“When my students leave my care, my hope is that
Joy Kirr
they will have a thirst for lifelong learning. THIS is what
we should desire and work towards every single day.”
What It’s About
Educator Joy Kirr is passionate about creating lifelong learners. To do that, she believes it’s necessary give up some control in the classroom. Or, as she puts it, fill her room with 25+ teachers – her students! This month’s what we’re reading now Shift This! How To Implement Gradual Changes For Massive Impact In Your Classroom focuses on strategies designed to help teachers identify aspects of their learning environment that are easiest to tweak. It shows how to keep building on those practices to maximize their effectiveness and offer a more student-centered approach. After all, as she points out, “you don’t have to dive in all at once to make huge, positive changes.”
What We Love About It
In addition to practical advice, Kirr thinks outside the box. Her suggestions range from starting the year with blank walls and letting the students decorate to incorporating music to using social media to connect with other teachers. She also segments her approach, showing how you can shift classroom environment, homework, and grading for improved learning. A key aspect keeps the focus on students driving their learning. For example, when students ask questions in class, she recommends doing your best not to answer but letting them figure it out together. These are the first steps in showing students how to learn.
Kirr ends with her vision for the future “When my students leave my care, my hope is that they will have a thirst for lifelong learning. THIS is what we should desire and work towards every single day.”
What Do You Think?
Let us know what you think about Shift This! How To Implement Gradual Changes For Massive Impact In Your Classroom or tell us what you’re currently reading on Empowered Hub.
