Never Cut Down Their Jungles
I've been inspired by Twitter once again. While scrolling through my feed, I saw the above quote from C.S. Lewis via Evan Robb. It resonated with me immediately. This is the kind of quote that we need taped in often-seen places. Everywhere. It can serve as a constant reminder and lens through which to examine our choices. Are we irrigating deserts? Or are we cutting down jungles?
Needless to say, this quote stuck with me. And it seemed that it was meant to, as I soon heard more and more inspiring words in a similar vein. The very next day, in fact.You see, each summer I help coordinate and present at Shenandoah University's Children's Literature Conference. This year, I spoke about amplifying inquiry across reading and writing workshops—a topic that you all know is near and dear to my heart. That's a topic for another time and post, though.On this particular day, I had the pleasure of learning from the ever insightful Jess Keating. Jess gave a powerful and inspiring talk about Wild Things and the Act of Astonishment. From that title alone, one can tell that Jess is a jungle-builder. Indeed, many of her points coincided beautifully with the words of C.S. Lewis. Consider her quote below:
Yep, she's definitely one with the jungle.
Later, when chatting with Jess, I told her about the C.S. Lewis quote and how much her presentation kept bringing it back up in my mind. For example, she also spoke about how rather than asking children, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" we can instead ask, "What do you love?" This removes the pressure. This removes the fixed mindset belief that there is one, final answer. This gives kids space to build their jungles.
I told Jess how I think this would be a great shift to make when speaking with adults as well. After all, how often do we hear, "What do you do?" And how rarely do we hear, "What do you love?" (Watch out the next time you see my at a cocktail party!)
Adults deserve jungles, too.
What are ways that we might cut down jungles? We cut down jungles when we tell students what to read, write, or think...and/or what not to read, write, or think. We cut down jungles when we model in ways that convey our way is the only right way. We cut down jungles when we project our desired paths as the only paths. We cut down jungles when we make decisions based on the need to feel "in control." We cut down jungles when we fail to provide students with opportunities to question, explore, think critically, take risks, and grow!
How, then, might we irrigate deserts? We irrigate deserts when we ensure opportunities for student voices to be heard and empower students with agency as authors of their own learning. We irrigate deserts when we promote and model a growth—rather than fixed—mindset. We irrigate deserts when we encourage students with active roles in various stages of learning: thinking about, planning, modifying, and creating. We irrigate deserts when we cultivate flexible environments and provide options for ways of working depending on student needs or preferences—thus allowing students the opportunities to discover their unique needs and preferences. We irrigate deserts when we actively listen to our learners—when we truly see them as the incredible human beings they are.
Education is beautifully rewarding and astonishing (thanks again, Jess!) work. But, at times, it can also often feel like exhausting labor. The question is: are we exhausted for meaningful reasons? Are we cutting down jungles...or irrigating deserts?