[Guest Blog Post] You Gotta Blend!

The idea of “blended learning” first entered my consciousness about a year ago, when my principal informed our staff that we would be moving to this model the following school year.  All I really gathered at that time was that blended learning somehow involved personalized learning and technology (possibly even robots!).

So when my principal offered me the opportunity to be a part of a team of teachers who would get to attend professional development regarding blended learning, I jumped at the chance.  Okay, full disclosure: I didn’t exactly jump, but I agreed to do it because I was curious to find out what blended learning was all about.  And if it was going to be an expectation in my school, I wanted to have a voice in the process.  

What I’ve since learned about blended learning over the last few months has fundamentally changed how I run my classroom and opened my eyes to the possibility and power of reaching every student in ways that I didn’t think was attainable before.  

Nerd Alert: I recently visited the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in my hometown of Indianapolis.  While strolling through the museum, I came across an exhibit featuring Truman Lowe, a Ho-Chunk sculptor and professor of fine art at the University of Wisconsin.  The following quote, attributed to Mr. Lowe, was posted next to the exhibit: “One thing that I’ve learned about tradition is that in order for a tradition to survive it has to change.”  And below that, the inscription, “When the environment around them changes, [people] must adapt to the new.”  

These words struck a chord with me, and since it had been in the forefront of my thinking for weeks, I immediately related these sentiments to blended learning and my immersion into it.  

It really got me thinking. I realized that before blended learning came into my life, I held some very dear “traditions” in my classroom: “math workshop works the best!” “direct instruction is supreme!” “my students can’t learn without me by their side!” and “6th graders smell kinda weird!” represent just a few examples.

The thing is, some of these “traditions” are not necessarily what’s best for ALL students; they’re oftentimes what’s best for me.  That is a tough pill to swallow. Because as a teacher, I want what’s best for my students and I want them to succeed.  All teachers do.  

And THAT is the “tradition” that truly matters: we want our students to be successful.  Not just in our classrooms, but in the “real world.”  In life. It’s why we do what we do.  

Of course I realize that many of the “traditions” we hold dear aren’t inherently bad. We don’t necessarily have to get rid of them completely. But they may need to change a little bit.  

• I’m still giving direct instruction (in the form of a mini-lesson), but I’m spending less time standing and delivering in front of the class.  I'm using videos or other ways to get this same information to my students.  

• I’m still teaching small groups, but blended learning allows me to meet with students more often.  Every single day.  

• I’m still having students practice the day’s teaching point, but now they’re doing it as one of four rotations.  

• I’m still giving students opportunities to practice fluency, maintenance and mathematical reasoning, but I’m asking them to take more ownership over these tasks by working collaboratively or by giving them videos to guide them through it.

• I'm still using exit tickets to collect data and drive instruction, but now I have access to even more real-time information on my students through technology integration and digital platforms.

In fact, I’m still doing most of the SAME teaching that I’ve been doing all along, but through blended learning I am presenting it to my students in a DIFFERENT way. This is the overriding message that I’ve tried to share with my fellow teachers in my school.

Blended learning gives me the opportunity to work with every student in a small group every day, to offer more choice to my students more often, to give them opportunities to collaborate with their peers, to collect more useful data so I know exactly where they are and what they need, and to trust them to take more ownership of their learning.

The world around us is changing constantly and rapidly. Our students are coming into our classrooms with a multitude of needs and abilities.  Therefore, our classroom practices must “adapt to the new.”

I’m still working toward this ultimate goal. It’s messy. It’s even a little scary.  For me, it’s been a slow, intentional process.  But I believe that it is truly what’s best for helping me help my students to be successful.  

As a member of the blended learning team at my school, my goal has been to encourage my fellow teachers in their journey toward blended learning. To me, it’s about taking one small step at a time in that direction. To that end, I wrote the song “You Gotta Blend” as a way to inspire our staff, ease apprehension,  and break some of the tension that big changes can sometimes bring. You can do this! Take it one step at a time!  We all want what’s best for students. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.

I hope it brings some encouragement and motivation to you on your blended learning journey as well.