Watch my vlog
or read my blog…
Not an exact transcript:
Welcome to my first vlog ever. I’ve been doing a lot of firsts lately. In fact, I feel like I am a student again. I mean really a student again.
This vlog is not a refined, revised edited piece. It’s a first draft. This year I’m not only teaching how to write a graduation speech I am teaching how to make it a professional video as well. The only way to do that, is to learn the program. So this is me learning the program. And you get to watch. I’m sure there will be plenty of glitches!
This process reminds me of what we ask of our students everyday. We ask them to put it out there. They’re out there: vulnerable, receiving criticism, making mistakes, and moving forward. This shows how resilient PNA students are, really. It explains why PNA students go on to high school confident and ready to learn.
I’ve been amazed at how resourceful our students have been throughout this event. it just goes to show how resilient they are… How resilient we all are.
How do we really learn things unless we are putting it out there? We have to make mistakes; we have to try new things; we have to problem-solve; we have to communicate; we have to do all these things to be resilient, to be confident in ourselves, to reimagine our worlds, and to keep moving forward positively.
I went back through the pictures to remind me of all of the cool things that middle schoolers have done this year. What I saw were these kids putting it out there: trying new things, gaining confidence in themselves, supporting one another, having fun, and being friends. When we put it out there and we support each other, we build community; we build resilience.
Because of all their work throughout the year, it has been truly impressive to see each student come to our Zoom meetings everyday through this crazy time. I’m pretty sure they’re not coming for the math instruction. These students are coming to see one another, to support one another, and to continue what they know is right to do for themselves.
As my father always told me in my times of crisis, “This, too, shall pass.” (I secretly always hated it when he said that because I was truly in crisis!!!) But look, it passed and he was right.
PNA is resilient. And it is resilient because of its community.
