Curiosity for Regulation ~ Curiosity for Learning
What comes to mind as you think of March? March Madness... basketball...brackets...cheering on a favorite team? St. Patrick's Day...green...luck...fun times with friends? Daylight Savings Time...the start of more daylight...increasing minutes of sunlight? Varying weather...continued chances of snow & cold...sunshine & the start of warmer days?
I encourage you to head into March with curiosity. Through the lens of curiosity ask yourself...what/who do I need to get curious about? ... what is important for me to get curious about? When we get curious we cannot be in an amygdala hijack, so it also serves as a regulating mechanism. When we get curious we expand our breadth and depth for learning. The following are some videos to inspire curiosity.
How to Expand the Horizons of Your Curiosity | Simon Sinek (1 minute 49 seconds)
Curiosity Is a Superpower - If You Have the Courage to Use It | Big Think (2 minutes 34 seconds)
Early Childhood: Using Open-Ended Materials to Spark Curiosity (3 minutes 6 seconds)
Elementary: Dedicating Space for Curiosity and Exploration (3 minutes 56 seconds)
3rd-8th: Sparking Curiosity and Solving Real-World Problems (5 minutes 28 seconds)
7th-8th: Putting Curiosity at the Heart of Scientific Inquiry (4 minutes 20 seconds)
HS: "What Is Mindfulness?" - Awakening Kindness and Curiosity at School (2 minutes 21 seconds)
"Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will." ~James Stephens
Getting Curious with Data
PBIS Apps Teach by Design ~
The February PBIS Apps Teach by Design article, Defining Equity in Education: What It Means and Why It Matters, brings accurate and meaningful focus on what equity is really about in education. The importance of getting curious about this ... "equity lives at the center of PBIS implementation." To help bring accurate focus to it ... "it's time to get specific about what that looks like and why we pursue it." This article does a deep dive into what equity in education really is, provides information about measuring equity in school climate and school discipline, as well as five important questions to ask of your data. As you read this article and dive into this work remember to get curious.
Edutopia Articles ~
The following are additional articles to continue gaining ideas related to equity in education.
Using Data to Advance Equity - "Listening to students is a valuable source of data as schools seek to support students and create more equitable learning outcomes."
Pursuing Equity for Neurodivergent Students - "Teachers can approach and instruct students with compassion and encouragement to subvert the idea that neurodivergence indicates maladaptive behavior."
How to Conduct a Systemic Equity Audit - "Recommendations from a targeted report can help school leaders plan and implement policies that benefit all students."
A Framework for Disability Inclusion at School - "School leaders and teachers can use this model to learn about and fight ableism through self-reflection and systems change."
A Focus on Equity in Math Instruction - "Math teachers can use short activities based on student goals related to equity in order to make classes feel more inclusive and accessible."
"On the Road" & Action for Happiness
"On the Road" Video (5 minutes 38 seconds):
Kindness 101: Embracing wonder
Action for Happiness Calendar:
Quote:
"Mindfulness is choosing to be aware of the present moment with a kind, open, & curious mind." ~Unknown