What does it essentially mean to design and practice being a Learn Forward school or home?  It means learning is at the centre.  It means focusing on process.  It means being committed to your practice.

As the Chief Learning Officer of Willowstone Academy, I can say, my heart is broken open at the end of the year.  The children are growing up.  My own graduate stirs memories and they swirl around like creek water cutting a bubbly path.

I know for all of us, as we come to the conclusion of things, our hearts are full and soft. We are celebrating making it through the days, weeks, and months of our nurturing children…together.

We are so proud of them!

After 10 years of service at Willowstone Academy, 20 years as a mom, and almost 25 years in education, I am grateful. I can see a bigger picture.

Allow me to tell a brief story from this week…

Currently, my 19-year old son is looking for summer work. It isn’t easy.  We’ve only asked him to keep trying; each day to reach out, open up, and try again.

I’m proud of him because he is overcoming and has faithfully been hitting the pavement. You know, it is not easy. However, it is his work.

For those of you who have read my book, Learn Forward, you know he has cerebral palsy with a hearing impairment.  So, he has his share to overcome, like we all do.

Yesterday, he went to drop off a resume at the movie theatre. He took the bus, his primary mode of transportation. He had resume and application in hand. He took his backpack, wallet, and phone. When he got to the business, he found a locked door and realized he had 5 hours to wait.

Because mobility and transportation are not his long suit, he waited. He just waited for the doors to open. He waited five hours.

When he finally got home, he felt dejected and weary, despite submitting another resume and application.

It stirred compassion in me. Yet, I was glad about what came out of my mouth next. Truth be known, it could go either way.  I don’t always say the ‘right thing.’

But, this time, I heard myself saying,

“What did you learn?”

You see, what is most important for our children, is not that they get it all right.  It is not that they fit exactly in the right hole at the right time, something the efficiency model of schools created over the last century.  It is not that they are ultra-successful at every age and stage, in every project and every endeavour.

Truly, the most important thing, is that they know what to change, what to do differently, what to try next, or what to shift.  They know how to ask the question, “What am I learning?”  They are ready and willing to try again, do their best, and keep growing.

These are the traits of the lifelong learner. These students will lead the human renaissance required for our culture and a sustainable global village.

The most important question is,

“What are you learning?”

I’m holding that question right now, even as we conclude, celebrate, and honour.

“What are you learning?” It is at the centre of our Table, because it is what matters most.

Think about the five most important journeys…

What are you learning about yourself? What are you learning about others? What are you learning about changing the world? What are you learning about your value and ‘enoughness’? What are you learning about faith?

Keep asking the questions, each day.

Bathe the questions in unconditional love…

And boldly ask them…

We can teach our children about a growth mindset.

“What are you learning?” AND “You are loved.”

Things get simpler when we can focus on what is most important: these messages of growth and messages of acceptance.

For the sake of the children,

Karine