[Applause] I believe this one sentence has the
I believe this one sentence has the
I believe this one sentence has the power to change the world I invite you
power to change the world I invite you
power to change the world I invite you to consider the possibilities an
to consider the possibilities an
to consider the possibilities an invitation can be that spark to ignite
invitation can be that spark to ignite
invitation can be that spark to ignite purposeful and positive change and today
purposeful and positive change and today
purposeful and positive change and today I’d like to share a story with you where
I’d like to share a story with you where
I’d like to share a story with you where I experienced this and encourage you to
I experienced this and encourage you to
I experienced this and encourage you to look for opportunities in your own life
look for opportunities in your own life
look for opportunities in your own life where an invitation just might be the
where an invitation just might be the
where an invitation just might be the start to a significant shift so I don’t
start to a significant shift so I don’t
start to a significant shift so I don’t know about you but I’m not a fan of
know about you but I’m not a fan of
know about you but I’m not a fan of being told what to do and I think that’s
being told what to do and I think that’s
being told what to do and I think that’s why the idea of an invitation resonates
why the idea of an invitation resonates
why the idea of an invitation resonates with me so strongly when I hear things
with me so strongly when I hear things
with me so strongly when I hear things like you should you can’t we can’t and
like you should you can’t we can’t and
like you should you can’t we can’t and my most dreaded it’s just the way it is
my most dreaded it’s just the way it is
my most dreaded it’s just the way it is we’ve always done it this way I
we’ve always done it this way I
we’ve always done it this way I literally feel a cringe inside my body
literally feel a cringe inside my body
literally feel a cringe inside my body and how does it feel when we’re given
and how does it feel when we’re given
and how does it feel when we’re given important information with no
important information with no
important information with no opportunity for discussion no questions
opportunity for discussion no questions
opportunity for discussion no questions it’s just the way it is how does that
it’s just the way it is how does that
it’s just the way it is how does that make us feel maybe a little bit shut
make us feel maybe a little bit shut
make us feel maybe a little bit shut down powerless not exactly a positive
down powerless not exactly a positive
down powerless not exactly a positive start when you’re trying to enroll
start when you’re trying to enroll
start when you’re trying to enroll someone in an idea or start a
someone in an idea or start a
someone in an idea or start a conversation towards meaningful change
conversation towards meaningful change
conversation towards meaningful change now let’s consider an invitation an
now let’s consider an invitation an
now let’s consider an invitation an invitation offers choice possibility and
invitation offers choice possibility and
invitation offers choice possibility and most importantly an invitation includes
most importantly an invitation includes
most importantly an invitation includes others and when we warmly welcome the
others and when we warmly welcome the
others and when we warmly welcome the thoughts feelings and experiences of
thoughts feelings and experiences of
thoughts feelings and experiences of others then we could move from
others then we could move from
others then we could move from possibility to doable – yeah this is
possibility to doable – yeah this is
possibility to doable – yeah this is happening change is happening so my
happening change is happening so my
happening change is happening so my story today comes from my grade 1
story today comes from my grade 1
story today comes from my grade 1 classroom in 2014 when I had the
classroom in 2014 when I had the
classroom in 2014 when I had the opportunity to meet a young boy named
opportunity to meet a young boy named
opportunity to meet a young boy named Hayden and his grandparents who were his
Hayden and his grandparents who were his
Hayden and his grandparents who were his new legal guardians and working with
new legal guardians and working with
new legal guardians and working with Hayden and his family touched my heart
Hayden and his family touched my heart
Hayden and his family touched my heart in a in a really profound way and it
in a in a really profound way and it
in a in a really profound way and it forever changed the way I look at not
forever changed the way I look at not
forever changed the way I look at not only teaching and learning but
only teaching and learning but
only teaching and learning but challenges so this is a young boy who
challenges so this is a young boy who
challenges so this is a young boy who was rescued and I do use that word
was rescued and I do use that word
was rescued and I do use that word purposely along with his two brothers
purposely along with his two brothers
purposely along with his two brothers from a life that no one here wants to
from a life that no one here wants to
from a life that no one here wants to imagine children live a life that no
imagine children live a life that no
imagine children live a life that no parent ever plans for their child but
parent ever plans for their child but
parent ever plans for their child but due to circumstances he and his two
due to circumstances he and his two
due to circumstances he and his two brothers were in need of a new
brothers were in need of a new
brothers were in need of a new safe home so his grandparents took in
safe home so his grandparents took in
safe home so his grandparents took in all three boys and moved them across the
all three boys and moved them across the
all three boys and moved them across the country so a pretty big changes for this
country so a pretty big changes for this
country so a pretty big changes for this family and I was working in a school at
family and I was working in a school at
family and I was working in a school at the time and I heard about this family
the time and I heard about this family
the time and I heard about this family well before I met them because typically
well before I met them because typically
well before I met them because typically when a child comes to a new school
when a child comes to a new school
when a child comes to a new school especially coming from a circumstance
especially coming from a circumstance
especially coming from a circumstance such as Hayden they would have a pretty
such as Hayden they would have a pretty
such as Hayden they would have a pretty thick file maybe some report cards maybe
thick file maybe some report cards maybe
thick file maybe some report cards maybe some assessments maybe even doctor notes
some assessments maybe even doctor notes
some assessments maybe even doctor notes but due to the sudden nature of the
but due to the sudden nature of the
but due to the sudden nature of the change and going across the country
change and going across the country
change and going across the country Hayden arrived with nothing just Hayden
Hayden arrived with nothing just Hayden
Hayden arrived with nothing just Hayden and so I had heard about this story and
and so I had heard about this story and
and so I had heard about this story and I was walking down the hallway one day
I was walking down the hallway one day
I was walking down the hallway one day and I heard a bit of a commotion and I
and I heard a bit of a commotion and I
and I heard a bit of a commotion and I came around the corner and I saw a
came around the corner and I saw a
came around the corner and I saw a little boy scrooch down visibly very
little boy scrooch down visibly very
little boy scrooch down visibly very upset crying and a lady standing next to
upset crying and a lady standing next to
upset crying and a lady standing next to him very patiently and I knew this must
him very patiently and I knew this must
him very patiently and I knew this must be Hayden so I walked up to him and I
be Hayden so I walked up to him and I
be Hayden so I walked up to him and I knelt down and we did some blowing out
knelt down and we did some blowing out
knelt down and we did some blowing out of imaginary birthday candles do you
of imaginary birthday candles do you
of imaginary birthday candles do you ever do that just to help calm your mind
ever do that just to help calm your mind
ever do that just to help calm your mind in your body and then we had a little
in your body and then we had a little
in your body and then we had a little chat while we’re down there doing that
chat while we’re down there doing that
chat while we’re down there doing that but actually the whole time in my head
but actually the whole time in my head
but actually the whole time in my head I’m thinking okay so what needs to
I’m thinking okay so what needs to
I’m thinking okay so what needs to happen here because the way we do it is
happen here because the way we do it is
happen here because the way we do it is not gonna work for this child he has a
not gonna work for this child he has a
not gonna work for this child he has a new opportunity and we have a
new opportunity and we have a
new opportunity and we have a responsibility to make that a successful
responsibility to make that a successful
responsibility to make that a successful one so in this instance I actually
one so in this instance I actually
one so in this instance I actually invited myself into the situation by
invited myself into the situation by
invited myself into the situation by putting up my hand and saying I will
putting up my hand and saying I will
putting up my hand and saying I will take him into my grade one classroom
take him into my grade one classroom
take him into my grade one classroom because typically you’re admitted to a
because typically you’re admitted to a
because typically you’re admitted to a school based on your age alone date of
school based on your age alone date of
school based on your age alone date of birth not a lot of wiggle room and his
birth not a lot of wiggle room and his
birth not a lot of wiggle room and his grandmother had been advocating strongly
grandmother had been advocating strongly
grandmother had been advocating strongly for him to go into grade one and
for him to go into grade one and
for him to go into grade one and experience the highly social and just a
experience the highly social and just a
experience the highly social and just a really rich play based learning that we
really rich play based learning that we
really rich play based learning that we have in a grade one classroom so she had
have in a grade one classroom so she had
have in a grade one classroom so she had been at the school advocating is there
been at the school advocating is there
been at the school advocating is there anything we can do how can we get him
anything we can do how can we get him
anything we can do how can we get him into grade 1 he deserves that
into grade 1 he deserves that
into grade 1 he deserves that opportunity but we have a problem
opportunity but we have a problem
opportunity but we have a problem because no know the way we do it is
because no know the way we do it is
because no know the way we do it is because of his age he goes into grade 2
because of his age he goes into grade 2
because of his age he goes into grade 2 so I meet him put my hand up no no I’ll
so I meet him put my hand up no no I’ll
so I meet him put my hand up no no I’ll take him but what was cool is I found
take him but what was cool is I found
take him but what was cool is I found myself in a conversation with a lot of
myself in a conversation with a lot of
myself in a conversation with a lot of different people myself
different people myself
different people myself uess grandmother the school principal
uess grandmother the school principal
uess grandmother the school principal someone from the district level and we
someone from the district level and we
someone from the district level and we were all working towards okay what could
were all working towards okay what could
were all working towards okay what could we do differently what might be possible
we do differently what might be possible
we do differently what might be possible and we moved from possibility to reality
and we moved from possibility to reality
and we moved from possibility to reality and thankfully he was welcomed into our
and thankfully he was welcomed into our
and thankfully he was welcomed into our grade one classroom even though he
grade one classroom even though he
grade one classroom even though he should have been in grade two so meet
should have been in grade two so meet
should have been in grade two so meet Hayden and I found myself up against our
Hayden and I found myself up against our
Hayden and I found myself up against our next challenge quite quickly because
next challenge quite quickly because
next challenge quite quickly because although there had been some in and out
although there had been some in and out
although there had been some in and out for Hayden it really was never stability
for Hayden it really was never stability
for Hayden it really was never stability for him so this truly was his first
for him so this truly was his first
for him so this truly was his first school experience so the first goal we
school experience so the first goal we
school experience so the first goal we had was going to be for him to either
had was going to be for him to either
had was going to be for him to either use or remember my name because I have
use or remember my name because I have
use or remember my name because I have many memories of maybe working with a
many memories of maybe working with a
many memories of maybe working with a small group of kids or writing something
small group of kids or writing something
small group of kids or writing something on the board and I would see this flurry
on the board and I would see this flurry
on the board and I would see this flurry of excitement like rushing towards me
of excitement like rushing towards me
of excitement like rushing towards me very unsettling yelling teacher teacher
very unsettling yelling teacher teacher
very unsettling yelling teacher teacher would be like waving something coming
would be like waving something coming
would be like waving something coming right into my space and I said okay Bert
right into my space and I said okay Bert
right into my space and I said okay Bert this is gonna take some baby steps like
this is gonna take some baby steps like
this is gonna take some baby steps like how am I gonna meet his needs but let’s
how am I gonna meet his needs but let’s
how am I gonna meet his needs but let’s not forget about the 21 other five and
not forget about the 21 other five and
not forget about the 21 other five and six year olds I have in my room because
six year olds I have in my room because
six year olds I have in my room because when Hayden comes with no paperwork he
when Hayden comes with no paperwork he
when Hayden comes with no paperwork he also comes with no additional supports
also comes with no additional supports
also comes with no additional supports so it’s it’s us and Hayden and a lot of
so it’s it’s us and Hayden and a lot of
so it’s it’s us and Hayden and a lot of diverse learning that we need to try to
diverse learning that we need to try to
diverse learning that we need to try to tend to so what I did know for certain
tend to so what I did know for certain
tend to so what I did know for certain is that a lot of the way we usually do
is that a lot of the way we usually do
is that a lot of the way we usually do things in school we’re definitely not
things in school we’re definitely not
things in school we’re definitely not going to work in this case in particular
going to work in this case in particular
going to work in this case in particular I saw no room for something like a
I saw no room for something like a
I saw no room for something like a traditional report card to communicate
traditional report card to communicate
traditional report card to communicate with Hayden’s parents a checklist type
with Hayden’s parents a checklist type
with Hayden’s parents a checklist type report that goes home a few times a year
report that goes home a few times a year
report that goes home a few times a year that was not going to be at all
that was not going to be at all
that was not going to be at all effective and it’s not that Hayden
effective and it’s not that Hayden
effective and it’s not that Hayden didn’t have a lot of learning to share I
didn’t have a lot of learning to share I
didn’t have a lot of learning to share I had tons to share he was learning
had tons to share he was learning
had tons to share he was learning something new every day so something
something new every day so something
something new every day so something that he did that just it was okay this
that he did that just it was okay this
that he did that just it was okay this is this picture is one of my favorite
is this picture is one of my favorite
is this picture is one of my favorite pictures of all time it’s a bridge yes
pictures of all time it’s a bridge yes
pictures of all time it’s a bridge yes and the reason I love this picture is
and the reason I love this picture is
and the reason I love this picture is because in grade one we have a lot of
because in grade one we have a lot of
because in grade one we have a lot of opportunity for creative play and we had
opportunity for creative play and we had
opportunity for creative play and we had all these buckets with stuff so we’d
all these buckets with stuff so we’d
all these buckets with stuff so we’d have like Lego
have like Lego
have like Lego we’d have little pieces of paper just
we’d have little pieces of paper just
we’d have little pieces of paper just buckets and secretly I my goal was
buckets and secretly I my goal was
buckets and secretly I my goal was always to see when will the kids start
always to see when will the kids start
always to see when will the kids start really getting into it and mix up the
really getting into it and mix up the
really getting into it and mix up the buckets like no one said you have to
buckets like no one said you have to
buckets like no one said you have to just take the paper and go and sit down
just take the paper and go and sit down
just take the paper and go and sit down and start gluing paper and no one said
and start gluing paper and no one said
and start gluing paper and no one said you have to take the Lego and just sit
you have to take the Lego and just sit
you have to take the Lego and just sit down and play with Lego and I was
down and play with Lego and I was
down and play with Lego and I was finding that it would take encouragement
finding that it would take encouragement
finding that it would take encouragement from me to get the kids to start really
from me to get the kids to start really
from me to get the kids to start really getting into their play and so Hayden
getting into their play and so Hayden
getting into their play and so Hayden comes walking in and he picks up the
comes walking in and he picks up the
comes walking in and he picks up the train and he picks up the blocks and he
train and he picks up the blocks and he
train and he picks up the blocks and he builds this bridge and these his
builds this bridge and these his
builds this bridge and these his classmates mean their five and their six
classmates mean their five and their six
classmates mean their five and their six like their mind blown right now they’re
like their mind blown right now they’re
like their mind blown right now they’re like why’d he mix the buckets yes he
like why’d he mix the buckets yes he
like why’d he mix the buckets yes he mixed the buckets and what he did though
mixed the buckets and what he did though
mixed the buckets and what he did though is he inspired his classmates and
is he inspired his classmates and
is he inspired his classmates and forever after the buckets were mixed and
forever after the buckets were mixed and
forever after the buckets were mixed and the communication and the creativity
the communication and the creativity
the communication and the creativity that flowed from that it’s like a
that flowed from that it’s like a
that flowed from that it’s like a teacher’s dream and Hayden sparked that
teacher’s dream and Hayden sparked that
teacher’s dream and Hayden sparked that so how do I capture that kind of
so how do I capture that kind of
so how do I capture that kind of learning not just to share with his
learning not just to share with his
learning not just to share with his parents how do I capture that so that
parents how do I capture that so that
parents how do I capture that so that his next teacher that he has working
his next teacher that he has working
his next teacher that he has working with him can see how he’s progressed
with him can see how he’s progressed
with him can see how he’s progressed what his strengths are what his
what his strengths are what his
what his strengths are what his interests are so I actually started with
interests are so I actually started with
interests are so I actually started with an invitation and I invited his family
an invitation and I invited his family
an invitation and I invited his family into our classroom so we could have a
into our classroom so we could have a
into our classroom so we could have a conversation about the learning and I
conversation about the learning and I
conversation about the learning and I did that through a digital portfolio so
did that through a digital portfolio so
did that through a digital portfolio so I could capture pictures or notes or
I could capture pictures or notes or
I could capture pictures or notes or videos and even Hayden’s own voice
videos and even Hayden’s own voice
videos and even Hayden’s own voice through voice memos in the moment like
through voice memos in the moment like
through voice memos in the moment like during that day and they could have
during that day and they could have
during that day and they could have access to that right away not just that
access to that right away not just that
access to that right away not just that I could relay information to them but so
I could relay information to them but so
I could relay information to them but so that they could join in the conversation
that they could join in the conversation
that they could join in the conversation focused on the learning so this is an
focused on the learning so this is an
focused on the learning so this is an example from a digital portfolio of
example from a digital portfolio of
example from a digital portfolio of Hayden’s so I might do something like
Hayden’s so I might do something like
Hayden’s so I might do something like take a picture and then offer a
take a picture and then offer a
take a picture and then offer a suggestion of how they could continue
suggestion of how they could continue
suggestion of how they could continue that learning at home and a really
that learning at home and a really
that learning at home and a really amazing artifact was when I recognized
amazing artifact was when I recognized
amazing artifact was when I recognized that he was finally open to at least
that he was finally open to at least
that he was finally open to at least even talking about what letters are
even talking about what letters are
even talking about what letters are because Hayden’s not reading Hayden’s
because Hayden’s not reading Hayden’s
because Hayden’s not reading Hayden’s not writing Hayden’s not interested in
not writing Hayden’s not interested in
not writing Hayden’s not interested in anything academic at all at this point
anything academic at all at this point
anything academic at all at this point but when he first started to play with
but when he first started to play with
but when he first started to play with letters it was on the GarageBand
letters it was on the GarageBand
letters it was on the GarageBand and so I shared that with his family not
and so I shared that with his family not
and so I shared that with his family not just to say this is what he’s doing
just to say this is what he’s doing
just to say this is what he’s doing today but to say perhaps this would be a
today but to say perhaps this would be a
today but to say perhaps this would be a good way that we could start connecting
good way that we could start connecting
good way that we could start connecting him to words and reading and then below
him to words and reading and then below
him to words and reading and then below my comment is his grandmother’s comment
my comment is his grandmother’s comment
my comment is his grandmother’s comment in a conversation with me saying yeah
in a conversation with me saying yeah
in a conversation with me saying yeah you know we’re gonna add karaoke onto
you know we’re gonna add karaoke onto
you know we’re gonna add karaoke onto his iPad at home and see how that might
his iPad at home and see how that might
his iPad at home and see how that might work and that did turn out to be the
work and that did turn out to be the
work and that did turn out to be the spark for us to get him to start wanting
spark for us to get him to start wanting
spark for us to get him to start wanting to read a little bit more so I used
to read a little bit more so I used
to read a little bit more so I used digital portfolios that year from my
digital portfolios that year from my
digital portfolios that year from my entire grade one class and not just for
entire grade one class and not just for
entire grade one class and not just for Hayden for Hayden what was really
Hayden for Hayden what was really
Hayden for Hayden what was really significant for me is one day through
significant for me is one day through
significant for me is one day through all this great communication and
all this great communication and
all this great communication and conversation I realized he finally felt
conversation I realized he finally felt
conversation I realized he finally felt safe and supported and free to learn
safe and supported and free to learn
safe and supported and free to learn free to be curious and that day was a
free to be curious and that day was a
free to be curious and that day was a day when I could feel his energy bonds
day when I could feel his energy bonds
day when I could feel his energy bonds behind me but he wasn’t running up to me
behind me but he wasn’t running up to me
behind me but he wasn’t running up to me right in my space waving something in my
right in my space waving something in my
right in my space waving something in my face he was waiting very patiently and I
face he was waiting very patiently and I
face he was waiting very patiently and I turned around and he calmly said look
turned around and he calmly said look
turned around and he calmly said look what I made mrs. Fadem and it was the
what I made mrs. Fadem and it was the
what I made mrs. Fadem and it was the first time you use my name and you know
first time you use my name and you know
first time you use my name and you know it might seem like a small thing but
it might seem like a small thing but
it might seem like a small thing but this was profound for this child
this was profound for this child
this was profound for this child I could I could recognize his success
I could I could recognize his success
I could I could recognize his success his family could see his success and
his family could see his success and
his family could see his success and then we can move forward so every year
then we can move forward so every year
then we can move forward so every year from that year that I was a classroom
from that year that I was a classroom
from that year that I was a classroom teacher I used digital portfolios
teacher I used digital portfolios
teacher I used digital portfolios instead of traditional report cards
instead of traditional report cards
instead of traditional report cards pretty big leap and today there are
pretty big leap and today there are
pretty big leap and today there are thousands of classrooms across the globe
thousands of classrooms across the globe
thousands of classrooms across the globe where teachers are exploring new ways to
where teachers are exploring new ways to
where teachers are exploring new ways to bring people into the conversation
bring people into the conversation
bring people into the conversation ongoing about the learning and not just
ongoing about the learning and not just
ongoing about the learning and not just telling families how their child did so
telling families how their child did so
telling families how their child did so here’s my thinking on this if we can in
here’s my thinking on this if we can in
here’s my thinking on this if we can in education go from reaching for a
education go from reaching for a
education go from reaching for a possibility an education is like
possibility an education is like
possibility an education is like entrenched in policy and procedure if we
entrenched in policy and procedure if we
entrenched in policy and procedure if we can go from that to change in motion
can go from that to change in motion
can go from that to change in motion then I’m really excited to see what else
then I’m really excited to see what else
then I’m really excited to see what else we might shift all of us you and so my
we might shift all of us you and so my
we might shift all of us you and so my invitation to you today is to look for
invitation to you today is to look for
invitation to you today is to look for opportunities in your life where
opportunities in your life where
opportunities in your life where it just doesn’t feel like right the way
it just doesn’t feel like right the way
it just doesn’t feel like right the way things have always been done and I I
things have always been done and I I
things have always been done and I I really do mean everything from the way
really do mean everything from the way
really do mean everything from the way you celebrate family holiday holidays
you celebrate family holiday holidays
you celebrate family holiday holidays with your family or big system change
with your family or big system change
with your family or big system change and then allow yourself to think about
and then allow yourself to think about
and then allow yourself to think about what could it look like what might be
what could it look like what might be
what could it look like what might be possible and I encourage you to do that
possible and I encourage you to do that
possible and I encourage you to do that without thinking about potential
without thinking about potential
without thinking about potential roadblocks without thinking about how it
roadblocks without thinking about how it
roadblocks without thinking about how it might be perceived just take that first
might be perceived just take that first
might be perceived just take that first step and then tap into the collective
step and then tap into the collective
step and then tap into the collective wisdom of others because it with it is
wisdom of others because it with it is
wisdom of others because it with it is within our diverse perspectives and
within our diverse perspectives and
within our diverse perspectives and experiences that we can really create
experiences that we can really create
experiences that we can really create the conditions for meaningful change so
the conditions for meaningful change so
the conditions for meaningful change so I thank you for your time for your
I thank you for your time for your
I thank you for your time for your energy today wish you a fabulous day and
energy today wish you a fabulous day and
energy today wish you a fabulous day and I invite you to always consider the
I invite you to always consider the
I invite you to always consider the possibilities thank you thank you
possibilities thank you thank you
possibilities thank you thank you [Applause]
”
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