How kids learn

I've been taking a lot of pictures of my kids using Lego Mindstorms and paying attention to them while they are building and testing things out. I have this great picture of one of my kids, sprawled out on the floor, ready to test her lego car. It's so funny to me because even last year, I would have cringed when I saw the photo because that's not appropriate behavior in a classroom. It's so funny because there are all of these preconceived notions in my head about what's okay in a classroom.

I store all of these thoughts away, all the little thoughts where I start to tell a child they can't do something, ask myself why and realize that the only reason it isn't okay is because that's what I learned somewhere along the line. I've been trying to break myself of the habit of not allowing things just because that's the way it's been or that's what I learned once upon a time.

Changing the World

It's been a while since I've blogged, and I'm sure I have lots of different things to say, but I want to start with the one that this whole blog, this whole website is about, and that's changing the state of education. I watched a movie, Accepted, recently that helped put things in perspective for me. It's funny how I've spent time looking for ways to formulate my thoughts on education, and this one, seemingly cheesy movie was able to make things clear for me. My friends have already pointed out to me that they think I'm crazy based on this, but I urge you to see the movie.

I have a student teacher right now, so I'm spending some time watching instruction instead of actually providing it, and I feel for my kids. She's not bad, she's in fact pretty good but she's still been bought that a teacher's job is to lead and the students need to follow. I do the same thing during the times I'm in charge, so I'm not being critical. More and more I am being led to the idea that at some point, I will need to start my own school. I think I'm being dragged to that place kicking and screaming, but I also know what I want to accomplish can't be accomplised in the public education system.