Why:
We must prepare our students for the future by providing them with situations to practice their creativity, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
How:
We can do this by creating real-world scenarios that give our students choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning opportunities.
What:
Through the Project Based Learning model outcomes a generation of growth mindset learners who become great leaders, innovators, and problem solvers.
I have a two year timeframe for this innovation plan to be extended to my entire fourth grade team. With the recent drop in test scores and a noticeable difference in the independency level in our students after the pandemic, it is crucial to change how we are allowing our students to develop these problem-solving skills. The only way these skills are going to developed is by providing them with the authentic learning environments to practice these skills. Although our ultimate goal should not be focused solely on a test, by providing these opportunities, it will greatly impact the scores because students will be better equipped to solve those pesky problems that try to trick them.
According to Dr. John Kotter, 90% of situations that involve creating a significant change do not meet what they are aiming for because they did not create a sense of urgency in the beginning. We have a need for this urgency because our students deserve the opportunities to be the best they can be. Our future generations literally rely on this. Our students were faced with something (COVID) that drastically impacted their development. If we do not create this change the future could possibly not be so bright for them.
With that being said, our hearts need to also be in it. We have to be fully attached to change and have a desire to see the plan in its entirety. I will be holding weekly meetings with team-mates to ensure that they are not feeling burnt-out, bored, or frustrated with the plan. Likewise, I will also be doing the same with my students. They also need to have their heart involved in their learning in order to be passionate about their education.
References:
Dr. John Kotter. (2013). Leading Change: Establish a Sense of Urgency [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yfrj2Y9IlI
Dr. John Kotter. (2011). John Kotter - The Heart of Change [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NKti9MyAAw
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