In a world where we are all looking for mentors, leaders, and paradigm shifters, Opal is one place where you will find them. \u00a0Thank you, thank you, Opal School.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nWe, Ena Shelley and Louise Cadwell, just returned from an amazing and wonderful educational week at\u00a0Opal School of the Portland Children\u2019s Museum<\/a>,\u00a0a public charter school now 11 years old.\u00a0\u00a0This is the second year that\u00a0Butler University<\/a>\u00a0has offered an intensive week-long seminar entitled:\u00a0Creativity, Imagination and Learning: A Field Study in Early and Elementary Education<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0based at Opal School in Portland, OR. \u00a0Ena Shelley (Dean of the\u00a0College of Education at Butler University<\/a>) and Louise co-teach the course along with Susan MacKay and the staff at Opal. \u00a0Perhaps because we had laid the groundwork last year, this year, we were able to journey even deeper into the work, the philosophy and practice at Opal. \u00a0This year, we were also ready to make more and stronger connections between our experience during the week and our contexts and schools back home.<\/p>\n<\/a>Last week, participants were struck over and over again by the language used by all the teachers at Opal that invites children\u2019s best selves and best thinking into the classroom in every discipline and during every social occasion. \u00a0For example, \u201cJames, would you share your thinking about this idea?\u201d \u00a0\u201dCould we make room for Cindy\u2019s voice?\u201d \u201cJane, who would be a good thinking partner for you?\u201d \u201cWhat does it mean to be wild?\u201d \u201cWho lives underground?\u201d \u201cWhat can your hands do with clay?\u201d \u201cWhere do stories come from?\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nThis practice of language choice and framing open questions, has grown over the years, influenced greatly by the practice in\u00a0Reggio Emilia<\/a>, Italy and also many authors and educators here in the United States, among others,\u00a0Ellin Keene\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0Karen Gallas<\/a>in literacy, \u00a0Catherine Fosnot and Maarten Dolk<\/a>\u00a0in mathematics, and\u00a0David Orr<\/a>\u00a0andFritjof Capra<\/a>\u00a0in systems thinking and sustainability. \u00a0A book that they are reading at Opal right now is\u00a0Opening Minds: Using Language to Change Lives\u00a0<\/em>by Peter Johnston. \u00a0Louise read it before she arrived in Oregon and it is worth ordering right now to read right away. \u00a0So applicable immediately to your classroom and school, it is filled with examples and stories about what kind of language and stance supports a flexible learning mindset and what closes learning down to a fixed mindset. \u00a0Johnston sites\u00a0Carol Dweck\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0research and takes it farther.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nEvery time we go, we come home from Opal thinking something like this, \u201cThis is it. If you want to see complex theories in action, learning for the future taking place right now, rich, inspiring places and spaces and the real-life, hard work of collaboration that is paying off for children and their community, go to Opal.\u201d \u00a0And, we are always re-inspired to do the work that we do with renewed insight and clarity, purpose and passion.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nYou can gain a peek into the life and experience of Opal by reading their\u00a0blog<\/a>. \u00a0Every week there are posts, stories of learning, links to books and other worthwhile events and opportunities. \u00a0Louise will write her next few posts for the\u00a0Cadwell Collaborative blog<\/a>\u00a0on aspects of last week because there is so much more to reflect on and to share. \u00a0In the meantime, we suggest that you follow the Opal blog\u00a0and take advantage of all that they have to offer in professional development even if you can not go there. \u00a0There is an\u00a0on-line course<\/a>\u00a0that you can sign up for now that was very successful the first time it was offered. \u00a0There is also a\u00a0free webinar<\/a>\u00a0on Sunday the 24th offered by NCTE and Susan MacKay.<\/p>\n