The Stories of Who We Are  . . .

Many of us take the same journeys over and over . . . My family trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan comes to mind. I've been making that same journey for over fifty years and yet it never gets old. As we get ready for the trip we share with the new grandkids where we are going and why it is so amazing! They have heard the stories and can't wait for their turn to canoe on the lake or catch that big bass on their pole. The tradition is shared from generation to generation and the meaning deepens with time. While there may be new side-trips added or a beloved pizza shops closes down, the basic rhythm of the journey remains essentially the same. Everyone on the trip knows the purpose and destination of the journey and is excited for the new stories to add to the old!

Do we do the same thing with our journey to find educational excellence for our students? Do we continue to share our stories about the deep seated values that Lakeland has developed for truly student centered learning? Do our new staff members get to hear the stories of the past that link to the practices of today? Maybe telling those stories is vital to the sustainability of a culture that has made authentic literacy and project based learning a priority as we prepare students for the future. Lakeland has never been content to just provide content knowledge for our students. We have envisioned our graduates leaving with more that just knowledge and skills, but instead as people empowered to lead and grow in the 21st century. Teachers and administrators have worked together to develop a learning environment that would support active learners versus passive learners. We have problem solved moving into the digital age and imagined new ways of learning.

But without sharing our stories about WHY we do what we do here at Lakeland and where we are on our journey we may be making it harder for the next generation to see clearly where we are going and how they can add to the rich history that is "Lakeland." So I'll send you on a treasure hunt for a piece of that journey - find the Lakeland Literacy Vision Statement in your building. It was developed by a team of educators from all levels K-12 in 2007 and adopted by the corporation in 2011. Here are the beliefs behind that statement and some insight into WHY we do the things we do today as the journey continues!

Lakeland Literacy Vision Essentials List 8/18/07

Ø  Teachers model literacy strategies

Ø  Authentic reading, writing, and talking on a daily basis

Ø  Independent learners (at appropriate levels)

Ø  Responsibility, accountability – all teachers across the curriculum

Ø  Engagement with learning

Ø  Professional development

Ø  Believe ALL students are learners – nurture love of literacy, notice strengths, not deficits.

Ø  Curriculum framework – not tied to basal

Embrace Change! Hang On For The Ride of Your Life!

"Change is an opportunity to do something amazing!"                       - George Couros

Watching my grandkids interact with their iPad made me reflect on some of the concerns I hear parents and educators struggling with as we all navigate a time of increasingly rapid change due to the exploding growth in technology use.

Many are afraid to let students fully utilize the amazing opportunity to learn that is at their fingertips. Some feel the best thing to do is to "ban" technology in the hopes they can control this rapid change.

Many long for the "good old days" and lament that technology will be the downfall of  the next generation. During this time of rapidly expanding access to knowledge and the world it would be easy to just retreat from it. But is that how we mentor those who will shape the world once we are gone?

I believe we owe it to ourselves and our kids to embrace and engage our changing world in order to help shape the future! Wisdom and experience can bring richness to the discussion of how to use technology to make the world a better place. We can help build a bridge between the values of yesterday and the promise of tomorrow. We can provide the voice for purpose and balance in use of technology. We can become learners side by side with our kids, helping safely guide their journey into unknown destinations.

The kids you see in the picture above are deeply engaged with the technology at their fingertips. They draw on it, listen to books, play games, and learn new things. But these same kids spend hours outside helping their father care for a large dairy herd. They play with a roomful of toys that are often scattered all over the house. And like most of us did, spend some time watching their beloved cartoons on TV. They live a balanced life - learning from technology, books, experiences, and most importantly their parents. Their life is full of learning opportunities at every turn.

So it would seem to me that the best way to embrace change as we are seeing with technology use is to intentionally create opportunities for balance in all of our lives. We must model for our kids how to use technology to connect us with others and make the world a better place. We need to show they how to do amazing things with the endless tools they have access to in the 21st century. We need to join in and help our world change for the better. Hang on tight it is going to be an amazing ride!