10,000 Choices

Around the country teachers and students are returning to school. There's a freshness to August. A sense of excitement. Nervous anticipation resonates throughout our schools and communities as we contemplate the potential of a new school year. Inside each schoolhouse is a principal, who's very words, actions, and ideas set a tone for the learning community. Inside each classroom is an instructional leader who is beginning to make 10,000 choices as the children prepare to return.

As I think back to my opportunity to set up my classroom, I wonder how much I did because it was the thing to do and how much I did because it would have an intentional impact on student growth and development. I remember the cute posters and the bulletin board my bride helped me hang. I remember arranging the desks in a way to promote discussion, or at least discussion with me and kind of, sort of with other kids in the class. I truly wonder how many of my choices were because this is what I saw from classrooms where I grew up and thought a classroom needed to be.

It's been fun to watch our teachers begin to return this month. The pre-school teacher arrived and her assistant arrived first, having so many hands on things she needed to organize and arrange. They were followed by the kindergarten team, then the first grade team, and so on and so forth. As they children get older, it seems our classrooms have less and less stuff. I figure the high school philosophy teacher probably shows up three minutes before the first institute day begins.

As our teachers, coaches, counselors, and speech pathologists cultivate our learning spaces, I wonder how much of this is because we have done it in the past or we have seen it done and how much of it is because we want a certain type of learning to occur. In cultivating the Feng Shui of our learning spaces are the designs based on the idea that I need a listening center and a computer nook or crafted by thoughts of I want a place where children will build with objects and another space where they will imagine and role play.

The clearest examples in my mind of making these 10,000 choices based on learning experiences was when we added the Optional Kindergarten Enrichment and Enhancement Program in Downers Grove. This added a second half to our kindergarten learning. The teachers were thoughtful about the types of experiences they were adding. More Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) and more social-emotional learning meant that in the same rooms, areas which focused simply on reading and writing were converted into more open spaces to allow these interactions. Some book nooks and listening centers left and were instead placed in tubs, so that they could be alternated with tubs of legos, solo cups, and straws. All of a sudden, play kitchens and costumes returned, allowing children a some time for imaginary role play and interaction. Sure the kitchens were covered with maker space tubs in the morning, there was only so much space in the classroom, but the materials present and design choices of the room were based on thoughtful decisions made by the instructional leader, influenced by the goals of the entire kindergarten team.

The best part, just like the students, this school year is just beginning. Our initial setup is simply that an initial setup. We start by making 10,000 choices to design our learning spaces. We will have an opportunity to see how each decision plays out and how learning is impacted. Throughout the year we will be able to make 1,000,000 decisions more. As long as we are willing to adapt and adjust our learning spaces to meet the learning objectives and the needs of our students, the successful both we and our students will feel. Enjoy the journey, it is through these choices we feel empowered and empower our students also.