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By Mary Coverdale, Director of The Learner First, Australia. As we celebrate Anzac Day here in Australia, I pay tribute to the army of educators who have become first responders in this time of COVID-19. Their ability to adjust and adapt to changing circumstances stoically and rapidly has been vital in creating some stability in […]
When I was four years old, I asked my mother if we were all just little specks inside a giant’s thumb. I imagined these tiny, glittering specks that covered every inch of the giant’s massive body, and that lived in the same way within every one of us––a matryoshka doll version of a never-ending universe. […]
“For me, the purpose of education is for every child to learn who they are, how they fit into the world, and how they can contribute…. If we allow that to come through, then we can make the world a better place.” –– Joanne McEachen, Founder and CEO, The Learner First The Learner First’s Joanne […]
Connect With Others, Your Environments, Your Learning, and the World. As humans, we can form connections with the people we know and interact with, the animals and environments around us, what we learn in our lives, and the whole of humanity. When we do, our lives are more meaningful and fulfilling because we’re making others’ […]
What happens when leaders ask educators to connect with students? Turns out, it’s a lot like asking students to do work they haven’t learned––to expect deeper connections without new learning is futile. I honestly don’t believe that educators are withholding a capacity to build deeper connections. I believe that we are all doing our best […]
As we all face the challenge of a global pandemic––as we separate from others but still look to connect, and as we feel its effects on our own lives and others’––perhaps we could all take a moment to pause, to consider who we are and who we want to become, as individuals, communities, and humanity […]
This post is part of a continuing series by Ellen Perconti, superintendent of Goldendale School District in Washington State. Students’ success stems from system capability. Over the years, our education system has been built for low engagement, one-right-answer questions, a focus on completion, and compliance. These are the system values that breed “success” on […]
My one hope for schools is contributive learning––that students will all develop self-understanding, knowledge, competency, and lasting connections and, in so doing, add to the world. I’ve been on its trail throughout my career, and I’ve never met anyone opposed to its outcomes. We all want our kids to feel meaning and fulfillment. But I […]
Speaking with an early-ed teacher in Hawaii, he shared what his keiki (children) would carry on from his school, no matter what schools they moved on to from there. “We set them up to be leaders at their new school,” he said. “They make it a better place.” I wonder, what could be better than […]
