There Will Always Be Waves

Floating in the cold, northern waters, I struggled to keep myself upright. My life jacket kept my head above the water allowing me to focus on the challenge that awaited me. Ski tips up, rope between the skis, knees bent, grip secure. Dad waited patiently, watching me over his right shoulder, the smoke from his ever present cigarette circled up and around the brim of his navy Detroit Tigers baseball cap. With a deep breath I bellowed the two words I knew I would have to shout, “hit it!”

The motor roared and the boat reared up like a bull leaving the chute. The rope snapped taut causing me to lurch forward, I thought my arms would be pulled from their sockets. The boat pulled me against the water, and as I began to pick up speed it became obvious this was not going to work out well. Falling forward my skis fell off and I was being pulled through the water head first. “Two words” I thought to myself, “dad said remember these two words”. As the green waters of Waskesiu lake began to fill my mouth, nostril, and eyes the two words popped into my head. Let go!

Sputtering, coughing, and searching for my skis, I watched as dad came back around in a large, slow circle. Leaning over the side of the boat, with a smile I’ll never forget, he simply said, “you forgot to let go”. As we laughed, I prepared myself for my next attempt. The cycle continued. I’d yell, “hit it”, dad would open the throttle, and I would struggle to get myself up and out of the water. It only took a few attempts, but eventually I was being pulled behind the boat, feeling like the king of the world. Knees shaking, arms aching, I was doing it. I was water skiing! I felt like nothing could stop me, I felt like I could do this forever. That was until we encountered the wake created by another boat. With knees buckling and arms flailing, I went down in a glorious crash, causing water to fly everywhere. It was incredible, and I couldn’t wait to do it again!

How you think you look.
Reality!

As I have been reading Softening the Edges, with a particular focus on self assessment, these memories of first learning how to water ski came flooding back. My dad had supplied me with all the tools I needed, from the boat to the skis to life jacket to the rope, everything was in place. He had asked my uncle Jim (an avid water skier at the time) to share some words of advice with me. In the end, learning how to water ski came down to me and me alone. I was the one that had to live the experience, making quick adjustments in my grip and stance on the fly. I had to signal to my dad to speed up or slow down and I had to have the ability to predict and prepare myself for hazards that were coming my way. Eventually through a lot of practice which involved multiple spills, I developed into a pretty good water skier, even learning how to navigate a slalom course on one ski. I thought I was pretty good, until my friend convinced me to try ski jumping. Then it was back to step one….hit it had a whole new meaning!

Every day we are asking our students to engage in learning. Every class, at some point we want them to say to themselves, “hit it!” and let the learning begin. Writing about self assessment, Katie White (@KatieWhite426) helps us reflect on the importance of a safe environment where students are free to be vulnerable. She reminds us, “(w)hen students leverage an understanding of themselves, they can strive to achieve their personal and academic goals through purposeful actions designed to lead to a desired outcome” (p. 112). It caused me to reflect on how we are creating these environments. I thought about the discussion circles I frequently see in June, Cara, Sharlene, Shantel, Bobby Jo, and Brittney’s rooms. While sitting together on the carpet in a circle seems to suit students in K to 4, would it also be a powerful practice in grade 10, 11, and 12? I’ve seen Jesse do this with his grade 11 & 12 students in his History classes. Ask him about the impact it can have. If we believe that we are here to serve every student on their learning journey, what intentional moves are we making to create the safe environment these students need to take the risks associated with self assessment?

Katie also writes, “(t)o honor the whole person and soften the edges of assessment, we must invite students into the learning cycle. This includes daily reflection alongside teachers” (p. 113). As I read this I immediately thought about the way we view everything we do through MPSC and the importance of #side-by-side learning. However I also thought about my dad’s words, “you forgot to let go”. As I reflect on my time teaching I recall being guilty of either giving too much or too little feedback, and in the end not giving the students what they really needed in the moment. This week, as you are presented with opportunities to walk alongside your learners during their moments of self assessment, how will you ensure you are in the Goldilocks zone of support, not too much and not too little? After all, we can provide the equipment, but in the end it is our learners who need to develop those skills needed to survive the waves that will inevitably come their way.

Here’s what is on the horizon this week:

Monday

  • K – 4 staff meeting (Monday, Dec. 3, 2018)
  • Self assessment discussion with students during class visits

Tuesday

  • Bruce away (pm) for a classroom environment planning meeting
  • Self assessment discussion with students during class visits

Wednesday

  • Self assessment discussion with students during class visits

Thursday

  • EA meeting
  • Self assessment discussion with students during class visits

Friday

  • Self assessment discussion with students during class visits

As always, create a great week!

You May Also Like

About the Author: Bruce Mellesmoen

62 Comments

  1. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this outstanding
    blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
    I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this website with
    my Facebook group. Chat soon!

  2. Good day I am so delighted I found your blog page, I really
    found you by accident, while I was searching on Aol for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just
    like to say thanks a lot for a tremendous post and a all round enjoyable blog
    (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back
    to read much more, Please do keep up the awesome work.

  3. Useful info. Lucky me I found your web site unintentionally, and I’m surprised why this coincidence didn’t took place in advance!
    I bookmarked it.

  4. It is in reality a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied
    that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to
    date like this. Thanks for sharing.

  5. I blog frequently and I genuinely appreciate your content.
    The article has truly peaked my interest.
    I will bookmark your site and keep checking
    for new information about once a week. I opted in for your RSS
    feed too.

  6. I think this is one of the so much significant information for me.
    And i’m happy studying your article. But should observation on some basic
    issues, The web site style is great, the articles is in point of fact excellent : D.
    Excellent activity, cheers yynxznuh cheap flights

  7. Today, I went to the beach with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my
    4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.”
    She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and
    it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is
    completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
    cheap flights 2CSYEon

  8. Wonderful items from you, man. I’ve remember your stuff previous to and you are just too great.

    I really like what you have bought here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it.
    You are making it enjoyable and you continue to care for to stay it
    sensible. I cant wait to learn far more from you. That is actually a
    great web site. cheap flights 3aN8IMa

  9. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Many thanks,
    However I am having issues with your RSS. I don’t understand
    the reason why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there anybody else
    getting identical RSS issues? Anyone who knows the answer can you kindly
    respond? Thanks!! yynxznuh cheap flights

  10. Useful information. Lucky me I discovered your site unintentionally, and I am stunned why this
    twist of fate didn’t came about in advance! I bookmarked it.

  11. I really love your website.. Great colors & theme.
    Did you develop this site yourself? Please reply back as
    I’m wanting to create my own personal site and want
    to know where you got this from or what the theme
    is called. Thanks!

  12. Appreciating the persistence you put into your site
    and in depth information you offer. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Great read!
    I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google
    account.

  13. Hello, i feel that i noticed you visited my website so i got here
    to return the prefer?.I’m attempting to in finding things to improve my site!I assume its
    adequate to make use of some of your ideas!!

  14. With havin so much written content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism
    or copyright infringement? My site has a lot of completely
    unique content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is
    popping it up all over the web without my agreement.
    Do you know any ways to help stop content from being ripped off?
    I’d definitely appreciate it.

  15. Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download
    it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple
    tweeks would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your theme.
    Thanks

  16. I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog
    posts in this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site.

    Studying this information So i’m glad to exhibit that I have an incredibly excellent
    uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I so much definitely will
    make sure to do not put out of your mind this web site and give it a look regularly.

  17. I simply want to tell you that I am beginner to blogs and certainly savored this web page. Very likely I’m going to bookmark your blog . You really come with excellent well written articles. Thanks a bunch for sharing your webpage.

  18. Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to find It really useful & it helped me
    out a lot. I’m hoping to offer one thing back and aid others like you helped me.

  19. Hello! Quick question that’s completely off topic. Do you know how to make
    your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my iphone.
    I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to
    fix this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share.

    Cheers!

  20. Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you, However I am going through troubles with your RSS.
    I don’t understand why I can’t subscribe to it.
    Is there anybody else having the same RSS issues? Anyone that knows
    the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  21. Pretty component of content. I simply stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to
    assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
    Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.

  22. Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to
    say that I have really enjoyed browsing your weblog posts.
    In any case I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I’m hoping you write once more very soon!

  23. Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am
    a blogger, and I was wanting to know your situation; we have
    developed some nice procedures and we are looking to trade techniques
    with others, please shoot me an email if interested.

  24. whoah this blog is magnificent i like studying your posts.
    Keep up the good work! You realize, many people are hunting
    round for this info, you could aid them greatly.

  25. Everything said made a lot of sense. But, what about this?
    what if you added a little information? I mean, I don’t
    wish to tell you how to run your blog, but what if you added a
    post title that grabbed folk’s attention? I mean There
    Will Always Be Waves – What Do YOU Think?

    is a little vanilla. You might look at Yahoo’s front page and note
    how they create news headlines to get viewers interested. You might
    try adding a video or a picture or two to grab readers excited about
    everything’ve got to say. Just my opinion, it would
    make your blog a little bit more interesting.

  26. Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group?

    There’s a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content.

    Please let me know. Cheers

  27. I am really impressed with your writing skills as well as
    with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
    Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a
    great blog like this one today.

  28. My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find most of your post’s
    to be precisely what I’m looking for. Do you offer
    guest writers to write content available for you?

    I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on many of the subjects you write regarding here.

    Again, awesome web log!

  29. Just wish to say your article is as amazing.
    The clearness in your put up is just excellent and i can suppose you are an expert on this subject.
    Fine along with your permission let me to grasp your
    feed to stay up to date with coming near near post.
    Thanks one million and please continue the enjoyable work.

  30. Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative.

    I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future.
    Lots of people will be benefited from your writing.
    Cheers!

  31. Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your site in internet
    explorer, may test this? IE nonetheless is the marketplace chief and a large portion of other folks will omit your
    magnificent writing due to this problem.

  32. Hello, i think that i saw you visited my web site so i got here
    to return the favor?.I’m trying to in finding issues to enhance my web site!I suppose its adequate to use a few of your ideas!!

  33. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate
    to this fantastic blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
    I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group.

    Talk soon!

  34. Hello there, I found your website by means of Google whilst searching for a related topic, your web site
    came up, it seems to be great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google
    bookmarks.
    Hello there, simply become alert to your weblog through Google, and located
    that it’s truly informative. I’m gonna be careful for brussels.
    I’ll be grateful in case you continue this in future. A lot of other folks shall be benefited out of your
    writing. Cheers!

  35. I think the admin of this website is genuinely working hard for his web page, for the reason that here every
    material is quality based data.

  36. I’m very pleased to uncover this website. I wanted to thank you for your time for this particularly fantastic read!! I definitely savored every little bit of it and i also have you saved to fav to look at new information on your site.

    1. Thanks for the comment Elda! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to the new school year and getting back to my weekly posts 🙂

  37. I’ve started to make self assessment a part of our summative assessments when we complete a unit. This allows students a formal way to reflect on their past work and make adjustments to their future approach to learning. The students can also give me information about the type of assignments they completed and their level of engagement. Having our students own their learning and the benefits of that learning is critical to engagement and growth.

Comments are closed.