Whatcha Doing?

Pssst…Hey you…Ya…YOU…Whatcha doing?

Like right now? Hang on a sec…I’m…just…gonna…grab this…step…stool..ok, so I’m vertically challenged…and have old knees…and now #WolfPackEdChat is mocking me…

Again…

Whew…MUCH better!

That wall was a bit high.

I mean I get it. Gotta keep those inquisitive interlopers out right?

Doesn’t it get a bit stuffy in here? And hey, there’s not a ton of light…how do you actually..ouch! What was that? And ewww, I just touched…seriously…some light? You need to breathe right?

Hmm…if I just move….no, no, I got it…and fix that…seriously, work with me on this…shift this piece…good thing I brought my drill…YA IT’S A BIT NOISY!!! ALL GOOD!!! What do you mean you don’t own your own blow torch????Honestly, I haven’t set anything on fire in years…ok, just that once…but it was teensy…almost there…why are you sweating??? Here, sit down before you faint!

TADA!!!!

Feel that? It’s called fresh air.

I know, right! Look at all the space around you…beautiful isn’t it?

What? Oh, that.

You’ll get used to it. I promise.

Fresh air, and a brand new light on everything! Hmm, ok well, yes I could have warned you, and no, no one is going to notice few cobwebs. Honestly, relaaaaax!

People come to visit the people not to judge their houses sigh…

I never said anything about visitors? Are you sure? Hmmm..oops…

Well, maybe a few. Like a class or tw0…or three… or more…

Seriously. Ok, no you’re not going to have hordes and busloads at your door. No you don’t have to supervise recess for 200…really, you do not have to monitor snacks for them all…well, if you would stop looking at me like that…here…have a tissue…

You sit with your cup of tea (blech) and I’ll explain.

We were chatting on #WolfPackEdChat and were expressing our frustrations about working in vacuums, silos, with walls. Yes, yes, I know I took yours down. Pretty view no? Try putting your head there, and take nice deep breaths dear…

There are so many phenomenal educators out there, so many amazing things going on. We edu-speak about a lot of things like Creativity and Innovation and Global Competencies… yes, I did put capitals on them this time…what has this got to do with you? Yes, I was getting to that bit.

If we are to roll model these things, create the spaces and places where they can be nurtured, foster the mindset so that engagement and natural curiosity takes over, that is when the magic will happen.

No, I did not bring my wand…broom? Now that’s just…you’re going to love it!

It’s going to be collaboration and sharing and mentoring and pairing, littles and bigs, and whoever wants to show up and share.

Yes, I know I took down the walls. Told you I was going to walk my talk and blow the stale air out of the vacuum. You weren’t part of that proclamation? Apologies.

In the realm of the virtual everything, there’s no reason why a class in Alaska can’t share with a class in Florida, or a class in Ontario. With as many or as few as you choose!

It can be different grades, elementary with high school, or middles with littles, a maker and a tinker or some STEAM for that STEM. It might look like a show and share for some, but how cool would it be if some bigs and some littles, and maybe some middles took a project to pursue then peruse! How fantastically fabulous would the sharing and pairing be when bigs mentored littles and littles reminded bigs how much fun it is to learn and explore and share with delight all the ways it went right!

Do you “have” to?

Of course not! Each to their own comfort lane as they say. We’ve already got some teachers who want to play. To live stream between classes (this is not for the masses), to show and share, and maybe enter on a journey together with students from all over the world.

Sky is the limit. Full STEAM ahead…we’re taking the lid off the box, pulling down the walls, rolling out the welcome mat, inflating the bouncy castles and loading the tables up with makery things, and experiments and projects and more…

Stronger together. Because we’re awesome that’s why.

Um, no, I am not putting the walls back up.

#PebbleRippleOcean