I’ve been digging into the meaning of “future ready learning” and reached out to some amazing individuals to gain deeper insight.  They have already inspired me simply by their responses to an email.

• By doing the best work of your life, I'm a firm believer that you not only change your destiny forever, but also your organization's, because you act as a beacon of inspiration to everyone around you. [PERSONALIZED, RELEVANT, CONTEXTUALIZED]
• And I would hope that you would see me: -practicing compassion, -staying focused despite countless distractions/interruptions, -successfully negotiating complex relationships with other physicians, family members, and hospital staff. [SOCIALLY EMBEDDED]
• 1-1 staff briefings to review progress updates, challenges, and any other issues needing support. [COMPETENCY BASED]
• Tactical in the mornings and then...1-on-1’s in the afternoon. [OPEN-WALLED]
• ...garage start-up mode… [OPEN-WALLED] 
• ...how kids can better prepare themselves for what’s ahead…[LEARNER AGENCY]

Why am I examining “future ready learning?”  Because I am in a district that constantly pushes itself improve learning for ALL children.  As educators in LASD, we are encouraged to take risks and to reach for what might be seemingly impossible.

Images, metaphors, and similes are how my brain processes information.  Recently, I’ve been picturing myself at the open door of a flying plane wearing goggles and a parachute.  I have never sky dived, but if I could be any other type of creature, it would be a bird.  To be able to fly, see the world, soar up to heights with incredible vantage points, and then land at places of my choosing - my nirvana.  Well, since turning into a bird won’t be happening soon, I someday will instead experience the sense of flight through sky diving.  To be able to jump out of a moving plane without wings of my own, I’m going to have to get myself to a place where I am confident that I will land safely.  After doing all the logical research and finally arranging the day, I imagine the most telling point will be whether I jump or am pushed.  If I jump, I’ve done so willingly and my ride to the ground will surely be exhilarating.  I will look around and marvel at the landscape, feel the air pressing against my skin, and ultimately enjoy a once in a lifetime experience.  However, if I am pushed, my mind will focus on the fear, the what ifs.  What if my parachute doesn’t open?   What if it get’s tangled?  What if I don’t land right?  And...I will miss the whole point of the ride.

To learn, our children must trust us.  They must know that we love them regardless of their outcomes.  They must know that when they fail, we will be the first to extend a hand, dust them off, and help them get started again.  To do this, we need to build cultures that include them and put them at the center.  They matter!

So in that spirit, I need the help of our children.

If you read the emails this week about the blue parakeet, you might have picked up on a not-so-subtle hint that Almond had a bird residence with no birds.  The Mariona Family heard my yearning and we have two beautiful parakeets now at Almond.  We couldn’t be more excited to welcome these winged beauties into our school.  Our children have been popping into the office to admire them.  For starters, they’ll have 3 mamas:  Mama Jane (Sanders), Mama Jill (Williams), and Mama Erika (that’s me).  You see, for bird to be well adjusted, they need to build a bond with their humans - I did not know that.  So, the original plan of circulating them through classrooms...well, not gonna happen.  Why?  Because that’s not what’s best for them.  And at Almond, we do what’s best for those in our care.

They desperately need names, and that’s where our children come in.  We want their help.  Please ask them to stop into the office to say hello and to check them out.  They can also see their pictures via this Tweet.  One is blue with white markings and the other turquoise with yellow markings.

If it interests your Almond Eagle, please support them in taking a minute to complete this 2 question survey to suggest names.  As a staff we will narrow down choices and put it out to our students for a vote.

Thank you for all that you do to contribute to a trusting, nurturing environment for our children.