For our first ever Spring Leaves blog post, I'd like to share with you something that I wrote just recently to explain our program to someone.
It's said that traditionally, First Nations people (and probably indigenous peoples around the world) looked for a child's strengths and then built on them. They didn't look for a child's deficits. Our North American education system is still, for the most part, based on a cookie cutter model: trying to fit each child into the same mold, with the same curriculum – and 'fixing' the ones who don't fit. Our school district is heading in the direction of student-centred constructivist learning and cognitive apprenticeships along with this First Nations approach, and Spring Leaves is one of the programs the district is most proud of (okay, of which the school district is most proud ;-).
Spring Leaves students are self-directed home-based learners with many wonderful strengths, which this program allows them to explore and develop. As their resource teacher, it is my hope that you share my enthusiasm for a program that allows children to be and become who they really are in their hearts and souls — within the loving arms of their families and their wider community.
Our newest Spring Leaf, Kota, in the loving arms of his mom, Sanae.
I regret that we didn't start this blog back in September 2007, so every once in a while, I'll post a retrospective look at some past learning experiences. In the meantime, parents, you're all welcome to post here (as are your kids). Let me know if you need a Blogger tutorial. And visitors, we would love to hear your comments.
Take care,
Julie
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