The Flint Journal ran a piece yesterday about a visit by Penny Wilson (a "play consultant" visiting from the UK) to Chris Bradshaw and Kristi Parker's classes at Hamady Elementary school. Penny spent an hour with 4th and 5th graders in each class making fanciful impromptu play spaces out of cardboard boxes, sheets, and various other recycled materials. Penny's visit was part of outreach for an upcoming documentary called Where Do the Children Play, produced by Michigan Television and filmmaker Chris Cook -- who came to the school with a crew to film the event and interview some of the kids. Strangely, though, the article didn't mention Penny at all.

Justen and Dasmyn -- Hamady High School students who are working on mini-documentaries as part of one of the outreach projects -- were there, too. During the time the reporter and photographer were there, Justen was filming while Dasmyn was crawling under tables with the kids, and Justen ended up with a photo and quote in the paper -- proving once again that the best way to get a male human's attention is to stand around holding an expensive piece of electronic equipment. (Take note, women!)

There is also an audio interview with Chris Cook.

From today's Education & ECE department retreat: A tentative stab at organizing our goals/hopes/wishes for students that go through our teacher certification program, in the form of "things our graduates should have, do, know, and be":

REFLECTIVENESS AND THOUGHTFULNESS
Inquiry/critical thinking/reflection/empowerment to seek questions as well as answers/self-awareness

PASSION FOR THE PROFESSION
Self-starter/curious/engaged/passion for teaching/vision/creative/life-long learning/joy

FOCUS ON LEARNERS AS PEOPLE
Diversity/respect/understand kids' thinking/caring/compassion/differentiated instruction/authentic/relevant/nurture/listen to kids/global consciousness/broad conception of assessment/developmental perspective/empowerment/students as designers of learning

KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCE
Knowledge (content and strategic)/awareness of and access to resources and tools/command of various literacies/big picture/command of language

PEDAGOGY
Class management/task management/broad range of pedagogical strategies/pedagogical connoisseurship/flexibility/planfulness/continual adaptation/knowledge of standards and professional practice

IMPACT ON SOCIETY
Social advocacy/agent of change/producer of education/citizenship/social engagment/social justice/subversiveness within constraints

PROFESSIONALISM
Taking responsibility/self-care/professionalism/duty/role-model in community/integrity

STYLE
Aesthetics/self-expression/"being who you are"/voice/style/attention to the learning environment (physical, social, technological, and intellectual)