Yes, I Have An Agenda and So Should You: The Learning Agenda

Thank you for leaning in and listening to episode 7 of CALM Conversations about Learning!The A in CALM is for Agenda and we’ll be discussing the importance of having a daily agenda prepared not just as a tool for organizing learning time but for building trust.In its simplest terms, an agenda is a list of items; a tool used to organize meetings. But you can also have an agenda; a motive, an underlying intention. This episode addresses both because having an agenda makes it possible to plan an effective agenda for children’s learning time. Conversation Points: The Check-in creates safe and brave spaces for learning, which doesn’t just mean that the child feels safe in the learning environment but has the freedom of academic audacity and autonomy. When a child can trust the adult teaching her, when she can trust the environment, and when she can trust certain details and events of her day, she is in a safe and brave space and this makes for effective learning.Systems and structures are necessary for creating safe and brave spaces for learning. Being intentional about creating daily agendas builds trust.Zaretta Hammond, author of Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain argues that routines and rituals are crucial to fostering expectation and independence. Routines and rituals are especially important for children who live in unstable households.   Visionary Homework:Create a bulleted agenda that outlines YOUR ideal peaceful and productive month. Whether it’s 30 days of parenting, 30 days of teaching or 30 days of YOU, what would your agenda start with? What kinds of routines and rituals would you implement? Please and Thank You:Follow! Subscribe! Rate! Review! The Proof:Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain by Zaretta Hammond