As EXPLOREschools wrap up their final labs of the year and look forward to the Summer Institute, it is an opportune time to reflect and express the NEXTschool movement in creative ways. 

We invite participants to send us their creative reflections about their own NEXTschool experience to date – please email us at nextschool@learnquebec.ca. Here are a couple examples to serve as inspiration:

Congratulations to Vanessa Gold, a member of the McGill NEXTschool research team, as she was recently named one of the Top 25 finalists in the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s 2019 Storytellers Challenge. Check out her inspiring video performance here:

How might we innovate Quebec High Schools using Systems Change? NEXTschool

 

Each NEXTschool will adapt the model to its unique values, mission, context and community. While not wanting to promote a ‘cookie cutter’ approach to education, the following poem is another creative way to share the ‘essential ingredients’ of the NEXTschool initiative:

Recipe for NEXTschool 

 

To make a thriving NEXTschool
Here is what you’ll need:
Some measuring cups, a mixing bowl
Many ingredients, indeed.

Begin by pouring in one litre
Of an open, flexible mindset;
Season with creativity,
Keeping the batter slightly wet.

Add five full heaping tablespoons
Of each subsystem, STARC,
Be sure to blend in smoothly,
Making the batter cool and dark.

Over low heat, melt the students’ voices
And add them to the mix;
Knead in lots of empathy and insights,
Until the batter sticks.

Carefully measure out one cup
Of experiential situations;
Fill another cup with community projects
And add them to the creations.

Add a heaping teaspoon of flex-space
So collaborate, NEXTschool students will,
And sprinkle in technology
And space for all to chill.

Stir in a kilo of time for relationships
And a dash of humour and wit.
Drizzle in some coaching skills
And let the mixture sit.

Chop up all of the curriculum
And mix it all together;
When complete, fold in the competencies
The batter, now as light as a feather!

Measure out a cup and a half
Of teachers’ and principals’ good will;
Whisk in their dedication to diversity
And to their ever-growing skill.

Toss in some time for design thinking
And stir in a makerspace.
NEXTschool kids will be working
To make this world a better place.

Take out the food processor,
Toss in and finely grate
New structures and new practices
To help students motivate.

While heating the oven to 300 degrees,
Spray the baking pan
With lots of reflection and dialogue
Between all involved in NEXTschool-land.

Pour the mixture in and bake
Until it’s golden brown;
After about two hours or so,
Remove and let cool down.

NEXTschool is all ready now
To engage learners in their day;
Garnish with a dab of courage,
And devour NEXTschool, all the way!

– Liz Falco

 

 

lizfalcoNEXTschoolAs EXPLOREschools wrap up their final labs of the year and look forward to the Summer Institute, it is an opportune time to reflect and express the NEXTschool movement in creative ways.  We invite participants to send us their creative reflections about their own NEXTschool experience to date - please email...