Embrace Moments to Spark Curiosity: 3 L.E.A.P. Tips
Riding on the beach against the wind, my husband, Michael, and I pushed on to challenge our endurance. Both of our boys rode with us as our destination was the Kiawah River, which was several miles down the beach. The river meets the ocean in a unique fashion, encouraging dolphins to enter, showing off how they swim and interact to their admiring audience. Our family knew the ride would test our endurance as the wind was stronger than usual as we rode along the shore. Our first born, Julian, took off ahead to beat us all there. Our youngest, Nolan, stayed with us for the most part, but kept calling to us to slow down or stop in order to see what he spotted.
To be honest, at first my husband and I felt inconvenienced. We were timing our ride and working to increase our heart rates and knew that Nolan could maintain his pace to ride with us. With the wind rushing in our ears, we could faintly hear Nolan call from the distance, “mom, dad! It’s a jellyfish!” Nolan spotted a jellyfish washed ashore, and wanted to share his awe with us. We told him we would see it on the way back as we knew the return ride would have the wind at our backs and not provide as great of a challenge. We all rode on, but then again we heard, “mom, dad! Look at this conch shell!” Briefly pausing our ride we were about to hurry him along again when both Michael and I looked at each other and realized what we were doing. Here we were with a common goal in mind and yes, our entire family agreed to take on the challenge together, yet Nolan simply wanted to take in his surroundings and all he was discovering. It wasn’t planned, but often, those moments are the most important.
Humans Have a Natural Desire to Explore and Learn
At 12 years of age, he still has a desire to explore and learn about the world around him. I say ‘still’ because research demonstrates that the older we become, curiosity tends to decrease. Nolan is in his element when outside and able to stumble upon what makes him curious or when he can help others with tasks. In that moment I realized we were doing exactly what so many of us do as educators when the pressure is on. Rather than embracing his curiosity and allowing him to run with it to learn, we were rushing on to get to our end point.
How often do we as educators pause to listen to our learners’ questions and allow them to experience wonder and awe?
Is our pacing so brisk that we miss opportunities to spark curiosity and develop passions?
Learning Needs to Feel Meaningful
I believe that we write our lesson plans with the best of intentions. But, when it comes down to it, teachers share that when pressed for time it’s reflection and questions that get bumped from the plan. It brings me back to the topic of engagement and empowerment. If we are facilitating learning or instructing, but continue to skip over the amplification of student voice through asking students to reflect or consider what they wonder, we are missing a vital component of authentic learning while also squashing their natural sense of curiosity.
Authentic learning isn’t about shoving content at learners with the expectation that they memorize it for an assessment for a grade (yes, this is a whole other topic and I’m not saying that assessment isn’t important and I understand that grades are often an expectation- we will tackle this another time). What I am saying is that in order for learning to be authentic, our learners need to get their hands on it. They need to feel that it’s meaningful to them, and we need to consider how to draw kids in to want to learn. As educators, we need to pause and consider how we, along with our students, are embracing moments- deepening curiosity.
It’s Okay to Take a Pause
That day on the beach, we chose to embrace moments and slow down. Yes, goals are important because they foster intrinsic motivation and allow us to experience incremental success. However, slowing down to explore and wonder is equally as important. My friend and fellow educator, Annick Rauch, wrote a similar post recently titled, Through the Eyes of Children, and shares the importance embracing curiosity, wonder and joy. While together with my family, we experienced authentic learning right before our eyes that we could have easily sped by and missed. We welcomed our natural sense of curiosity, wonder and experienced immense joy!
During our time at the beach we experienced the hatching of Loggerhead turtles and assisted the volunteers who ensure they’re protected. We also examined the shape, color and texture of jelly fish, discovered shells and discussed how they formed. Together we observed deer behaviors along with how dolphins playfully interact in the shimmering waters of Kiawah River. We also spotted alligators and learned from a naturalist who answered questions and shared information. Meanwhile, for those of you who are goal oriented like me, I also accomplished many goals of my own that incorporated levels of challenge. I am someone who needs to remember to embrace moments. Moments come and go, we have a to make the choice to be present.
Striking a balance between accomplishing goals and seizing moments can be challenging. It’s important for all of us to remain mindful of how we benefit from balance, including our learners. Although pacing curriculum and preparing for assessments can create the urge to forge ahead, I encourage you to embrace the moments that allow learners to just be. Doing so can deepen learning as kids make unanticipated connections as they converse, reflect and explore with others. Additionally, journaling and recording our thought processes can contribute to our growth. Embracing moments cultivates curiosity and as I share in my book, Take the L.E.A.P. Ignite a Culture of Innovation, curiosity is essential to learning.
Three L.E.A.P. Tips to Encourage Curiosity
- Encourage learners to dig into their natural sense of curiosity through visible thinking strategies such as See, Think, Wonder. Developing a culture of reflection where learners begin to slow down to consider what they wonder about an image or topic fosters metacognition, helping kids learn to be more self-aware.
- Provide opportunities for open-ended exploration. This can be done within any content area. Perhaps learners want to know more about an author or how sound waves are created. Or, empower learners to explore, create, and make within makerspace or materials accessible in your classroom.
- Maintain a “wonder wall” where learners post what they’re curious about and then provide time to for them read others to see what sparks interest. Doing so can help foster topics to explore during genius hour or within passion projects.
How Will You Embrace Moments and Spark Curiosity?
This year, my goal is to take time to embrace more moments with learners, colleagues, friends and family. Of course, my goals will continue to grow and I’m dedicated to work toward them- that’s how I thrive! My schedule seems busier than ever and the 2019 school year has yet to begin for me (in NY we begin in September). However, I see how rushed the majority of us are. Stress is evident as I talk with educators about their needs and desires as professionals. Stress is equally identifiable in our learners. As a result, it can diminish the desire to learn and grow. If chronically overwhelmed, our brain becomes hyper-focused on survival, trumping it’s ability to experience curiosity and develop deep thought processes.
From experience there is a greater benefit to slowing down in the classroom and being more intentional in how we facilitate learning and incorporate reflection and communication amongst peers. Let’s make this the year where we help our learners reach their fullest potential by inspiring curiosity and deepening learning! Make an impact that lasts a lifetime.
