My Interview With A Very Special Student

<p>Currently, the most-downloaded episode of the<a href='https://www.labineverylesson.com/student-centered-science-teacher-podcast'> Student-Centered Science Teacher Podcast</a> is Episode #12, <a href='https://www.labineverylesson.com/student-centered-science-teacher-podcast/episode/1b79c4fa/what-students-say-about-interactive-science-lessons-and-my-student-centered-classroom'>"What Students Say About Student-Centered Learning In Science"</a>.</p> <p>In a way, this makes perfect sense to me.  As a teacher seeking to transform my instructional practice, I was most concerned about how the students would receive it, what they would do with it, and how it would impact the standards-based assessment outcomes that are most commonly used to measure learning. </p> <p>I thought, "What if the students don't cooperate?" and "What if the learning experiences I designed don't connect with assessment-content and skills?".  </p> <p>In Episode #13, though, I was only able to report on what my students have said.  I wasn't able to actually have my students actually speak to you.</p> <p>Today, though, I'm bringing you an actual interview with an actual student!  And, guess what?!  He's not my student!  No .... he's my son.  🥰</p> <p>Max is in fourth grade and apparently has an amazing science teacher (not me!) who values student-centered principles, encouraging her students to learn through experimentation.</p> <p>Recently, he shared with me the specifics of a lesson he completed and the feelings he experienced at the end of a relatively long lesson.  His words were impactful, even to me.  They exemplify exactly what I seek to achieve in my classroom, both content knowledge and growth mindset.  The words he uses to describe the experience are priceless and oh-so inspirational!</p> <p>Though this episode is a bit different from some others I've prepared for you, this one will motivate you to ditch the "What ifs?" swirling around in your head and get right to the business of making the mindset shift you'll need to transform