Back at it! After a year away from being in a role as facilitator I was invited to help facilitate a workshop in Winnipeg with my dear friend and colleague Haley Higdon. It is always nerve wracking getting back into the saddle. You don't know what to expect, and you hope that you don't forget what to do and how to do it.
Preparing for the workshop ahead of time required Haley and I to actually meet up and do some planning together. This, to me, is an important piece to the puzzle and one that made me feel reassured and confident heading to Winnipeg. We were able to analyze the participant surveys together, and highlight the opportunities for learning that the educators who were participating brought forward. We also had time to re-jig the slide show as needed and to communicate any thoughts/ideas/questions that we had going into the process.
Workshop day 1 is always a bit of a scramble in the morning to make sure everything is there and that we are getting internet access and have a projection. We were very fortunate to be in a facility with staff and administrator who believed in the importance of getting kids outside. This was a new experience for me, and one that I think made this Institute unique and special. Actually learning in a place that exemplified the philosophy we are hoping to share with teachers was inspiring in and of itself. Everything ran smoothly day one, and I continue to be surprised that all educators wonder the same questions each consecutive institute: How do I do it? What about assessment? How do I bring colleagues and parents on board? Is there room for differentiation and modification? How do I get my students outside more? What does the planning process look like? Perhaps it is time to host an Institute for educators that are knee deep in inquiry and are hungry for deeper learning, experiences and forming connections?
Day 2 was great because we actually got to tour the facility (twice!). One tour was in the morning (before the start of the day) and focused on the classroom spaces. The second tour focused on the outdoor spaces, and was conducted by the head of the facility. He was extremely knowledgeable, and someone who we should perhaps continue to work alongside and tap into for knowledge and expertise. One challenge for me that came up in day 2 was making sure the high school group (of which there was about 7) felt that they were getting enough out of this experience. It is still hard bringing high school examples to the table because we don't have a story with ALL the components there for educators to see and learn from. We did the best we could by watching a video and filling in the blanks with possibilities - but I always feel they are not getting the same experience.
In the end, I had nothing to worry about. Both Haley and Cheryl were amazing facilitators and we worked extremely well as a team - almost as if we have been doing it together this whole time. I always come away with new learnings and insight to bring back into my own teaching. Can't wait to do another one.
