Wow. I mean… WOW. The feeling you get when you see or listen to someone or something that is totally and unequivocally  inspiring is.. well.. entirely ineffable. I suppose that’s the point. Listening to Trevor Mackenzie speak is engulfing. He embodies kindness, empathy, and open-mindedness. How reassuring to hear someone that seems to be an “expert” say that he too, must continually and repeatedly unpack who he believes himself to be, and how he engages with the world. Below are some of the most salient and exciting points I absorbed from our talk with Trevor. I cannot possibly express how grateful I am for that lecture.

What do I want to make sure I remember to remember as I move forward in this educational pursuit? (Much of this, of course, being my own interpretations of what was said… with a wholehearted nod to the man himself).

  • Do some unlearning about your learning
  • Make sure you only do what only you can do
  • One must cultivate and demonstrate a sense of self to encourage it in students
  • “Good conditions” have to be cultivated
  • Know when you need to relinquish control
  • Students don’t need to be told what they are bad at
  • Strong relationships help students feel psychologically safe
  • Create conditions for an understanding between people/of oneself
  • Constantly check in – are you staying true to your values?
  • Help students become competent question-askers
  • Students are more likely to meet expectations that they helped create/set
  • Ask questions and REALLY LISTEN
  • REALLY LISTEN
  • REALLY LISTEN
  • Did I mention, REALLY LISTEN?
  • Allow students to do their “thing” when possible
  • Be able to ask yourself something like: “Is Hamlet really the most important thing right now?”
  • How do you help students “own” the curriculum?
  • “What do you notice? Wonder? Know?”
  • Constant reflection practice
  • Teach students to teach you how to teach better…
  • Items such as portfolios need to include the “ugliness” of learning
  • The smallest thing can have the greatest impact
  • Work and act from your values, and constantly revisit them
  • Live your values
  • REALLY LISTEN!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven’t felt this inspired in a long time. Dealing with the pandemic has been undoubtedly difficult for everyone. However, having to try to learn how to be an educator from my kitchen has been disheartening. I suppose this chat reminded me that our situation has not robbed us of our humanity, or our passion. Yes, our learning experience is different than every PDP program that came before us – but the same desire and drive is still there. We wish to be teachers – good, kind, fun, engaging, and effective ones at that.

Photo by Cameron Robinson on Unsplash