A quest for 'recess-like' classroom environments


"Awakening people to the marvels and mysteries of daily life they are missing-increasing
their perception by holding on to the childlike qualities of bubbling effervescent joy at being alive; 
their marvelous ability to totally immerse themselves in the moment, to lose track of time and space and just merge with the flow of life; their insatiable curiosity and sense of wonder about everything around them". 

Steve Van Matre

How do we truly deepen students’s relationship with their community and their local natural world? 

We are in week 5 walking the community twice a week as a class (many curricular 'field studies' outcomes achieved; however, the focal outcome is always positive experiences outside of the classroom). Next week we pose specific questions, in hopes dynamic relations are formed using mindful questioning with a sustainable lens:
How is everything interconnected?
Should you care about others and/or your place?
Are the current ‘relationships’ (between humans, between humans and the ‘environment’, etc.) ‘continue-able’? ie. able to persist?
Are the ‘relationships’ fair?
Can you change the ‘relationships’?

In the past I have been guilty of avoiding 'recess-like' classroom environments by a concern that students could be missing key fundamental skills outlined in the curriculum, that is a myth.

Discipline issues are down and engagement is up during these walks, this 'fluffy' approach to instruction seems the ticket for the current grade 8 & 9 students at the moment. Posing questions prior to leaving the classroom, granting students a freestyle experience to 'merge with the flow of life' as S.V.M. states above, and vigilant sharing/documenting the learning via visual journals or mobile device is the lesson plan.

The walks bolster the upcoming program of studies and students are keen, proud to say that start-up is above average, I wake up every morning with new sequential activities on the mind to continue this.

Comments

Unknown said…
I love your posts. I am a 7 year teacher/ Phd student in education. I definitely enjoy and agree with your thoughts and philosophy!
January 14, 2014 at 8:03 PM
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