher
are there homeless my job as a teacher
are there homeless my job as a teacher became to first help the students
became to first help the students
became to first help the students understand what they were asking but
understand what they were asking but
understand what they were asking but more importantly give them an
more importantly give them an
more importantly give them an opportunity to meaningfully respond in
opportunity to meaningfully respond in
opportunity to meaningfully respond in their learning when you plan curriculum
their learning when you plan curriculum
their learning when you plan curriculum with your students everything changes
with your students everything changes
with your students everything changes inviting students into the minutiae of
inviting students into the minutiae of
inviting students into the minutiae of school and classroom why not criteria
school and classroom why not criteria
school and classroom why not criteria lists rubric instructions seating
lists rubric instructions seating
lists rubric instructions seating arrangements even scheduling what do you
arrangements even scheduling what do you
arrangements even scheduling what do you want to work on when why of course when
want to work on when why of course when
want to work on when why of course when you’ve invited students into the
you’ve invited students into the
you’ve invited students into the foundation of their learning it makes
foundation of their learning it makes
foundation of their learning it makes sense to have them involved in every
sense to have them involved in every
sense to have them involved in every other aspect though it felt
other aspect though it felt
other aspect though it felt revolutionary
revolutionary
revolutionary school actually looked fairly similar
school actually looked fairly similar
school actually looked fairly similar that first year student still went to
that first year student still went to
that first year student still went to math but statistics looks different when
math but statistics looks different when
math but statistics looks different when you’re preparing for a presentation for
you’re preparing for a presentation for
you’re preparing for a presentation for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
the Department of Fisheries and Oceans student still went to music and to
student still went to music and to
student still went to music and to French and it still appeared the same
French and it still appeared the same
French and it still appeared the same but it was different students no longer
but it was different students no longer
but it was different students no longer asked why are we learning this they knew
asked why are we learning this they knew
asked why are we learning this they knew I gained a few key takeaways about
I gained a few key takeaways about
I gained a few key takeaways about students over that first year students
students over that first year students
students over that first year students care deeply about their future and their
care deeply about their future and their
care deeply about their future and their world and they’re willing to work hard
world and they’re willing to work hard
world and they’re willing to work hard to improve both if you invest in
to improve both if you invest in
to improve both if you invest in students students will invest back in
students students will invest back in
students students will invest back in you respect is earned and students will
you respect is earned and students will
you respect is earned and students will even eighth graders will work long hard
even eighth graders will work long hard
even eighth graders will work long hard and focused hours if they see its
and focused hours if they see its
and focused hours if they see its purpose school is about learning it’s
purpose school is about learning it’s
purpose school is about learning it’s not about grades it’s not even about
not about grades it’s not even about
not about grades it’s not even about outcomes school is about students
outcomes school is about students
outcomes school is about students learning knowledge skills abilities and
learning knowledge skills abilities and
learning knowledge skills abilities and attitudes it’s about learning these
attitudes it’s about learning these
attitudes it’s about learning these things so that they can improve their
things so that they can improve their
things so that they can improve their life and the lives of others both now
life and the lives of others both now
life and the lives of others both now and for future generations if we want
and for future generations if we want
and for future generations if we want school to do that students need to be
school to do that students need to be
school to do that students need to be able to make meaningful value-laden
able to make meaningful value-laden
able to make meaningful value-laden choices in their education they need to
choices in their education they need to
choices in their education they need to be able to turn that into action and
be able to turn that into action and
be able to turn that into action and experience for this group of students
experience for this group of students
experience for this group of students this first year they took conflict
this first year they took conflict
this first year they took conflict resolution to a younger class that no
resolution to a younger class that no
resolution to a younger class that no matter what the teachers did they just
matter what the teachers did they just
matter what the teachers did they just could not get along on the playground
could not get along on the playground
could not get along on the playground they made presentations to the
they made presentations to the
they made presentations to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and
Department of Fisheries and Oceans and
Department of Fisheries and Oceans and an aquaculture company about their
an aquaculture company about their
an aquaculture company about their concerns and they prepared and served
concerns and they prepared and served
concerns and they prepared and served hot meals and hot drinks to homeless for
hot meals and hot drinks to homeless for
hot meals and hot drinks to homeless for me as the teacher I got to revel in my
me as the teacher I got to revel in my
me as the teacher I got to revel in my students and their learning teaching can
students and their learning teaching can
students and their learning teaching can be so many things for me it’s equipping
be so many things for me it’s equipping
be so many things for me it’s equipping students and then getting out of the way
students and then getting out of the way
students and then getting out of the way so they can be involved in as many
so they can be involved in as many
so they can be involved in as many aspects of education and learning as
aspects of education and learning as
aspects of education and learning as possible
possible
possible even planning their own curriculum from
even planning their own curriculum from
even planning their own curriculum from teacher to administrator from classroom
teacher to administrator from classroom
teacher to administrator from classroom to school collaborative year planning
to school collaborative year planning
to school collaborative year planning continues to shape schools here in BC
continues to shape schools here in BC
continues to shape schools here in BC what a teachers find when they get
what a teachers find when they get
what a teachers find when they get involved in a project like this they
involved in a project like this they
involved in a project like this they find they don’t want to go back they
find they don’t want to go back they
find they don’t want to go back they don’t want to go back to being silos of
don’t want to go back to being silos of
don’t want to go back to being silos of specialty with a closed door
specialty with a closed door
specialty with a closed door leave me alone and let me do my job they
leave me alone and let me do my job they
leave me alone and let me do my job they want to stay collaborative co-creators
want to stay collaborative co-creators
want to stay collaborative co-creators of innovation growth and change for
of innovation growth and change for
of innovation growth and change for learning for students what students find
learning for students what students find
learning for students what students find isn’t quite as good as students
isn’t quite as good as students
isn’t quite as good as students transition to a more traditional
transition to a more traditional
transition to a more traditional classroom they find themselves feeling
classroom they find themselves feeling
classroom they find themselves feeling disrespected but many find their voice
disrespected but many find their voice
disrespected but many find their voice they realize that they can advocate for
they realize that they can advocate for
they realize that they can advocate for themselves and for their needs and
themselves and for their needs and
themselves and for their needs and interests in their learning the strong
interests in their learning the strong
interests in their learning the strong realize that if they orient their
realize that if they orient their
realize that if they orient their learning around the concerns that they
learning around the concerns that they
learning around the concerns that they have for the world that they can become
have for the world that they can become
have for the world that they can become lifelong learners both in school and
lifelong learners both in school and
lifelong learners both in school and outside of school and the Willing
outside of school and the Willing
outside of school and the Willing realize that if they orient their
realize that if they orient their
realize that if they orient their learning towards other people and the
learning towards other people and the
learning towards other people and the concerns they have about the world
concerns they have about the world
concerns they have about the world there’s desire and passion can bring
there’s desire and passion can bring
there’s desire and passion can bring meaning to their life thank you very
meaning to their life thank you very
meaning to their life thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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