The governor said last night during his press conference that disruption is an opportunity for innovation. I could not agree more. This is the time for schools to reevaluate their values and decide what's important to them. 
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I have said for a year or more that I believe the one thing that will change education in the future and make a shift to a more flexible system would happen when more and more parents start working from home. In my mind, the more this happened, the more families would appreciate having their kids home with them, with flexibility to go on vacations, set their own schedules, and share their work by teaching and showing their children what they do each day.

Senate Bill 2186 was passed into law during the 2017 session. Very few waivers have been applied for using this new law. But now, during this uncertain time, imagine writing an emergency waiver for instructional time for all high school seniors in your school. In order to get their remaining instructional hours, they would instead create a project around the question, "What can I do to make a difference during a crisis?, do the project, and then reflect on it. This is unprecedented times. Let's do something unprecedented! Instead of figuring out how to make these kids perform worksheets at home through online learning and fretting over how we will grade them.

Imagine all the high school seniors in the state, working together to help their community, and not stressing out about how they will graduate. Some could start cleaning services. Some could work full time instead of part time and gain valuable mentoring from leaders during a crisis. Some could help older generations learn to work from home and troubleshoot technical issues. Some could spearhead neighborhood check-ins with sick or elderly. Some could take in healthcare providers' children, spending time reading, writing, and doing basic math with them. No doubt our young people are being affected by this. They could be defined by the "lack of" that is going on... lack of control, lack of certainty, lack of answers, lack of traditional educational structure. Or the class of 2020 could have an opportunity to stop memorizing test materials (that research has shown they are likely to forget) and take part in a truly inquiry-based, community impacting, life changing opportunity that could define their generation. I am hoping North Dakota and its educational leaders will at least give them the option. 

Let's get away from focusing on instructional hours and time. It is time to empower our students and give them opportunities to make changes, not connect them to their devices for hours a day jumping through hoops. I continue to go back to the mantra that led me to starting my school... What do you value? I hope the governor gives schools an opportunity to reevaluate their values and a chance to change how they show it.  

I often stress to our students during times of conflict, unease, or anxiety that the only thing we can control is ourselves. This means our next thought, our next action, and our reaction to what's happening around us. Even though everything feels out of control in our world today, let us not cling to the semblance of control by holding on too tightly to our traditional ways. 

#TISValues #Projects #Passion #Peers #Play

Each year we begin our school year with an Identity Week. We create opportunities for students to get to know one another and dig into their own strengths and passions. We celebrate the end of this time with our Uniqueness Fair. Each student creates a project all about themselves and then we share it with family and friends in a science fair type setting. There are lots of different types of projects. A few from last week were a photo booth with props, different LEGO builds, a giant mixed media poster, and iMovies.

Our staff also creates projects about themselves to help give students some ideas as well as share who we are with each other. Having done this twice before, I wanted to create something completely different and unique.  I decided to perform a spoken word poem about myself. I thought this would be a great kickoff to my blog for this school year. Best wishes to those teachers out there pursuing an awesome school year for you and your students!

In 1982, I was born to Ed and Peggy
Named after my mother
but everybody calls me Maggie
I'm an Irish twin
and my little sister Jen
was always and remains my best friend
My other BFF I married
And still laugh everyday 14 years later
Throughout my school life I strove for A's
Pleasing others without regard for my own self worth
Passing the tests, acing the reports
No true fire for learning
Just collecting my praise and rewards
Motherhood changed all that.
New babies equal new lessons
No grades, just diapers and baby giggles
No GPA, just a lifetime impression on two little people
I wanted to get it right
Writing my own, new story
I embraced a frosty path less traveled by
I like to joke that I'm a nerd through and through, 
but that's less of a joke and more the truth
I love Thor, Cap, really the whole MCU
Harry, Hermione, and Hedwig too
Aragorn, Frodo, Gandalf and Gimli
Simply?
They entertain and inspire
Stories of love, courage, quests and bravery
Propel me along in my own journey
These things challenge the status quo
As I dismantle long held beliefs and traditions
And forge a new path of learning
Constantly at war with my old thoughts and patterns
Winning these small self-fought battles prepares me
As I fight the thoughts and patterns of a society
Steeped in tradition
And looking at me funny
My baby girl looks down with love
As I create a place for other girls to shine
My mom's battle with the big C
Both scary and amazing
She feels strong, each day a gift
Science is the music that helps her dance
Through hard times, I choose grace and gratitude
Reflection is not for the faint of heart
And yet we grow when we look back
We are stronger where we were broken
Choosing the path less traveled
Is a remarkable choice indeed

One of the most frequent questions I receive about our school relates to the the fear of the unknown... what will happen to our students when they leave our building? How will we know they are progressing and will "fit in" and "measure up"?

I can't have a good answer for this, since all I know is the here and now. All I can share is the true growth happening each day in the personal, academic, social, and emotional areas of our students' lives. How do we quantify this? Most of it, we can't. We can't measure watching a student work to become better at managing impulsiveness, or talk through things with their friends, or work harder than they ever have before on a meaningful project, or to finally become more critical in their problem solving abilities. 

And while I can understand both the logic and emotion behind these fears, these questions start to write a story in our minds that hasn't happened yet... we are making decisions based on the fear of the unknown and the "what if". 

Enter this tweet from Ted Dintersmith from earlier this year:

This.

Just, wow.

Doesn't that make you stop and pause? I felt so much anger and sadness when I read that comment. And yet, the majority of the people in charge of educating that young student continue to lead and make changes based on fear... fear of not measuring enough, fear of not fairly evaluating everyone in the same box at the same time and in the same way... essentially the fear of the unknown.

Well guess what? No one knows. The standardized tests simply line students up within a standard box, and yet, if we challenge the status quo and dig into research like "The End of Average", what do these tests even mean? At a higher level, we can comb through tons of big data without actually getting to know the students within the numbers, without having a frank and meaningful discussion with the teachers who know each student in a deeper way. Or, more than likely, have a frank discussion with a teacher who wishes he/she knew their students in a deeper way, but due to too many students, too many special projects, too many meetings and committees, they don't have this type of relationship with their students. I know they feel angry and saddened by this... I've spoken to them. Ask a teacher who truly knows his/her students and I will show you a teacher who doesn't see much value in standardized tests. 

How can we help students learn their values, learn about who they are and who they want to become? We MUST begin leading and teaching through love and faith instead of fear. We MUST start valuing something different than grades, test scores, perfect behavior, and quiet classrooms.

The student at Ted's meeting made a very poignant and accurate statement about something being wrong. The mental health crisis in our communities is often brought to light in the news and social media. Many discussions are held about how we can influence people in a healthier way and help them find the services and help they need. My thought? Imagine if the COMPULSORY system they are required to attend for 10+ years of their life treated them like humans with unique differences instead of sheep made to fit into a rigid box. The lost feeling of that student could become a thing of the past.

On a deeper note, the student in Molakai who made that statement is a MODEL student. He/She has spent four years of high school working on getting good grades, studying for standardized tests, and running themselves ragged in order to build up their college resume. This was a child, that if his/her parents were presented with an option like The Innovation School, they would say, "My child is fine in the public system. They get good grades, they are consistently top of their class, and they're active in sports and other activities." Please, if that is your child, coming from someone who WAS that student, I'm pleading with you to consider reevaluating what is important to you. Your values about education will shape your child. Your willingness to rebel against the social norm of "average" and "academic success" can make a lasting impact on who your child becomes. I waited until I was in my early thirties before feeling self-worth WITHOUT a grade or praise.

I meet people all the time who have students like this child Ted Dintersmith tweeted about. Most think their child is fine and they never even consider the damage this could be doing. If you're thinking "Well, my child really IS fine. They really excel in a traditional environment!" challenge yourself to give it another thought. Sign them up for a day to shadow a student at our school! See how enriching and empowering a more modern way of learning can be.

Think about the words of that straight-A, 4.0, captain of the _____ team, 25+ ACT score student that stood up and spoke at a community meeting, imploring his/her community to help them find their values, learn who they are, and who they hope to become. The Innovation School and others like it are the places where mental health of students and teachers is a priority and helping everyone involved reach deeper and more meaningful growth as humans. Imagine if our public systems were willing and open to learning a different model and collaborating with places like The Innovation School. Could that be the answer to that child's plea for help?

As you weigh your thoughts after reading mine, ask yourself if your current education values align with what kind of person you want your child to be upon high school graduation. Does that student's comment make you stop and think harder and question some of our social norms that we deem so important within society, especially as it relates to school? If so, reach out, and start valuing something different... sign your child up today for a day to shadow another student at our school! Email me today!

This holiday season, I asked my kids to watch the classic "The Muppet Christmas Carol" with me. This movie came out when I was 10, which is how old my oldest son is right now. It's my mom's favorite holiday movie and I wanted to re-watch it with my kids. After watching it, I went into my office and found my copy of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. My boys and I had just finished reading one of my favorites from my childhood, called "The Westing Game" and I asked the boys what they thought of reading "A Christmas Carol" next. The idea was met with resistance. (I still read to my children each night before bed. Sometimes we spend hours reading chapter after chapter on the weekend or holiday breaks. It's one of my favorite traditions that we've created in our home. Read here and here about benefits of reading to your children.)

"It's only 85 pages long! Five 'chapters' called staves!"

Still resistance. With some bargaining (we have to start this series next) I prevailed and we began reading the story Charles Dickens published in 1843 that has spiraled into one of the most well-known and beloved Christmas stories of all time.

While reading the first stave, I was struck with the beauty and depth of this 175 year old writing. We all know the story. 

Jacob Marley's ghost comes to Ebenezer Scrooge. After much disbelief, Marley tells Scrooge about the chains he forged in life that he is dragging around with him after death. He tells Scrooge that Scrooge's own chains were that long and heavy long ago and Scrooge has continued to forge them even longer and heavier through the years. 

"Jacob," he said, imploringly.  "Old Jacob Marley, tell me more.  Speak comfort to me, Jacob!"

And the response Marley gives is what gave me pause:

"I have none to give," the Ghost replied.  "It comes from other regions, Ebenezer Scrooge, and is conveyed by other ministers, to other kinds of men.  Nor can I tell you what I would.  A very little more, is all permitted to me.  I cannot rest, I cannot stay, I cannot linger anywhere.  My spirit never walked beyond our counting-house -- mark me! -- in life my spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our money-changing hole; and weary journeys lie before me!"

How fitting in thinking and discussing the needed change for education. How far do we walk outside our own homes, our own internal and external struggles, our comfort zone? Do we rove beyond the narrow limits of our own beliefs and fears? Must we travel the path of "traditional", "normal", "status quo" and in doing so, what kind of chains are we forging?

Marley also tells Scrooge what is required by humankind: 

"It is required of every man," the Ghost returned, "that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death.  It is doomed to wander through the world -- oh, woe is me! -- and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!"

Educators and parents have chosen to walk abroad among young people, helping to shape and guide them on a daily basis. How far do we travel for these children? How wide do we go? By embracing and valuing something different than traditional markers of "teaching" or "learning" , we can avoid forging chains we may someday regret having to carry. These chains can be made up of fear, anxiety, inadequacy, diffidence, apathy, dogma, and self-righteousness. 

Perhaps you've been curious about what a different type of education could look like. Will it be messy and chaotic? How will children learn? How will you have evidence of learning? Will it challenge your long-held beliefs? Should it? Bah! Humbug!

BUT... if you are curious, I think the question then becomes: How far and wide are you willing to travel in this life for the young people you love? (Inquire here for more info.)

When Marley tells Scrooge that he will have a "chance and hope of escaping" his fate, Scrooge is afraid and hesitant when he learns that in order to do so, he must be visited by three spirits. Growth and change are frightfully hard enough without the added dread of haunting.

"I -- I think I'd rather not," said Scrooge.

Scrooge is scared but in the end, he is redeemed. He breaks his chains and his earthly spirit travels far and wide during the remainder of his life by honoring Christmas in his heart and trying to keep it all the year. He vows to live in the Past, the Present, and the Future and we are told that Scrooge is better than his word... that he did it all and infinitely more.

How will you respond? How can you create a chance and hope of escaping traditional education and embrace a modern way of educating our young people? Let your spirit rove beyond the narrow limits of where you are right now with your children or classroom... growth and blessings are on the outer limits of your comfort zone!

I leave you with these words from Old Marley:

"Oh!  captive, bound, and double-ironed," cried the phantom, "not to know, that ages of incessant labour, by immortal creatures, for this earth must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed.  Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness.  Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused!  Yet such was I!  Oh!  such was I!"

May you not lament, "Such was I! or even "Bah! Humbug!". May your life be long but too short to see the end of your usefulness as you work kindly in your little sphere. Best wishes this holiday season! Only 6 more sleeps til Christmas!

Value something different. #TISValues #Projects #Passions #Peers #Play
Accepting transfer students. Fill out an application or schedule a tour today.


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After seeing the new movie, "A Star Is Born", my husband has been constantly playing and replaying the soundtrack... in his truck, in our house, everywhere. This isn't a surprise if you know him. (Lady Gaga's acoustic version of "Edge of Glory" is one of his favorite songs.) The song that keeps getting stuck in my head is "Maybe It's Time" by Bradley Cooper. I keep feeling it tug at my heart and relate itself so well to the current state of education. "Maybe it's time to let the old ways die."​

This song has such a sweet melody, but it holds a strong message.​

Why is change so difficult? Why does it seem so hard to embrace the idea of something new? 

Because it means we have to grow. Growth is challenging.

Over the past few months, I have met with quite a few different educators from around the state. They have reached out to me to come tour our school and discuss our philosophy. Each discussion included talk about growth and how our own minds have shifted and grown with the idea of doing school differently.

Participating on the Innovative Education Task Force with our governor, Doug Burgum, I have been to quite a few schools and heard their local administration talk about their journey towards change. It never fails... someone shares that they "didn't really get it at first" but perhaps they took a study trip or spoke to a colleague who was able to assuage their fears.

When we have been steeped in traditional education our entire lives, it can be hard to see outside the box. Educators that live inside the box can see students that are struggling to fit in. Being willing to let go of the box (or smash it completely, which is more our style at The Innovation School) requires a willingness to embrace personal growth and discomfort. It truly does take a lot to change your plans. It really is a huge drain to change your mind. But even though this personal growth is uncomfortable sometimes, our children need us to be strong and brave and bold. And they need it now. 120 years ago our education system was innovative, cutting edge, and preparing students for that time and place. In 100 years from now, I truly believe we will be shocked at what school looked like in 2018. Why doesn't it fit with the modern world we live in? Why is there such resistance to systemic change in most of our traditional schools? (But not all... if you haven't heard of Dr. Cory Steiner, check him out... he's boldly leading a new path at Northern Cass Public School District.)

Maybe it's time to let the old ways die? At The Innovation School, it's not a "maybe". The old ways are dead. Our teachers are alive, creative, and energized. Our students are excited about school and growing socially, emotionally, and academically. We are challenging the traditional system, the traditional fixed-mindset, and bringing flexibility and freedom to our students and teachers by incorporating our values... projects, passions, peers, and play. #TISValues THIS is the new cutting edge education that fits into our modern world.

Are you interested in learning more about our school for your child? (We take transfers throughout the school year.) Are you an educator looking to learn more about our philosophy and process? Please reach out for more information. We know that change is hard. But let's get out of the early 20th century and bring our kids into the present. Join the movement of shifting the paradigm of education!

Have you ever heard someone say (or possibly thought yourself), "Why do we need to change school? It worked fine for me!"

I have uttered these words. Five years ago yesterday, my oldest son started kindergarten and my youngest started preschool. My Facebook memories reminded me. When it popped up in my feed, all I could think about was how much I've changed and grown since that day. (Okay, I also thought about how much they've changed and grown... so little and cute!)

If you or someone you know have already shifted out of the traditional, fixed mindset and are looking for an alternative to traditional school, please reach out. We have financial aid available for this school year for incoming students!

A lot has happened in the 193 days since I last made time to write a blog post. I have thought so many times about different topics I should be blogging about and amazing events of which we've been a part. But the reality is... starting a school takes a lot of time and work and updating my blog has been a low priority. Until recently. Lately I have been pushing our teachers to focus and help their classes reflect upon their learning and their journey. Sometimes you have to hear yourself say it multiple times before it starts to sink in!

I could share a lot about what we're doing, but hopefully you're following our Facebook page and getting a glimpse into the lives of our students. Thoughtful insight from our parents is now updated on our website here. So instead of recapping or summarizing, I'd like to share how I'm feeling right now. And I'm vowing, publicly and online, to work to maintain a better blogging presence of reflection on our journey of learning.

I enjoy quotes and find weekly ones for our staff to focus on. When writing this piece, I stumbled upon this: "To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity." - Douglas Adams

In our open-design type classroom environment, I am able to observe each of our classrooms easily throughout the day. This means I hear what each class is working on, struggling with, laughing about, and sharing with one another. The Finnish education system calls this "small data"... it's the simple but important data that is the heart of developing education around students and teachers. Each day, amid the hubbub of the exciting and student-driven lessons I observe, I am humbled, astounded, and utterly grateful for the three women who valiantly teach our students each day. Sometimes just listening to them, working so hard to help shape and guide other people's children, brings tears to my eyes. It's moving to me that people are willing to give so freely of themselves to serve and help advance the next generation of humans. And our teachers do so with such sincerity and integrity... working hard to form a true connection with our students, with each other, and with our mission. I don't tell them enough or as deeply and as beautifully as they deserve.

When I found the quote from Douglas Adams, I had to turn around from my desk and spy his book on my bookshelf behind me. If you're a fan, you might appreciate the t-shirt I wore to the DisruptWell event saying "Don't Panic!". Since I am a fan and I know that the answer to life, the universe and everything is 42, I started thinking about that number, which led me to another quote... one that touches on the beauty of our staff and inspires me on a daily basis.

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie Robinson

At The Innovation School we value something different. We value our relationships with each other and with our students. We value and live out our mission. We value the support we have had from our community throughout the past 9 months. If you're interested in learning more about our school, please contact me for more information. We'd love for you to feel the connection to integrity and sincerity our staff and school are living out each day.

Hi there! You may be reading this because the mother of your child has asked you to. She may be interested in sending your child to our school, the new independent K-5 school in Bismarck/Mandan. You? You're not convinced.

In preparation for writing this latest blog post, I tried to do some research into this dilemma. My first search was interesting... if you Google "how to convince your husband", the first thing that pops up is "to get a dog", followed by "to have another baby", then "to get a 2nd dog", "to get a cat" and lastly "to move". Not helpful to me, but maybe makes you feel better... she's not talking about new pets or moving!

Then I thought... maybe I should start with a little about who I am and what this school is all about. My name is Maggie and I'm a recovering straight-A student. Have you ever read Calvin and Hobbes? I was Susie.

My inspiration for starting this school? I have two sons who sometimes resemble Calvin. It has turned my world upside-down (for the better) and over the past 3 years I have learned so much about myself, about education, and about learning in general. After much deliberation, research, and hard work, I convinced my husband and sons to trust me as I take on the challenge of starting a new school for our community. And now you are being asked to trust me too. I understand the resistance. Let me break a few things down before I invite you to come see our school.

First, I'd like you to think about the simple idea that learning is natural. Learning new things is what separates us from the animals. It is why we enjoy cool, refreshing homes in the heat of summer. It is why we hop in our vehicles and drive to work instead of trudging there on foot. It is why you can come home from work and play Mobile Strike from the comfort of the bathroom... er, I mean living room (sorry honey!) instead of reading by candlelight. The many things we take for granted are products of someone's natural ability to learn new things. And yet, each of these examples could go one step further... someone learned something, and then took steps to DO something with that knowledge and MAKE something.

I love to make things. (You should see me geek out about our new 3D printer!) I had a dad that enjoyed using his hands, fixing things around the house, and passed this along to me. My sister and I were always included when he was working on something. He taught me how to measure, to use tools (including power tools), and to tackle problems. This last one is important. By allowing me in on his process, he helped me look at problems in a different light, which is the first step towards problem solving and critical thinking. (He also treated me as a competent human being, which was helpful in building my confidence and self-esteem.)

Number 1: The Innovation School is a school for applying knowledge and making things.

Second, I'd like you to think about the people you know who hated something in school, but now find themselves enjoying it. I have some friends that hated gym class but now run marathons. I know others that talk about despising history class but now love documentaries. And how about the people who couldn't stand reading in school but thoroughly enjoy it now? (My husband reads a book a week but to this day talks about how much he didn't like English class - no offense Mrs. Larson... he loves you!)

These are simple examples about how traditional school prioritizes content over student engagement and learning. It's getting better, but not fast enough for our children.

Number 2: The Innovation School is a school where students can learn deeply by drawing on their personal interests and strengths to encourage engagement.

Now, I'd like you to think about your definition of investment. According to The Business Dictionary, an investment is money committed or property acquired for future income. It also goes on to state that "Expenditure on education and health is recognized as an investment in human capital." And I get it. This is the hardest part. Investment in human capital. This is when we start to say things like, "I survived school... they'll get through it.", "I'm sure it's not that big of a difference.", "Seriously... 9 grand a year?!?!?", "How can you honestly tell me it'll be worth it?"

If these are things you've said or thought when you're discussing our school as an option for your child, please know that I understand. I wish it could be different. I am not taking a salary to help keep costs down. (Actually, I found out this is illegal in ND, so I am taking the minimum salary and donating it back to the school.) We are not subsidized by a church, nor do we have years behind us where we finally own our building, etc. And we live in a state where charter schools are illegal and so we have no federal or state funding to help us provide this unique experience to local students. But consider this... if your child attends school in Bismarck, the state is spending almost $10,500 on his/her education per year. (I am not attempting to compare apples to apples as our local public schools must serve everyone and we are unequipped to serve some students with special needs, for example.) But with this knowledge, do you feel your child is receiving the full investment of the state funds being spent? Is this the real reason you are being asked to read this blog post... to consider what more your child may need from his/her school that they aren't getting?

Number 3: The Innovation School is an investment in your child to help them learn who they are, what they are good at, all while learning in context and applying knowledge and building upon it.

And briefly, Number 4: We want to try to be creative in helping you figure out a way to make this work for your family.

Dads... you are important. So very important to your child's well being and success. Research continues to show how much you mean to your child. At The Innovation School, we hope you will consider coming to hear a little more about us and ask us your questions. We are holding a Dad's Night on Wednesday, August 2nd at 7pm at our location. We will be having a barbecue with BYOB. I know you may not be convinced yet to trust me, but please come meet me and some of the special men we have on board as we begin this new chapter in education for our community. We hope to see you there! 

Click here for your free ticket (so we know how many to plan for!)

I've been home for 48 hours, taken 2 naps and gone to bed early. I thought catching up on sleep would help me sum up our experience at CMK, but I still feel like I'm percolating. Maybe that's the takeaway... a full school year of pondering, implementing, and learning more.

In the spirit of brevity, from the advice from Gary (@garystager) to "slice up my blog" and from my husband in regards to my last post ("It was so long!") I will try to sum up concisely, meaningfully, and Twitterishly.

Best quotes:

Deborah Meier (@debmeier) - "The sense of you as a human being to make things internalizes a power to reshape the world... and that carries an implicit message.", "Schools should be places where children keep company with adults.", and lastly "Let's give agency back not only to students, but teachers as well."

Gary Stager (@garystager) - "Learning is natural.", "Ask kids how often they have learned something online but how often they have shared something for others.", and in regards to our personal journey, "Maintain your courage and conviction!"

Pete Reynolds (@FableLearn, @FableVision, @FablePaul, & @peterhreynolds) - "Only human beings can notice other human beings." (in reflection about how amazing technology is but how more amazing people are.)

An art teacher named Andrea attending CMK - "I know I CAN do it, now I just have to move forward."

Ayah Bdeir (@ayahbdeier) - I'm not sure if this is her quote but was on the laptop she used "You gotta break-it to make-it." She was inspirational to listen to... see my last post.

Lastly, our own Kelsy Power (@kelsy_power) - "The kids can do it." I love this because it shows her immense faith in children and passing responsibility to her students... children step up if given the chance to do so.

(In my opinion, the funniest quote from the week was from our own Kaylee Dahl {@kaylee_c_barker}... I made a joke about the box we created to hold our motor for our project and called it the "motor home"... she then said glibly, "We should have just made a motor home... it would have been easier!" It was great to laugh amidst our frustration. And then to see our completed project - video below -  was even that more satisfying.)

Being around like-minded educators at #cmk17 was so uplifting and exciting. The proof that TIME is one of the best things a school can give its students was apparent as we worked on our projects. I think my best takeaway was simply that perfection wasn't what we were striving for. We were looking to do something new and learn along the way. Our finished product wasn't ready for SharkTank, but neither were many others... the journey and what we learned were far more valuable than the end product... another valuable lesson.

Would you like to learn more? Are you interested in hearing how The Innovation School is bringing this type of learning to North Dakota? Are you hoping to teach your child how to be adaptable, competent, and flexible in an ever changing world? Please contact me today to discuss how The Innovation School can be a solution. I look forward to talking with you!

I'm tired. Very tired. My emotions have been through the wringer the past few days. Day 2 of #cmk17 was amazing. After a busy day hearing the infamous Deborah Meier (@debmeier) speak (#teachercelebrity) and a dinner at a great Brazilian steakhouse, the team came back to the hotel and ended up discussing life, pedagogy, and education issues until almost 1:00 a.m. It was an exhilarating discussion... not only within our team, but with many of the faculty for our event including Gary Stager (@garystager), Sylvia Martinez (@smartinez), and Brian Smith (@briancsmith) - our "gear mentor" who has challenged our assumptions, ideas, and guided us (we grudgingly admit after dealing with the many frustrations his guidance presented) in getting to a completed project. (Also an empathy lesson in regards to our students!)

Then Day 3 started. We worked diligently on our project in the morning while we waited for our first speaker at 11:00 a.m. Things seemed to be moving along smoothly. My emotions started to get the best of me (my emotions are more volatile upon getting less sleep) when we got a chance to listen to Ayah Bdeir (@ayahbdeir) who is the founder and CEO of Little Bits (see video below). Her story was not only engaging and entertaining, but also very relatable, personal, and inspiring to me. Ms. Bdeir shared how her mission is to help children become inventors. She is also inspired to help blur the boundaries between disciplines - her thoughts on careers for the future included robotics veterinarians and artificial organ farmers - doesn't get more cross-disciplinary than that! Crossing disciplines truly challenges children (and all people) to build skills that they don't yet have. I felt true inspiration (tears) as well as excitement (more tears... what can I say, I'm a mom now and that's how my overtired body expresses itself!) when she shared the video below. She also shared some insight into the up and down roller coaster she has been on while founding her company. Many of her insights and feelings mirrored my own as I move forward with The Innovation School. I have lows where I wonder why I'm doing this (it's not easy) and worries about finding students and families to join me on this adventure (which is essential to its success). But as Ms. Bdeir shared, when she was at her lowest point, she would get an uplifting email from a family or educator that couldn't wait to buy her product, and so she would lift her head and move forward. This phenomenon has happened to me SO many times during this process of starting our independent school. Local educators sending me a message of support. A family with 3 young children asking to get on a waiting list. Our own staff continually impressing me with their positive attitudes, resourcefulness, and honest insight during this experience at Constructing Modern Knowledge. And so, as in the journey of Ms. Bdeir, I continue to plod forward with my head held high, with a mission to change my community (hers is the world!) by creating an environment where children can be successful impactors of the world around them.

After hearing Ms. Bdeir, the rest of the workday was up and down. Our project initially sounded very simple and quick. We were brainstorming (daydreaming as Sara Wussow likes to say) about extra bells and whistles we could add before our final presentation. Then, as obstacle after obstacle appeared, we began to wonder if we would even finish by Friday! Day 3 was filled with frustrations, excitement, and even a weary case of the giggles as I (over tiredly) found the idea of whittling amusing after my 5th prototype for a custom 3D printed gear. For me, Day 3 was also filled with insecurity and scrutiny. There are many educators here that are familiar with a LOT of the sweet tech available to us, and here was our team working with simple motors, gears, and LEGOs. Which leads to my last and most important reflection...

The theory of constructivism is that learners construct knowledge for themselves and individually construct meaning as they learn. THEREFORE, we MUST meet students where they are.

After scrutinizing and feeling insecure about our final project, it hit me... WE are working FROM WHERE WE ARE. Two of us had never seen Scratch before or even seen any kind of block coding. None of us had ever used a Hummingbird Duo before (or a Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or a simple breadboard). Gears were something we learned (for a test) when we were younger but never incorporated into something meaningful or useful. None of us had ever used a 3D printer or Tinkercad before. Some of us had never used a Dremel. Does this make our team incompetent? NO. This shows our inexperience, but also showcases our ability to learn new things, show perseverance, and is the definition of what we are trying to create at The Innovation School. Students bring their own knowledge to a situation (project, discussion, experience) and build upon that.

Our project is physically small. But what it might not show is what we have learned through working on it. Let me see if I can list some learning highlights... the concept of refrigeration and air conditioning, RPMs, torque, application of gears, importance of stability of a structure, precision, Hummingbird Duo, 3D printing (including custom LEGO gears), Tinkercad, Snap, Scratch, using a Dremel, and waterproofing. Some things we "knew" but were able to actually apply during this project were understanding how gears work, height/width/depth (3D printing), design, speed, and thermodynamics. That seems like a lot to learn in 3 days. BUT that's not even the whole story. I have also learned some remarkable "intangibles". I have seen our team working together as a true team. I have seen one working not only on the project but to make another team member laugh during frustrating times. I have looked to some team members as a resource when I didn't have the right answers. I have seen us building upon one idea and the next to create something new, inventive, and great. I have seen kindness, empathy, and understanding. I have seen four teammates working hard to work together, embracing differences, dealing with frustrations in a positive manner and celebrating victories in an inclusive way. And I have seen some team members embrace a role as "inventor" that was surprising only to themselves... the impact on our team being so powerful that we can no longer see them as anything but inventors who learn! All these experiences have led us to be proud to have made something out of nothing!

And I have also seen constructivism at its finest. I have met Eric from Baton Rouge, who is an expert at 3D printing but was only just introduced to it 2 years ago (and swears up and down that it's learnable). I have heard from Jaime who was educated as a graphic designer but taught herself coding for web development and is now the technology teacher a K-8 school (and helped her team find a coding solution to a problem after 4 hours of hard play, also known as "work"). And from our own Kelsy Power, who understood and was inspired by a faculty member (Josh @joshburker) who wanted to create a physical way to teach students how to find the surface area of a 3D object using nets. (I immediately only thought of fishing nets... another learning experience for me!)

What conclusion can we draw? First off... Constructing Modern Knowledge is the best "conference" you will attend as an educator searching for answers or strategies for progressive education. Second, when you are tired and frustrated, grab some wood and whittle away. (Oh, wait, that's probably just a "had to be there" kind of experience.) Third (or is it second? it's late and I'm confused), the knowledge you bring into a situation directly impacts the outcome of your learning experience as does the effort you put into it. And lastly (this one I know is on target), the people you surround yourself with (learn from) help you make a true and immediate impact on the world.

Want to "make" a better future by creating makers OF the future? Consider sending your child to The Innovation School. Contact me with any questions. Good night! (Or is it morning?!?!?) :)