Yesterday the Quest came to us: we had a traveling and later structured Quest Corner. The iPad and L@S netbooks traveled to the community class where our students used Doodle Buddy to draw lovely pictures in their favorite colors. At recess, some grade 8 students responded to blogs and at lunch the Quest Corner travelled to the staff room where teachers could respond as well. It was very meaningful to see teachers read the Student Voice blogs of the students they had taught in kindergarten or grade 3. We later pulled out some photographs and saw the same shiny faces in kindergarten. Time flies, students grow up, we make memories.
At the Intermediate Literacy block, more students came in small groups. In the interest of time, some blogged in pairs, some in threes. Some asked me to scribe for them. If an iPod was taken by a more assertive peer, a student mustered up the courage to step up and ask for it. We chatted about equity, bullying prevention, activism in small steps, affordability with new toys that often causes the divide between haves and have-nots, gaps in wellness and cause rifts between hearts.
And that was the deeper learning: spaces will always be limited; we can't take all our students to a conference, we can't all take our students to a conference, many students have no access to basic items for survival. The step forward is to break barriers of exclusivity and elitism and open those doors: to rooms, to laptop carts, to iPod cases and above all to hearts that can connect and take the conversation forward. Many asked if they could go to Quest next year, some are looking at student voice projects at the Ministry level, others have their gaze on the student trustee opportunity to serve their communities.
Now that's a strong network.
No connectivity problems or any jostling for attention. the students show the way: this is how we do it at Cedarwood.
The courageous conversations continue. With one magic weaver on-site at the Quest and another magic-weaver on-site at Cedarwood, with many more magic weavers who complete the circle,so much was possible.
Our students will rise. They will shine, they will soar, they will write their names in the stars. I am a dreamer, but not the only one.
The courageous conversations continue. With one magic weaver on-site at the Quest and another magic-weaver on-site at Cedarwood, with many more magic weavers who complete the circle,so much was possible.
Our students will rise. They will shine, they will soar, they will write their names in the stars. I am a dreamer, but not the only one.
Our school, our students, our way.
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