From Irish Times
While teens around the world, led by young climate control activist, Greta Thunberg from Sweden, rallied on the issue of climate control yesterday, adults took notice.
As I wrote in yesterday's blog post, "Teens across the world answered the call to action and raised their voices as part of a global protest movement for action on climate change. These teens as spokespersons and future citizens are asking us to listen to their thoughts." Did we listen?
- The poets of #PoetryFriday listened and wrote blog posts yesterday as their call to action to recognize the efforts of the teens. These can be accessed at poet Heidi Mordhorst's blog site, my juicy little universe.
- Post-rally in New York City, Alexandria Villasenor leader of the #ClimateStrike rally spoke out on why adults should listen. She tweeted, "As #ClimateStrikeNYC #1 concludes this afternoon, we are turning towards the future. Plans now begin for #Climate StrictNYC #2."
- Greta Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize to for inspiring students in 105 countries to raise their voices in the #ClimateStrike rally.
It is imperative that teachers and leaders allow student voice to grow and be amplified. They are future change agents of the world.
In our individual classrooms, teachers can guide students in teams, to respectfully interact with peers, engage in collaborative conversations, and work with excitement and diligence to dig into content and make meaning of what they have learned.
As I worked with students in Ms. Schiavone and Ms. Vatalaro's 7th grade classroom, I witnessed them having accountable conversations, engaging respecting with each other as detail detectives, and completing the various tasks that prompted them to be articulate in both oral and written language at Chat Stations. Prior to the students embarking on their role of being Detail Detectives, they were introduced to the issue of climate control as it appears in the book, Ship Breaker, they were reading and relating it back to the global climate change rally happening nearby in New York City. I created the following Animoto video of these students accomplishments.
As I worked with students in Ms. Schiavone and Ms. Vatalaro's 7th grade classroom, I witnessed them having accountable conversations, engaging respecting with each other as detail detectives, and completing the various tasks that prompted them to be articulate in both oral and written language at Chat Stations. Prior to the students embarking on their role of being Detail Detectives, they were introduced to the issue of climate control as it appears in the book, Ship Breaker, they were reading and relating it back to the global climate change rally happening nearby in New York City. I created the following Animoto video of these students accomplishments.
7th Graders Speak Out
At Chat Stations, Bellport Middle School, SCCSD, Long Island
From the global stage to the daily classroom students can become meaning makers and change agents. We just need to recognize their individual abilities and talents with the express purpose of leading them to raise their voices.
-call to action slice-
Day 16 of 31 days of writing
Day 16 of 31 days of writing
March Slice of Life Story Challenge
Having a sense of agency and having the courage this is what leads to action and powerful change. Teachers themselves need sense of agency and courage in order to model it to the students and supporting their growth.
ReplyDeleteTerje, thank you for joining me here. There is so much talk of agency these days. It is the end result of teachers working diligently with students in the gradual release of responsibility model. I think you are right that educators do need to have a sense of agency as they work with their students who in turn are eager to spread their wings. I witnessed this once again when I presented a lesson to 7th graders.
ReplyDeleteIt is important for our students to have voice, to be heard, and to be validated.
ReplyDeleteYes, Heidi, it is one of my goals when working with teachers and districts. Before this happens the teachers need to understand how to release the responsibility of learning into the hands of their students. They also need to "find their own voice" in order to help their students amplifying their voices. Thanks for reading this post.
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