Harkness UPDATES November 30, 2020
The Cave
Someone standing at the mouth had
the idea to enter. To go further
than light or language could
go. As they followed
the idea, light and language followed
like two wolves—panting, hearing themselves
panting. A shapeless scent
in the damp air ...
Keep going, the idea said.
Someone kept going. Deeper and deeper, they saw
others had been there. Others had left
objects that couldn’t have found their way
there alone. Ocher-stained shells. Bird bones. Grounded
hematite. On the walls,
as if stepping into history, someone saw
their purpose: cows. Bulls. Bison. Deer. Horses—
some pregnant, some slaughtered.
The wild-
life seemed wild and alive, moving
when someone moved, casting their shadows
on the shadows stretching
in every direction. Keep going,
the idea said again. Go ...
Someone continued. They followed the idea so far inside that
outside was another idea.
-Paul Tran
The Harkness approach to learning is grounded in belief that deep learning comes from authentic student voice and inquiry. When students drive the conversation, share their best ideas and work collaboratively, they construct observations and conclusions and make deep meaning of problems we have placed “ on the table”. In their investigations they also learn and practice the skills of civil discourse, which lie at the heart of democracy. We need to teach the skills of civil discourse now more than ever. And yes, this takes time.
We are so pressed for time during COVID! Some educators have expressed, “I do not have time for Harkness anymore. It takes too much time to teach the students Harkness skills and we have so little time with them as it is! How am I going to get through the content? It is just easier to lecture.” As a response, I would share what I have heard from students this fall:
“We miss Harkness discussions”
“I wish we could talk to one another and look at each others’ faces instead of talking to the back of each others’ heads.”
“It is just boring sitting in class working on our computers”
“I hardly feel any engagement with school at all anymore as everything is so disconnected”
“ I am so glad we are in school. Last spring was so boring”
(actual words from HUHS students)
Our classrooms and our classroom practice does not resemble what we have done in the past; all we can do is do the BEST we can given the constraints we face, and teach with compassion, rigor and reliance. The way we do Harkness may not look anything like last year, and that is okay. Use these three concepts as a guide:
Prioritize Strategize Connect
We are focusing on these three concepts in our Harkness PLC this year, and we are asking you to consider these three questions:
What elements of Harkness do you believe are the most critical for teaching and learning in your classroom?
How can you teach these skills and behaviors in this new environment?
How can you stay connected to your students to build community and celebrate joy?
“The key instruction is to stay in the present. Don’t get caught up in hopes of what you’ll achieve and how good your situation will be someday in the future. What you do right now is what matters.” ---Thich Nhat Khan
Circles are allowed for Teamwork and Harkness Discussions!
Classroom furniture may be configured so that students can sit in a circle, but students need to be 6 feet apart at all times. There is no “15 minute limit” for student conversations, as classrooms are “contract- traceable” units. Kate, Ryan and Chris Urban have been experimenting!
Harkness posters are ready!
Stickers are coming !
We have created sets of HARKNESS POSTERS for those who may want to display them in your classrooms. You can see a slide show of what the posters look like here. This week we will be creating stickers that you can give to students to acknowledge and celebrate Harkness moves and skills.
Please write to me and let me know if you want a set of Harkness posters and/or stickers if you do not have a set already
Resources for your Harkness Practice
Pete Hall, Creating a Culture of Reflective Practice: Capacity-Building for Schoolwide Success
Zoretta Scott Hammond,"Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain"
Calling In, Calling Out sheet for students ( from Seed the Way)
Materials to aid you in TEAMWORK
Great Openers for Harkness Discussions- list of ways to open up conversations
Sentence Stems for Meaningful Conversation- a complete list- you can print off and modify
Threats to Meaningful Dialogue- from Matt Henchen
Digging Deeper and Asking Probing Questions- great handout for students to use at the table
Courageous Conversations Academy: list of courses running until December, 2020
"The greatest single antidote to violence is conversation, speaking our fears, listening to the fears of others, and in that sharing of vulnerabilities, discovering a genesis of hope."- Rabbi Lord Jonathon Sacks
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