The Power of Pivoting

Indi-ED is different, good different.

As I’m happily tearing apart our plans and redesigning our next set of units for my students, another way that we’re “good different” is glaring me in the face.

We can always PIVOT as necessary and we do it OFTEN!

Take for example our last algebra unit. We originally planned to spend one month on it because it’s typically pretty easy content. However, when I realized that my students were having difficulty with it, we PIVOTED and slowed down.

We identified the types of problems that were challenging for them and focused on strategies to help them. We even had to backtrack to topics (negative numbers) that were multiple years behind their traditional grade level expectations, but that didn’t matter! We identified a gap and taught to the gap vs. teaching to a test and plugging away even if they didn’t understand it. We spent almost two months on it and will certainly come back to the content- but that doesn’t matter we just PIVOTED and will move our math units around. (Extra bonus, remember our cohorts are together over multiple years and with the same teacher so I’ll quite easily know where to pick up.)

Or take for example during our last science unit when we planned on teaching some big ideas about the real world concerns our planet is facing in regards to water like water quality, conservation, climate change, local issues, etc. via some articles and online resources but instead had opportunities to test our own water, read local articles, and actually to go to a film festival that touched on the same issues but provided so much more from real life experts and through real life experiences. We simply PIVOTED.

Or as I’m literally reworking all of my cohort’s curriculum for the next three months because I’ve realized that they are so much more cooperative and compassionate than I could have planned for. Or that they weren’t ready for some components that I thought they would be. (Which is OK here!) I had creative ideas originally, but now that I understand not just how they learn but also what type of experiences motivate them, I have to rework not only the curriculum but the way I planned on teaching it. (I was NEVER allowed to PIVOT like that in a traditional school. But isn’t that THE most important pivot of all?!)

Or even on a larger level, after we received surveys back from our students and our parents (yes, we ask for feedback from both of them because 1. we trust them and value their opinion and 2. like we mentioned before, we know we’re all a part of the puzzle) we know that there are some things that we need to PIVOT on or adjust to become better ourselves.

Here’s more of the good different.

Teachers in traditional schools often PIVOT because they’re forced to. A new mandate, a new principal, a new evaluation system, etc.

What I believe makes OUR PIVOTS more powerful is that we are able to pivot based on what OUR teachers, students, and families need. What makes them even more powerful is the TONE behind them.

ALL come from a place of trust, love, understanding, and a desire to improve. When we all have the same goal of doing what’s best for our kids, you’d think that that would be easy. But not always. Some adults come from a place of blame or looking for the worst. NOT our teachers, students, or parents. THAT is what makes the difference! We hear it out of the mouths of our parents and our students.

One of our students took this photo at our CrossFit workout this week and I believe it epitomizes our way of work too.

This video from Prince EA I believe hits it on the head, he seems to be discussing romantic relationships but I absolutely believe that it applies to relationships of any kind. Nothing is ever perfect but if “it’s about discovery”, always about what’s best for kids, then I’m certain that we’ll continue on this right track.

“Be aware… Use loving, gentle speech, with humility. Both partners taking responsibility. The secret is to use conflict and use it as an opportunity to grow more intimate and more close… It’s about discovery.”

This journey called life and growth is a long one, so as we begin this Thanksgiving week, I wanted to say (again) how thankful I am for having these students, these families and these teachers who are focused on POSITIVE PIVOTING.

“Onward and upward.” (Ironically what I said consistently to one of our teachers the week prior and the same sentiment that was echoed from one of our parents this week.)

No one said it would be easy, but I know that together there will always be positive progress!