Where Has the Wonder Gone?

Hi.

Welcome to The EDU Files, bringing education insights, stories, and vibes to your inbox every Tuesday.

It’s been a minute. You are still looking great, I see.

Took the summer off to spend some time with the family. We needed to disconnect and just do nothing. We had a couple of little trips to the beach and a family reunion, but we did a lot of hanging out. You know, no schedule. It was awesome.

But I am glad to be back and hope that you are too. As always, my ask of you is that if you enjoy this content, click on the forward button in your email and pass it along to another educator friend. I appreciate it.

Now, shall we?

Deep Dive 🤿

Where Has the Wonder Gone?

Do you ever wonder? 

Wondering is defined as a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. 

Pretty awesome, right? 

My kids started school yesterday, and last week, I walked with them to their middle school meet-the-teacher event. We toured their classrooms and met with their teachers for the upcoming school year. 

It wasn’t too exciting for me, which means it was an even less exciting event for my 6th and 8th graders. 

We were engaged in lots of conversation about the homework load, the tests and quizzes they would take, the end-of-course tests, and state assessments. It was not fun. 

So, as I reflected on my experience, I wondered a few things. I want to share them with you. 

What Is the Purpose of School?

This is a deep question that I will attempt to answer in one to two paragraphs—forgive me, please. 

I think about the purpose of school through the lenses of my kids (not just my biological kids, but also the thousands of kids I served as an educator) and teachers. 

The purpose of school is not about all of the things we heard about at my kid's middle school event. School is about inspiring the wonder of learning in kids. 

You can do that in a lot of ways, but the takeaway is this: We need to design our teaching and learning systems to create those feelings of surprise when learning something new and exciting. We need to show students the beauty of learning and experiencing something new or persisting when you don’t get something right the first time and trying until you are successful. We need to pique students' curiosity to ask questions about their learning. 

Sure, there is room for all the things—the assessments, the homework, and note-taking—but that is not our purpose. 

How Did We Get Here?

It’s not the fault of any of the teachers we spoke with at the middle school event. I am not blaming anyone. It is the system—it’s lost. 

Our teachers did not enter the profession to emphasize some of the things I have outlined here. They entered the profession to teach, which is an art and a science of wonder. 

It is about inspiring children's curiosity and engaging them in ways that make them want to learn more. 

Never did a teacher go into our profession to administer a state assessment. We are lost. 

We have put teachers and students in systems that emphasize what turns kids off from learning. I want my kids talking about how they can find a cure for Cancer, not interpreting their reading score on the last diagnostic test they took. 

We are responsible for this. However, we also can refocus on our purpose. We can put the focus back on wondering more. 

What Can You Do?

Trigger Warning: If you can’t handle matter-of-fact, straight-to-the-point rhetoric, stop reading. 

For Teachers

Refocus. 

You are beginning a new school year. We know that there are tests and state assessments and all the things. But I want you to inspire wonder in my kids. I know you do. Refocus and shift your practice to do that. Teach kids at high levels—all kids—and support the hell out of them. Let them be curious and talk about that with them. Reflect on their mistakes. 

Do this - and they will be able to critically think their way through those assessments thrown their way. 

For Leaders

Grant permission. 

Give your teachers permission to inspire wonder in their kids. If you walk into a classroom and your feedback is focused on the standards, pacing, or alignment with state assessments, stop. 

Shift your feedback to how your teachers can ask better, deeper questions that inspire wonder and curiosity. Are kids in class engaged in genuine wondering about their learning? 

How do the systems that you have created support that every day, in every classroom, for every student? 

Final Thought

You control this. 

Do not come with an excuse of why you can’t implement more wonder in your school or classroom. I want you to wonder about what is possible.

Track of the Week 💿

Turn on, tune in, and check out…

Click the iPod to check out the track I have on repeat this week. I mean…

Check out The EDU Files Playlist here to keep you rocking throughout the week.

Surfing the Web 🌊

Here is my favorite EDU content from the web this week.

• 100+ Critical Thinking Questions for Students to Ask About Anything by We Are Teachers

• 25 Surefire Student Engagement Strategies to Boost Learning by Robbie Lodge

• Cultivating Wonder and Awe in the Classroom by Stephanie Farley

• Why Curiosity Enhances Learning by Marianne Stenger

Be sure to check these out…

Feedback 💭

What’d you think of this email?

Please take 10 seconds to drop your thoughts on this week’s content. I value your feedback. Thanks a bunch.

Before You Go…

Do you enjoy this content? Share it with an educator friend or have them sign up for The EDU Files here.

Thanks for spreading the word, and keep up the good fight. The work you do matters.

See ya next Tuesday! 🍏

PS: If you are interested in supporting your school or district with any of the content or strategies in The EDU Files, click here to drop me a note or to talk more.