Yes, we can! Barak Obama said it during his presidential campaign, and I felt that same conviction and energy during this year's Des Moines Literacy Institute. What a truly amazing experience. Times like these with teachers remind me that everyday we are changing, shaping, and impacting students lives…in spite of all the challenge we face.
I watched teachers work to improve their skills, explore new tools and technologies, and grapple with the best ways to ensure this important work is done well. I could not help but smile and imagine how very different the conversation with students will be in the coming year.
It is not easy stepping out of our comfort zones, challenging ourselves to think and do differently, and remain positive in the process. Yet, it is the single most important thing we can do for our students. 21st Century teaching is not about implementing new standards or adding technology to our already filled plates. It is about deeply understanding the kind of learner WE need to be in order to model that for our students.
These teachers will stand up in front of their students next year, not only as a model of content expertise, but as a model of continuous, lifelong learning. Doesn't every student deserve a teacher who is:
- passionately curious?
- willing to push their imagination to the limit?
- ready and willing to risk?
- flexible and prepared to adapt?
- capable of persevering through the challenge, change, and in spite of both…willing to do whatever it takes?
- courageous, tenacious, and filled with confidence to stand up for what is right?
That is exactly what I saw, and why I feel so confident in saying? YES WE CAN!
I so want to thank all those who participated in the day. I so appreciate your time and commitment. I also want to share a special thanks to "Team Maiers", our breakout presenters and folks who lent helping hands, all without whom the conversation could not have happened.
And with the wonderful images, including some great pictures captured by our photographer John Johnson, we are able to remember the day with this slide show from Animoto:
