PERSPECTIVE…. the way someone views something, their point of view; definition (a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view)

Perspective gives us the opportunities to be creative and innovative

We have so many different experiences that we bring to the classroom and our perspectives can be different according to those experiences. Our students come to us with experiences and perspectives. How many times do we sit down and take in a student’s point of view? Not just when we ask them what their questions might be, but truly sit down and experience learning from their perspective?

I’ve been thinking about how we can help to shift perspectives of students and staff. How can we take a moment to look at the other side of the story, problem, conversation, illustration? We have to change our perspectives to change learning. Points of view are dependent on experiences and what better way to change those POVs than by helping students to experience amazing things.

We have to change our perspectives to change learning.

I know that the first thing I do with my students is to sit down with them and include myself in the circle, not in a chair where I am elevated, but within the entire group. I encourage students to write using different types of illustrations and this got me thinking about perspective. How do our students see us compared to how I see myself? We can’t discount their voice, we have to listen to them and ask them their thoughts in that moment.

The world looks at events in many different ways and we need to provide opportunities for our students to create their own perspectives. I watched some clips of the Paralympics in Rio this week and was blown away. My perspective was changed because of what I saw these amazing athletes do.

Time rushes by and we keep pushing forward because we have to cover content. Really we should be slowing down and looking at events from different perspectives. How’d the wolf feel in the 3 little pigs? What did the illustrator do in this story to make you see the character differently? How was this article written to change my opinion compared to another article on the same event?

Perspective gives us the opportunities to be creative and innovative, but it’s not the teacher’s perspective that makes the difference. It’s the perspectives of our students and how they feel about learning that makes the biggest impact on us all!

It’s the perspectives of our students and how they feel about learning that makes the biggest impact on us all!