you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so this is a picture of my daughter’s
so this is a picture of my daughter’s
so this is a picture of my daughter’s shoes at first glance nothing special
shoes at first glance nothing special
shoes at first glance nothing special here but look closely and you will see
here but look closely and you will see
here but look closely and you will see that my daughter’s are wearing
that my daughter’s are wearing
that my daughter’s are wearing mismatched pairs of shoes on purpose
mismatched pairs of shoes on purpose
mismatched pairs of shoes on purpose without any warning – they’re now
without any warning – they’re now
without any warning – they’re now slightly embarrassed parents at the time
slightly embarrassed parents at the time
slightly embarrassed parents at the time my husband and I exchanges of course
my husband and I exchanges of course
my husband and I exchanges of course they did this look and casually captured
they did this look and casually captured
they did this look and casually captured the moments but this image has come to
the moments but this image has come to
the moments but this image has come to symbolize my evolution as an educator
symbolize my evolution as an educator
symbolize my evolution as an educator why shouldn’t my kids be allowed to wear
why shouldn’t my kids be allowed to wear
why shouldn’t my kids be allowed to wear mismatched pairs of shoes why shouldn’t
mismatched pairs of shoes why shouldn’t
mismatched pairs of shoes why shouldn’t they have a choice in their own footwear
they have a choice in their own footwear
they have a choice in their own footwear and apparel and as I look back at this
and apparel and as I look back at this
and apparel and as I look back at this image I’m reminded that kids should have
image I’m reminded that kids should have
image I’m reminded that kids should have a choice and that is what self-directed
a choice and that is what self-directed
a choice and that is what self-directed learning is a voice and a choice so I
learning is a voice and a choice so I
learning is a voice and a choice so I always knew I wanted to be a teacher
always knew I wanted to be a teacher
always knew I wanted to be a teacher when I drew this picture around 2nd
when I drew this picture around 2nd
when I drew this picture around 2nd grader so I said I wanted to be a
grader so I said I wanted to be a
grader so I said I wanted to be a teacher because kids are nice not
teacher because kids are nice not
teacher because kids are nice not because I wanted to teach them all about
because I wanted to teach them all about
because I wanted to teach them all about Gerrans comma splices and rhetorical
Gerrans comma splices and rhetorical
Gerrans comma splices and rhetorical devices but because I liked kids I like
devices but because I liked kids I like
devices but because I liked kids I like to teaching and even then i liked
to teaching and even then i liked
to teaching and even then i liked learning this picture still hangs on my
learning this picture still hangs on my
learning this picture still hangs on my refrigerator as a reminder my job as an
refrigerator as a reminder my job as an
refrigerator as a reminder my job as an educator is not to ensure my students
educator is not to ensure my students
educator is not to ensure my students can name all the important characters in
can name all the important characters in
can name all the important characters in crucible but to ensure my students walk
crucible but to ensure my students walk
crucible but to ensure my students walk away from my class with a feeling of
away from my class with a feeling of
away from my class with a feeling of being lights of being challenged of
being lights of being challenged of
being lights of being challenged of being respected but most importantly I
being respected but most importantly I
being respected but most importantly I believe students should have a voice in
believe students should have a voice in
believe students should have a voice in their own education so I ask you this if
their own education so I ask you this if
their own education so I ask you this if you could learn anything
you could learn anything
you could learn anything what would you learn and if you’re an
what would you learn and if you’re an
what would you learn and if you’re an adult remember what it was like to go to
adult remember what it was like to go to
adult remember what it was like to go to school and attend class after class and
school and attend class after class and
school and attend class after class and if you’re a student consider the
if you’re a student consider the
if you’re a student consider the possibility that you could learn
possibility that you could learn
possibility that you could learn whatever you choose what would you do
whatever you choose what would you do
whatever you choose what would you do I started teaching at the ripe old age
I started teaching at the ripe old age
I started teaching at the ripe old age of 22 my students were 17 it was truly a
of 22 my students were 17 it was truly a
of 22 my students were 17 it was truly a classic case of faking it til you make
classic case of faking it til you make
classic case of faking it til you make it
it
it I told him I had to teaching for five
I told him I had to teaching for five
I told him I had to teaching for five years or so and was closing in on 35 but
years or so and was closing in on 35 but
years or so and was closing in on 35 but actually I was often mistaken as a
actually I was often mistaken as a
actually I was often mistaken as a student when I walked into the high
student when I walked into the high
student when I walked into the high school office I was teaching at a large
school office I was teaching at a large
school office I was teaching at a large and successful public school in South
and successful public school in South
and successful public school in South Florida it was the height of the
Florida it was the height of the
Florida it was the height of the standardized testing craze so I was
standardized testing craze so I was
standardized testing craze so I was asked to teach basic reading and writing
asked to teach basic reading and writing
asked to teach basic reading and writing skills
skills
skills day after day worksheet after worksheet
day after day worksheet after worksheet
day after day worksheet after worksheet I was really bored my students were
I was really bored my students were
I was really bored my students were really bored I just wanted to talk to
really bored I just wanted to talk to
really bored I just wanted to talk to them about books but my students really
them about books but my students really
them about books but my students really just wanted to talk about their weekends
just wanted to talk about their weekends
just wanted to talk about their weekends so at the end of my first school year I
so at the end of my first school year I
so at the end of my first school year I asked my students to choose a
asked my students to choose a
asked my students to choose a contemporary young adult novel without
contemporary young adult novel without
contemporary young adult novel without any sort of online study guides and I
any sort of online study guides and I
any sort of online study guides and I watched in awe as they meaningfully
watched in awe as they meaningfully
watched in awe as they meaningfully engage in discussion about their chosen
engage in discussion about their chosen
engage in discussion about their chosen books and when I would check in with him
books and when I would check in with him
books and when I would check in with him they would excitedly reveal the latest
they would excitedly reveal the latest
they would excitedly reveal the latest plot developments they really liked it
plot developments they really liked it
plot developments they really liked it and that’s when I first became hooked on
and that’s when I first became hooked on
and that’s when I first became hooked on student choice after about three years
student choice after about three years
student choice after about three years in Florida I heard of international
in Florida I heard of international
in Florida I heard of international education so I took a job in Korea at a
education so I took a job in Korea at a
education so I took a job in Korea at a school that promised hiking and social
school that promised hiking and social
school that promised hiking and social events on the weekends I was young I was
events on the weekends I was young I was
events on the weekends I was young I was excited for a new challenge
excited for a new challenge
excited for a new challenge I was given a brand-new MacBook Pro for
I was given a brand-new MacBook Pro for
I was given a brand-new MacBook Pro for the first time and a team of seasoned
the first time and a team of seasoned
the first time and a team of seasoned educators taught me about formative and
educators taught me about formative and
educators taught me about formative and summative assessments and I was
summative assessments and I was
summative assessments and I was introduced to projects fun projects like
introduced to projects fun projects like
introduced to projects fun projects like book and movie trailers songs from
book and movie trailers songs from
book and movie trailers songs from GarageBand of podcasts and as I worked
GarageBand of podcasts and as I worked
GarageBand of podcasts and as I worked with my students
with my students
with my students I still felt like I wasn’t giving them
I still felt like I wasn’t giving them
I still felt like I wasn’t giving them enough choice and even though I learned
enough choice and even though I learned
enough choice and even though I learned a lot in those four years in Korea I
a lot in those four years in Korea I
a lot in those four years in Korea I still felt like I was dictating the
still felt like I was dictating the
still felt like I was dictating the curriculum I still liked I still felt
curriculum I still liked I still felt
curriculum I still liked I still felt like I was telling my students what they
like I was telling my students what they
like I was telling my students what they had to learn with little choice in the
had to learn with little choice in the
had to learn with little choice in the process so I’d like to tell you about an
process so I’d like to tell you about an
process so I’d like to tell you about an experiment that was conducted in 1999 by
experiment that was conducted in 1999 by
experiment that was conducted in 1999 by Sugata Mitra in Delhi his team connected
Sugata Mitra in Delhi his team connected
Sugata Mitra in Delhi his team connected 100 Internet connected pcs and local
100 Internet connected pcs and local
100 Internet connected pcs and local alleys for the kids to play with a
alleys for the kids to play with a
alleys for the kids to play with a hidden camera filmed everything they
hidden camera filmed everything they
hidden camera filmed everything they watched as these kids taught themselves
watched as these kids taught themselves
watched as these kids taught themselves how to use the computer without any help
how to use the computer without any help
how to use the computer without any help and then taught each other this became
and then taught each other this became
and then taught each other this became known as the hole-in-the-wall experiment
known as the hole-in-the-wall experiment
known as the hole-in-the-wall experiment but I like how meetcha refers to it as
but I like how meetcha refers to it as
but I like how meetcha refers to it as minimally invasive education what this
minimally invasive education what this
minimally invasive education what this experiment taught us is that we already
experiment taught us is that we already
experiment taught us is that we already know how to learn we are already
know how to learn we are already
know how to learn we are already naturally curious individuals Quincy
naturally curious individuals Quincy
naturally curious individuals Quincy Churchill said I’m always ready to learn
Churchill said I’m always ready to learn
Churchill said I’m always ready to learn but I do not always like to be taught I
but I do not always like to be taught I
but I do not always like to be taught I really like this quote because
really like this quote because
really like this quote because ironically enough as a teacher it pretty
ironically enough as a teacher it pretty
ironically enough as a teacher it pretty much sums up my personality and probably
much sums up my personality and probably
much sums up my personality and probably a lot of the students I’ve taught over
a lot of the students I’ve taught over
a lot of the students I’ve taught over the years you see I do love to learn I’m
the years you see I do love to learn I’m
the years you see I do love to learn I’m a voracious learner but when you tell me
a voracious learner but when you tell me
a voracious learner but when you tell me that I have to learn something I’m not
that I have to learn something I’m not
that I have to learn something I’m not quite as interested anymore and I wonder
quite as interested anymore and I wonder
quite as interested anymore and I wonder if as an adult as a teacher I feel this
if as an adult as a teacher I feel this
if as an adult as a teacher I feel this way do my students feel this way as well
way do my students feel this way as well
way do my students feel this way as well so now I’m going to say the cliche I
so now I’m going to say the cliche I
so now I’m going to say the cliche I became a mom and it changed my life I
became a mom and it changed my life I
became a mom and it changed my life I was truly terrified I knew nothing about
was truly terrified I knew nothing about
was truly terrified I knew nothing about babies my husband and I were completely
babies my husband and I were completely
babies my husband and I were completely overwhelmed and decided we needed some
overwhelmed and decided we needed some
overwhelmed and decided we needed some help we moved back to the US to be
help we moved back to the US to be
help we moved back to the US to be closer to family and decide
closer to family and decide
closer to family and decide I would stay home and I would take a
I would stay home and I would take a
I would stay home and I would take a break from teaching not knowing that how
break from teaching not knowing that how
break from teaching not knowing that how much Parenthood would change my
much Parenthood would change my
much Parenthood would change my educational beliefs
educational beliefs
educational beliefs Janet Gonzalez Mina says the moment I
Janet Gonzalez Mina says the moment I
Janet Gonzalez Mina says the moment I decided to follow instead of leaves I
decided to follow instead of leaves I
decided to follow instead of leaves I discovered the joys of becoming a part
discovered the joys of becoming a part
discovered the joys of becoming a part of a small child’s world you see I
of a small child’s world you see I
of a small child’s world you see I watched as my daughter taught herself
watched as my daughter taught herself
watched as my daughter taught herself everything she needed to know how to do
everything she needed to know how to do
everything she needed to know how to do how to roll over how to crawl how to
how to roll over how to crawl how to
how to roll over how to crawl how to stand how to walk how to talk and with
stand how to walk how to talk and with
stand how to walk how to talk and with the talking as with so many kids change
the talking as with so many kids change
the talking as with so many kids change the questions hey mom how did Rockets
the questions hey mom how did Rockets
the questions hey mom how did Rockets get to space hey mom
get to space hey mom
get to space hey mom what is what is her skin made of hey mom
what is what is her skin made of hey mom
what is what is her skin made of hey mom where where do babies really come from
where where do babies really come from
where where do babies really come from and boo-boo became my new best friend I
and boo-boo became my new best friend I
and boo-boo became my new best friend I learned right along with her and now my
learned right along with her and now my
learned right along with her and now my youngest daughter as we explored their
youngest daughter as we explored their
youngest daughter as we explored their questions
questions
questions you see I followed them on their
you see I followed them on their
you see I followed them on their learning journeys I stayed home with my
learning journeys I stayed home with my
learning journeys I stayed home with my daughter’s for three years and this is
daughter’s for three years and this is
daughter’s for three years and this is what I learned by watching
what I learned by watching
what I learned by watching we truly learned what we want to learn
we truly learned what we want to learn
we truly learned what we want to learn it can’t be forced and it can’t be
it can’t be forced and it can’t be
it can’t be forced and it can’t be dictated our job is people as educators
dictated our job is people as educators
dictated our job is people as educators is to provide the opportunities for
is to provide the opportunities for
is to provide the opportunities for students to take responsibility for
students to take responsibility for
students to take responsibility for their own learning to become
their own learning to become
their own learning to become self-directed learners just like you and
self-directed learners just like you and
self-directed learners just like you and me so I ask you again
me so I ask you again
me so I ask you again if you could learn anything what would
if you could learn anything what would
if you could learn anything what would you learn and imagine walking into a
you learn and imagine walking into a
you learn and imagine walking into a building where you have the time to
building where you have the time to
building where you have the time to learn whatever you choose no course
learn whatever you choose no course
learn whatever you choose no course schedule no textbooks no expectations
schedule no textbooks no expectations
schedule no textbooks no expectations well what would you do
I would like to take a couple of minutes
I would like to take a couple of minutes and talk to you about two alternative
and talk to you about two alternative
and talk to you about two alternative models of Education in Montessori
models of Education in Montessori
models of Education in Montessori schools students progress at their own
schools students progress at their own
schools students progress at their own pace using hands-on tactile materials
pace using hands-on tactile materials
pace using hands-on tactile materials designed to provide immediate feedback
designed to provide immediate feedback
designed to provide immediate feedback with little influence from the teacher
with little influence from the teacher
with little influence from the teacher they are given time plenty of time to
they are given time plenty of time to
they are given time plenty of time to follow their interests and explore the
follow their interests and explore the
follow their interests and explore the materials in the classroom that most
materials in the classroom that most
materials in the classroom that most engage them they follow their curiosity
engage them they follow their curiosity
engage them they follow their curiosity and explore at their own pace and you
and explore at their own pace and you
and explore at their own pace and you might recognize some of these former
might recognize some of these former
might recognize some of these former Montessori ins the founders of Google
Montessori ins the founders of Google
Montessori ins the founders of Google Larry Page Sergey Brin and Frank Julia
Larry Page Sergey Brin and Frank Julia
Larry Page Sergey Brin and Frank Julia Child’s and even the founder of
Child’s and even the founder of
Child’s and even the founder of amazon.com Jeff Bezos in democratic
amazon.com Jeff Bezos in democratic
amazon.com Jeff Bezos in democratic schools such as the son Barry smiles
schools such as the son Barry smiles
schools such as the son Barry smiles students have total free rein over what
students have total free rein over what
students have total free rein over what they learn how they learn and how they
they learn how they learn and how they
they learn how they learn and how they show their learning you see in Sudbury
show their learning you see in Sudbury
show their learning you see in Sudbury schools students are not grouped
schools students are not grouped
schools students are not grouped according to age of grade they are not
according to age of grade they are not
according to age of grade they are not formally assessed they are not asked to
formally assessed they are not asked to
formally assessed they are not asked to learn information that is not meaningful
learn information that is not meaningful
learn information that is not meaningful to them in a study of Sudbury graduates
to them in a study of Sudbury graduates
to them in a study of Sudbury graduates 42 percent go on to become entrepreneurs
42 percent go on to become entrepreneurs
42 percent go on to become entrepreneurs and a high number of students go on to
and a high number of students go on to
and a high number of students go on to pursue careers in the arts and there is
pursue careers in the arts and there is
pursue careers in the arts and there is much research to be done regarding
much research to be done regarding
much research to be done regarding alternate methods of schooling but the
alternate methods of schooling but the
alternate methods of schooling but the principle remains the same students do
principle remains the same students do
principle remains the same students do want to learn when they have that choice
want to learn when they have that choice
want to learn when they have that choice so back to my educational journey when I
so back to my educational journey when I
so back to my educational journey when I went back to teaching I took a job as a
went back to teaching I took a job as a
went back to teaching I took a job as a virtual teacher teaching 12th grade
virtual teacher teaching 12th grade
virtual teacher teaching 12th grade English online and as some of you might
English online and as some of you might
English online and as some of you might know with virtual schools the curriculum
know with virtual schools the curriculum
know with virtual schools the curriculum is already in place so students are able
is already in place so students are able
is already in place so students are able to learn at their own pace for the first
to learn at their own pace for the first
to learn at their own pace for the first time I was able to take a step back and
time I was able to take a step back and
time I was able to take a step back and watch instead of lesson planning I was
watch instead of lesson planning I was
watch instead of lesson planning I was facilitating and when a student had a
facilitating and when a student had a
facilitating and when a student had a question that’s when I would step in
question that’s when I would step in
question that’s when I would step in phone call or a meet in a virtual
phone call or a meet in a virtual
phone call or a meet in a virtual classroom it was the most fulfilling job
classroom it was the most fulfilling job
classroom it was the most fulfilling job I’ve ever had I was able to work with
I’ve ever had I was able to work with
I’ve ever had I was able to work with students all across the US to
students all across the US to
students all across the US to personalize their learning I became even
personalize their learning I became even
personalize their learning I became even more convinced that what education truly
more convinced that what education truly
more convinced that what education truly needs are more guides and more coaches
needs are more guides and more coaches
needs are more guides and more coaches to help individualize instruction so now
to help individualize instruction so now
to help individualize instruction so now here I am ten years into teaching five
here I am ten years into teaching five
here I am ten years into teaching five years into parenting and my educational
years into parenting and my educational
years into parenting and my educational beliefs have been turned upside down
beliefs have been turned upside down
beliefs have been turned upside down fortunately I now work at a school that
fortunately I now work at a school that
fortunately I now work at a school that does value student feedback and student
does value student feedback and student
does value student feedback and student reflection and I’m not saying that just
reflection and I’m not saying that just
reflection and I’m not saying that just because I work here as I work with my
because I work here as I work with my
because I work here as I work with my colleagues on planning units and
colleagues on planning units and
colleagues on planning units and assessments we do ask how can the
assessments we do ask how can the
assessments we do ask how can the students contribute what do they get to
students contribute what do they get to
students contribute what do they get to choose and as we give them more choice
choose and as we give them more choice
choose and as we give them more choice in the books they read the themes they
in the books they read the themes they
in the books they read the themes they explore and the questions they ask
explore and the questions they ask
explore and the questions they ask I do see a difference because I do
I do see a difference because I do
I do see a difference because I do believe students want to learn they just
believe students want to learn they just
believe students want to learn they just want to have a part in that process and
want to have a part in that process and
want to have a part in that process and just this past week I had the
just this past week I had the
just this past week I had the opportunity to watch my own students
opportunity to watch my own students
opportunity to watch my own students deliver their own talks to answer the
deliver their own talks to answer the
deliver their own talks to answer the question what matters to you I can’t
question what matters to you I can’t
question what matters to you I can’t even tell you how amazing of an
even tell you how amazing of an
even tell you how amazing of an experience it was to watch my students
experience it was to watch my students
experience it was to watch my students share their own original ideas that they
share their own original ideas that they
share their own original ideas that they chose it was the best assignment I’ve
chose it was the best assignment I’ve
chose it was the best assignment I’ve ever given and I told them so the power
ever given and I told them so the power
ever given and I told them so the power and being able to choose Benjamin
and being able to choose Benjamin
and being able to choose Benjamin Franklin said tell me and I forget teach
Franklin said tell me and I forget teach
Franklin said tell me and I forget teach me and I remember involve me and I
me and I remember involve me and I
me and I remember involve me and I learned we can certainly create
learned we can certainly create
learned we can certainly create environments for student learning and we
environments for student learning and we
environments for student learning and we do with engaging materials and best
do with engaging materials and best
do with engaging materials and best practices in the classroom but the
practices in the classroom but the
practices in the classroom but the bottom line is that students will be
bottom line is that students will be
bottom line is that students will be more motivated if they have that voice
more motivated if they have that voice
more motivated if they have that voice in the process so let’s let them choose
in the process so let’s let them choose
in the process so let’s let them choose what to read what to write what to ask
what to read what to write what to ask
what to read what to write what to ask let’s let them decide so what can we do
let’s let them decide so what can we do
let’s let them decide so what can we do how can we incorporate self-directed
how can we incorporate self-directed
how can we incorporate self-directed learning into our
learning into our
learning into our schools it takes the community to
schools it takes the community to
schools it takes the community to educate a child and we can all play our
educate a child and we can all play our
educate a child and we can all play our part so educators let’s ask our students
part so educators let’s ask our students
part so educators let’s ask our students to pose the questions let’s ask them to
to pose the questions let’s ask them to
to pose the questions let’s ask them to follow their interests to create your
follow their interests to create your
follow their interests to create your own learning plan and decide how to
own learning plan and decide how to
own learning plan and decide how to authentically present their ideas let’s
authentically present their ideas let’s
authentically present their ideas let’s ask them to solve real problems address
ask them to solve real problems address
ask them to solve real problems address real issues and provide real solutions
real issues and provide real solutions
real issues and provide real solutions because that is what education is after
because that is what education is after
because that is what education is after all is not learning what everybody else
all is not learning what everybody else
all is not learning what everybody else wants us to learn it is knowing how to
wants us to learn it is knowing how to
wants us to learn it is knowing how to learn how to find the answers to our
learn how to find the answers to our
learn how to find the answers to our questions and students I challenge you
questions and students I challenge you
questions and students I challenge you to be bold be brave take responsibility
to be bold be brave take responsibility
to be bold be brave take responsibility for your life and your mind learn as
for your life and your mind learn as
for your life and your mind learn as much as you can I know that grades will
much as you can I know that grades will
much as you can I know that grades will give you opportunities but they do not
give you opportunities but they do not
give you opportunities but they do not define you you are not a letter or a
define you you are not a letter or a
define you you are not a letter or a number and parents let’s trust our
number and parents let’s trust our
number and parents let’s trust our children let’s take a step back and
children let’s take a step back and
children let’s take a step back and watch and talk to them about what
watch and talk to them about what
watch and talk to them about what interests them and it may not always be
interests them and it may not always be
interests them and it may not always be what we want it to be and their idea
what we want it to be and their idea
what we want it to be and their idea success might be different from ours but
success might be different from ours but
success might be different from ours but the beauty of our world is that everyone
the beauty of our world is that everyone
the beauty of our world is that everyone has a place and everyone can contribute
has a place and everyone can contribute
has a place and everyone can contribute Mark Twain said I never let schooling
Mark Twain said I never let schooling
Mark Twain said I never let schooling interfere with my education because he
interfere with my education because he
interfere with my education because he knew the true goal of Education was
knew the true goal of Education was
knew the true goal of Education was knowing how to learn so let’s embrace
knowing how to learn so let’s embrace
knowing how to learn so let’s embrace that ideology and create a community
that ideology and create a community
that ideology and create a community where we learn and grow together my
where we learn and grow together my
where we learn and grow together my journey as an educator has led me to
journey as an educator has led me to
journey as an educator has led me to believe that students deserve a voice in
believe that students deserve a voice in
believe that students deserve a voice in their education so I ask you again if
their education so I ask you again if
their education so I ask you again if you could learn anything
you could learn anything
you could learn anything what would you learn thank you
”
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