Shift to Actual Student Centered Learning: All of my colleagues claim to have a student centered learning environment, but that could range from letting choose what color worksheet they use for today to being able to fully pursue their interests and passions in whatever way they choose. A shift to SBRC which will give students and their families a more accurate picture of a child's progress and the freedom to demonstrate mastery however they see fit will do wonders for student engagement
Invite Any and All Learning Devices: School should not be the only place in a child's life where they aren't allowed to play video games, use hand held technology, or play and tinker with "toys", but in many schools it still is. In an effort to maintain order and forced compliance, we continue to shun many of the things our students use to access information and create ways to demonstrate their learning. It doesn't have to be a technological free for all, but we can better meet the needs of all learners if we allow them to utilize whatever tool they see fit.
Quiet and Orderly Does Not Equal Engaged: As an energetic male, my classroom is naturally loud and unorthodox. Many of my colleagues have frowned upon my methods as being too chaotic, messy, or out of control. Learning should be fun , and fun things are often loud. Just because a child is out of their seat or working with a partner, does not equate them to being out of control. A mess may sometimes be made while a group of 7 year olds are working together to create something original. One of my lasting memories that will shape my educational philosophy forever is the following story from my first year of teaching: I was reading a story to my class on the carpet, and the character in the story would occasionally throw a tantrum if they did not get their way. One has two options when reading this story: 1) Read it in a monotone tone that may or may not pique a child's interest or 2) Read with vivid expression that may require a teacher to go batshit crazy just like the character in the story. I most certainly chose option 2. One of our building principals proceeded to enter our class and told us to be quiet because our room should not be this loud. Little did they know that that story and the series of books became far and away the most popular books in my classroom with kids sprinting to them in the library for them to be checked out.