Teaching in the Netherlands (Part I of II)
STUDENTS NEED US TO MODEL BEING A LEARNER
I am thrilled to have the privilege of teaching in my first language. I say to the grade twos, “I am a learner too.” One bright little guy proceeds to correct my Dutch. I graciously model being a lifelong learner, repeat the correct wording and use the word again a couple of sentences later. This repetition quickly creates a bond.
LEARNING FROM THE ELDERLY
For six days, I teach grades two and six units on life lessons. In grade two, we prepare interview questions for the seniors in a retirement home and decide which issues are most important. Then we walk to the home, get to know each other over tea and cookies, and get answers to our big questions. We ask challenging questions such as:
“How can we be brave?” “How can we get along with someone? How do we take care of each other? The seniors are very kind to us. They say,
Don’t give up.
Always keep trying.
Ask for help when you need it.
Look after each other.
STUDENTS LEARN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS THROUGH MOVEMENT AND GAMES
We learn to give and take by walking and standing in neutral when someone else is speaking. We learn to freeze, making meaningful pictures with our bodies (tableaux). We learn social and emotional skills like taking turns, being creative with a partner in movement and trusting ourselves to try new things, becoming aware of our feelings and how we respond to others.
CO-TEACHING IS LEARNING FOR EVERYONE
Co-teaching with the homeroom teachers brings out the most in the students. Teachers and students alike always switch in and out of a role, reflecting on how the story we are creating together is like real life. The discussions are often in-depth. Students learn to take responsibility for the way they are being (curious, open-minded, resilient) so they can do what is expected (success criteria), so they can have the results of their hard work (communicate ideas, proud). Be, Do, Have is an eye-opening strategy giving students responsibility for meeting the success criteria so they can experience the outcomes. At the end of the sharing performance, students reflect on the question, “What have you learned?” Here is a clip of their response. The students are speaking Dutch, and there are English subtitles.