Amidst the rain and the storms, we may at times forget about the sunshine that came before and the rays of light that will come again.  We must have faith that behind the clouds is a bright beautiful sun; full of warmth, healing, and the power to regenerate.

Today I’d like to take a moment to celebrate some of the bright spots where the LASD and Almond vision to revolutionize learning through personalized experiences for children - shines brightly.

• In a classroom where flexible and responsive learning tools (not simply furniture) have been embraced, students created an open space where they were able to choose how they wanted to learn.
• A teacher had students complete questions cards in math and then she met 1:1 with each student to provide personalized coaching on overcoming a difficult concept.
• In a third grade classroom, during math, students were divided into three small groups.  Each group participated in instruction that was relevant and matched to their math ability level.
• In the STEM lab students weren’t given the answers when challenged to build their Doodle Bots.  The growth mindset was instilled in them by encouraging them to push through their struggle to discover solutions on their own.
• In a 6th grade classroom, students played jeopardy to review their learning on the history and influence of world religions.  Student engagement was palpable via the earnest interest and enthusiasm evident in their contributions.
• In another 6th grade classroom, the teacher sat on the floor aside students as she conferenced with them on their writing project.  She asked reflective questions and checked in with each individual.
• In yet another 6th grade classroom, groups of students energetically planned their Science Expo projects and utilized “Lego - Build with Chrome” to create a model of their project.
• In a second grade classroom, students worked in small groups or partners to write their own version of a “Runaway Gingerbread” story after having compared and contrasted ones from a variety of different cultures.
• In a kindergarten classroom, students used a rubric with smiley faces to assess their own writing.
• In TK, student choice was honored during center time while the teacher worked with a small group of students on targeted skills.

As raindrops fall, while they may at times blur our ability to see far into the horizon and leave us feeling wet and cold - let us not forget to remember the sun’s touch on our skin, the birds song in our ears, and the beautiful blossoms that are sprouting all around us.  This world is a beautiful place and the marks we are making in it, each and every day, are valued and worthwhile.