Dreaming

If you could build an elementary school, without constraints or demands from the powers that be, what would it look like?  What would be the foundation?  Lately I've been thinking of my "dream school" and what it would consist of. 

Let's dream a bit.....

Image Credit: Peter Reynolds

1. Kid-Centered   - You're probably thinking duh, but I honestly think that often times we forget that we are educating little people, ages 5-11.  They are not adults and often times the decisions made don't have what is best for kids (age appropriateness, developmental appropriateness) in mind.  My dream school would always think about what is best for KIDS, remembering that they are little humans.
2. Multi-Age - I had the opportunity to teach a K-1 multi-age for 2 years.  Oh my goodness, so cool.  The benefits of "kids learning from kids" is incredible.  The "youngers" rise to the occasion and push themselves (in a healthy way of course) to learn, and the "olders" become leaders and role models, while of course learning and growing at the same time! 
3. Inquiry-Based - What does this truly mean?  We hear inquiry-based often, and sometimes it's tossed around when describing curricula by publishers, but what would this look like in a school, where the entire foundation is built upon inquiry?  To me, it means that the wonderings/curiosities/interests of each child are valued, and used as a tool to learn and grow.  Time is set aside to investigate and explore these wonderings.  It can be set up in various ways, but the overarching idea is that kids drive their own learning.  They are highly motivated and engaged as a result of choice.
4. The Arts - This dream school will include opportunities for children to express themselves artistically in a multitude of ways.  The arts will be woven into the curriculum, not as an after thought, but as in integral piece.
5. Natural World - Kids need to see, touch, smell, hear (and even taste!) the incredible natural world that surrounds them.  They need to dig in dirt, splash in water and get DIRTY!  Not all children are able to do this at home.  Today, kids are in front of screens, and not spending time outside like previous generations.  A dream school would bring the natural world to children, in AND outside the classroom.  Exploration areas would be set up in classrooms for kids to explore and get their hands on nature, but field trips and excursions would be built-in to the school year to explore the natural world as well.  This dream school would also include a child-created and maintained garden, greenhouse and composting. :)
6. Play - Kids need time to be kids!  Even 11 year olds want to build, construct, create, dramatize, etc.  My dream school will include time for this, with thoughtful, intentional "invitations" to play set-up.  For example, a block area with natural or recycled items to incorporate in their creations.  (tubing, wires, paper towel tubes, etc)  A drawing/watercolor center, with a piece of fruit sliced in half to invite kids to draw/paint a still life. :) 
7. Family Partnerships - I love the idea of utilizing and learning from the "talents of all" in the community.  We often don't know the amazing treasures that are right under our noses!  I had a parent not long ago that was an opera singer!  How cool is that?  Inviting parents and family members into the school to share their talents and knowledge is such a powerful thing.

Now, of course a literacy rich environment is a given, where reading, writing, speaking, listening and above all THINKING in authentic ways is a cornerstone.  And don't forget math....a well-balanced approach that helps kids develop conceptual understanding, in real-life ENGAGING ways.

Ok, I'm sure I'm forgetting something huge, but this is a working document! :)  And dreams can be revised, right?