It's 4:30 am and I have been awake for approximately two and a half hours. This isn't unusual for this time of year. It is as if I awake from a summer slumber to a million items on my to do list. This year is no exception. My fellow colleagues and I started our 2014-15 school year on Tuesday. We met new staff and bonded and began to get ready for our 5th year adventure with our young explorers. This year I find myself in a very similar situation as last year at this time. I have moved out of my previous space (room 204) and I will be working with a new co-teacher who has yet to be hired.
I found this post that was written a year ago almost to the date... As Queen Anne Elementary grows we find ourselves with more teachers, more students and more fun! This year I had to move out of my beautiful and light filled office to a classroom (#204). As sad as I was to see my cozy space go I'm super excited about the new space. I'm calling it the Learning Lab.
The Learning Lab means a lot of different things to me. I crafted the idea of a Learning Lab a long time ago when I was in graduate school. I had this 'dream', a philosophy or an idea that no child should feel singled out. No child should feel embarrassed to get extra help or pulled from class. I have talked to many adults about how when they were young they felt embarrassed that they had dyslexia and went to the resource room.
I think the Learning Lab is a place where kids get small group instructions. Where students discover their passion. Where there is warmth from adults and help if you need it. It's a place where it is safe to make mistakes. Where other kids don't make fun of you for struggling with something. Instead they celebrate your accomplishments and support your struggles.
The whole point of the Learning Lab is to include lots of learners. If you receive Tier 2 instruction (see future blog post) you get to go to the Learning Lab. If you get IEP support you go to the Learning Lab and if you need a calm place to talk you are also welcome. On behalf or the Learning Lab department I'd like to welcome you! Feel free to stop by and see us!
What is so coincidental is that I woke up at two am thinking about inclusion. Thinking about the fact that although the Learning Lab had a successful year last year we are moving once again. My students experienced a lot in that room. They experienced growth, both academic and social, they cried, they laughed, they learned and they felt loved. Most of all I hope that they felt included. I hope that the Learning Lab was a safe place. A place they wanted to go to in order to get extra help or see a smiling face. Some came to have lunch with me or Mrs. Minas or even to show me their newest dance routine. The most amazing part.... many kiddos came to spend time with me even though they didn't have an IEP. Many kids came because they recognized what a special place it was.
Sadly, I'm moving once again and this time the 'inclusion' piece is not quite as attainable. And friends, I need your help.
We have known since the beginning of QAE that we would run out of space. We have "algorithmed" and reconfigured and sketched and highlighted and had many conversations about getting creative with space. Alas, there was no easy solution and we have been forced to use every.room.available. That means that our staff has lost their lounge and that our students have lost their computer lab. But for me it is far more difficult. I'm moving out of our affectionately called Treehouse into a corner unit, otherwise known as a portable. This is certainly not ideal and a very difficult one for me. For the past few days the Learning Lab staff has worked hard to rearrange our furniture and get our space ready for students. The problem is that it doesn't feel "included". It feels cold and isolated from the rest of our student body. It feels lonely.
I am currently working closely with our PTA president and the Learning Lab staff to make this space more inviting, pleasant and included. We are hoping we can achieve a 'campus feel'. If you have ideas on how we may achieve this please send them to me. I'm also looking for a new name. The Brick is the brick building, the Treehouse is the tall white building and I refuse to call my space "the Portable". It sounds creepy and cold. I'm thinking The Cottage, or The Cube? Send me YOUR ideas!
In truth the idea that I may lose all my lunch friends, my dancers, singers and entertainers or just the kids that want to stop in write on my board and chat. Well, it breaks my heart and brings tears to my eyes. The Learning Lab NEEDS to be a place where kids can come and be themselves. It NEEDS to be a place where all are welcome. It NEEDS to feel INCLUSIVE and comforting. This will not be easy because no one passes by the portable. Their class is not next door, or upstairs, or downstairs.
Please stop by and see us. We'd love to have you and we have coffee.