Application Boulders
Authenticity and Relevance
The MINDSET and PRACTICES
Because we want students to care about their learning, we adapt our teaching to their evolving motivations and identities, and connect to place.
TEACHER REFLECTIONS on STUDENT IMPACTS of ARTFUL TEACHING
“Growing up here, this place is so special to me, and so much of my joy comes from the place and the land. Kids also are really rooted to the place. They find joy and a lot of meaning in learning about the stuff that is right in front of their nose outside, and the things that they can keep discovering as they leave, they walk through the school doors, they’re gonna encounter these things again, and they’re gonna continue to learn.”
Carly Lehnhart
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Where are there opportunities for me to choose content that reflects the identities, cultures, and interests of the students in front of me? Whose stories are told? Whose stories are missing?
- What made my students most engaged this week, and how can I build on that?
- If students were to set their own learning goals, how would they be the same or different from the ones I set for them?
- How am I creating space—physically, emotionally, and structurally—for students to share the knowledge, experiences, and perspectives they are bringing with them?
- Where is there an opportunity for my learners to connect with the broader community? Is there someone I can invite into my classroom or a way we can expand the classroom outside of these walls?
- What does authentic motivation look like? Sound like? Recall specific examples from your students.