Reflecting on Learning by Design

My LA classes just finished reading The Great Gatsby. The ending of a novel with a class is always so bittersweet, especially with a text like Gatsby since it has so many symbols and rich connections to the real world. It lends itself to amazing discussions about the American Dream where students willingly share so much about their own hopes and dreams; the end of the novel and unit has made me reflects on ways to continue the momentum of students consistently reflecting and sharing about their own lived experiences as we work through difficult skills in our next text. Sometimes building in student experiences comes easily, and other times I have to work at it. With my elective courses, I am inspired by lots of choice-driven lessons and assessments because the curriculum is a little more flexible. With a set curriculum and being on the junior year English team, there’s a lot of pressure to assess in ways that show students are ready to perform well on the SAT. It’s such a big year. I find myself struggling to keep to my philosophy sometimes because testing even overwhelms me. That said, I love any learning theory that praises teaching that gives value to student experiences. I don’t remember this being a topic brought up a lot in undergrad, so going into the classroom thinking that I had to have all of these walls up was so misguided and cost me some meaningful opportunities to be what students needed. I know most of us teachers say we wish they could go back to our first couple of years in the classroom to show students how far we’ve come. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to not have to frantically dart to the next aisle when I see a student from my first year that I was SO focused on “managing” their behavior like everyone’s warned me about that I failed to see the person behind the action. Hearing things like “don’t smile until Christmas” and the first time any student talks out of turn, send them to the dean and the rest of them will “fall in line” were commonly exchanged mottos at the lunch table from veteran teachers my first year. I’m happy to say that teaching has changed a lot in just the 7 years I’ve been in the classroom. With this shift, I’ve noticed more teachers who are eager to connect and build rapport. We’ve learned that if there isn’t trust or time isn’t given to get to know the students and the shoes they walk in, we can never reach them in the ways that we can when we prove we care. It’s so important to be relatable and human. This model reminded me of the invisible backpack metaphor with learning. I recently found this article by Dana McDonough (https://edublog.scholastic.com/post/i-asked-my-students-what-they-carry-their-invisible-backpacks). I loved reading her reminder for teachers:

“It was very apparent at that moment that in order to teach each child, we have to reach each child.  Their ‘invisible backpacks’ are very telling. We, as teachers, need to create a safe environment that will allow our children to share their stories.  This sharing has also turned into goal setting for the day, and I am so honored to have an opportunity to really get to know my students. 

I have made it a point to pay closer attention to what I don’t see in the course of a day. The impact on learning is often hindered by many invisible barriers. My role is to unearth these barriers, help when I can and let them know that I am there for them.  

Some of the most important work we do as educators is to get to know our students as individuals. What’s amazing is that we can invite them to be themselves in an inviting space every single day, no matter the curriculum. Student experiences, skills, talents make our rooms beautiful when we let them shine!! When we let it be known that we, too, have so much to learn and so much we can learn from THEM, we create a classroom community where learning truly happens!! 🙂

Teaching during a pandemic has taught me the importance of face-to-face connection. We gain so much from non-verbal cues and expression that is being lost in Zoom and technology-based learning. I’m scared that we may become too dependent and isolated in this technology-driven world. I have a feeling so many jobs will continue to offer work at home options and while this is nice in theory, I’m worried that the social disconnect will outweigh the benefits.

So many of my students are passively completing assignments. They complain of teaching themselves on their devices and spending too much time trying to figure out the tools different teachers want them to use. In-person collaboration with small groups and partner work is nearly impossible with COVID regulations, so I can only imagine that whenever we can learn without the worry of the virus spreading, most teachers may simply rejoice in the ability to sit closely and lean on the ideas of everyone in the room. With COVID, most students are so quiet. In the 7 years, I’ve taught, I’ve never heard the classroom or halls so quiet. I can’t wait for the moment we can all sit in a circle and just talk without fear and pass ideas, and put post-it notes on the walls and write all over the boards. In many ways, I see us adopting the less is more approach when things go back to pre-pandemic life. I know I will simplify and seek meaningful ways for students to authentically engage and feel like a classroom community again. There’s no doubt that technology has allowed us to continue teaching and learning and it’s such a blessing that we have the devices and tools to continue on the best we can. I’m choosing to navigate the year by using tech tools that students are already familiar with so that the 1 1/2 hours I see each student is spent on instruction rather than learning how to use something new. I have made most assignments and how students complete them be about choice. Some students are choosing to create using TikTok and making memes while others are enjoying the simplicity of Google Doc and Slides.

The most beautiful thing to come from the pandemic is the heightened awareness and focus on the inequalities of the world. For the first time, our school is having tough conversations about diversity and revamping curriculums, and encouraging conversations and lessons that allow us all to discuss racial inequality and human rights. We’ve been looking at online discussions of protest and empowerment and examining contemporary poetry that highlights important social issues that matter. It’s been wonderful to see students who typically do not like to write or enjoy poetry, be eager to read and write about issues that matter to them.

Here’s a timeline that I’ve created to reflect on my use of technology over the years. It amazes me to know that 7 more years from now, this will have so many more tech tools to add to my toolbox (and, of course, probably make me feel a little old!): Technology in Teaching Timeline

I’m not sure if my recollection is a true picture of what I actually experienced because I’m sure my teachers had me practice all types of writing, but I just remember a lot of storytelling. Reflection and journal-based exercises were the foundation of my youth and still are today. The big shift against the more creative side of writing came during high school. In high school, I remember a lot of memorization, spelling tests, vocab tests on Fridays, and most of all, grammar impacting my grade/success more than my ideas. I have never been a strong test-taker and I now understand that all of the spelling, vocab, and grammar taught in isolation would have never clicked for me no matter how much I studied. It never improved my reading or writing skills and this is a well-known fact about learning now; writing skills in isolation do not help students become better writers.

Research Writing and Speech also stand out in my mind. I can’t decide if it was so dreadful because I was the shyest person in the room and thought speaking in front of others was quite literally going to kill me or if it suppressed too much of my creativity. Time spent in such black-and white spaces was never enjoyable.

I did take both of the Creative Writing courses my high school offered. My confidence in writing poetry during that time grew and one of my most memorable writing projects was when I paired it with photographs I captured.

I’ve always enjoyed writing. I also love to hear what others think of my writing, but I never respected when teachers cold-called on me to share a piece that was personal especially poetry. I was always a learner who needed any class time and then my own time to make it “perfect” before anyone else could be invited in. I also enjoyed journaling on my own and there were a few years where you couldn’t get me to put books down. I read all through Christmas day one year.

I love how much you learn about yourself when you sit down to write. I have found myself in so many writing sessions where I didn’t realize how I actually felt about something until I put pen to paper. Experiences like this make me grateful I never gave up writing and keep me motivated to keep writing.

If I had to describe myself in one word, I’d always choose “creative.” I have been an artist ever since I can remember —I can’t imagine my life not covered in paint at 2 AM, editing photos and videos until my carpal tunnel sets in, or writing poetry with a cup of black chai tea and sweet cream. Its the part of me that I’m most proud of because it influences everything I do. I’ve always been the night owl with a brush or pencil in my hand. I’m very reflective and my mind never stops wondering. I make use of these never-ending musings by writing or making art. I grew up in foster care and there wasn’t much that I owned throughout all of the moves, but I did always carry a sketchbook with me. I guess you could call it my own little version of a security blanket. 

Maybe it seems a bit cliche to say, but whenever I think about my life actually beginning, I think of being seventeen. I hear the Emily Bronte quote: “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” It’s a sentiment that I cherish because it was creativity that allowed me to meet my husband, a person who is so much like me that sometimes it’s hard to believe we found each other. We celebrate 13 years together this year. We were two of twelve high school students selected for a summer internship to work with artists in our community. Needless to say, the summer allowed a beautiful friendship to form and ended with our first date. And he’s been with me ever since and we’ve shared the best moments of my life —from graduating high school, graduating college and beating the odds (fewer than 3% of foster children earn a college degree), to the phone call telling me that I landed my dream career of teaching. Together, we serve our community as wedding photographers and videographers with our business, Weis Photo and Film. We still find time to paint and create together whenever we can.

A little more about me: I graduated from Eureka College with honors and a degree in Secondary Education and English. I also have an endorsement in middle school and art education. I am wrapping up my 6th year of teaching this week! This is so hard to believe!! I have primarily taught Creative Writing, American Literature, and Photography. I am a rescue mom to three pit bulls. I am a painter. I  enjoy reading books of poetry. Sylvia Plath is a word genius; her work renders me speechless. I love Johnny Depp films and anything with Robin Williams in it. I’m passionate about animal rights and giving a voice to those who can’t speak. I really want to move to the west coast and go whale watching and hike on the weekends. Maybe even try cycling with my husband. I’m proud of where I am in my life right now and trying to do everything I can to seize the day and appreciate the beautiful blessings that have shaped my messy (but wouldn’t have it any other way) life.

*Just an FYI: I got married last fall and my last name(Bridges) hasn’t officially changed due to a very busy teaching and photography schedule and now Covid craziness. I do go by “Mrs. Weis” now with my students, hence the name of my blog title, and I plan to change it as soon as the million places where I need to go reopen. 🙂