To see innovation in action, all you have to do is walk into an Empowered Teacher’s learning space. First thing, you will see students who are questioning, exploring, discovering, and problem solving.
The other day, I had the privilege of stopping by a local school in my area for a Pumpkin Market in Michelle Chamber’s kindergarten classroom. When I arrived, the students were all engaged and busy working on different projects to sell at the Pumpkin Market. Some students were designing paper cookies, others were creating corn mazes out of blocks, and some students were producing felt pumpkin pies. I was astounded by the students’ talents and by the creativity pouring out of them.
I also took notice of how the students were managing themselves so well, and the traits they were displaying as they worked and interacted with one another. I saw students taking responsibility for their work and their roles in the classroom, students who were showing such passion for what they were creating to sell at the Pumpkin Market, and I especially appreciated how the student who had been appointed as the classroom manager showed so much integrity as he checked students’ products and gave them classroom dollars for their work. I was really blown away by what I saw transpiring in Michelle’s classroom.
The students in Michelle’s classroom loved being a part of the real-world simulation of a Pumpkin Market because some of them shared how they had been to a fall festival, or pumpkin patch, with their families and they were excited to apply their own creativity and innovation to the experience.
Reflecting upon my visit to this Classroom Pumpkin Market, I couldn’t help but think about how this isn’t always what a classroom looks like. Often, we see students sitting at desks, with paper and pencil, working on a task independently.
Not that there aren’t times for this type of learning, but what I saw happening in Michelle’s innovative classroom transcends the traditional model of learning. Implementing real-world activities brings relevance and interest because it’s what students are experiencing in real life. The benefits of innovating lessons with real-world application for students are innumerable.
At Empowered, our strategy was developed for this very reason: to bring the real world into the classroom.
Leveraging our learning strategy – Principles + Markets = Mindset (PMM) can help drive this type of innovation in the classroom. One of the things I love most about our strategy is that it allows teachers to bring real-world concepts to any activity, no matter the content.
The students in Michelle’s classroom loved being a part of the real-world simulation of a Pumpkin Market because some of them shared how they had been to a fall festival, or pumpkin patch, with their families and they were excited to apply their own creativity and innovation to the experience.
Are you interested in innovating your lessons to bring more real-world concepts to your classroom? Check out one of our newest resources on How To Empower Your Own Lessons.
Need help bringing your ideas to life? As a member of our Educator Support Team and having a background in education, I am enthusiastic about teaming up with you and working collaboratively to help you find ways to incorporate real-world experiences into your classroom. Reach out and let me know how I can help you bring your vision and innovative ideas to life.
Stay Empowered and Innovative my teacher friends.