Learning Sprints
Wisdom from the Field #31
In his best selling time management book The Bullet Journal Method, Ryder Carroll recommends Sprints when learning something new.
A Sprint is a brief learning experience within a larger goal, with no major barriers to entry. Ryder’s example: If you want to learn how to cook, the first sprint is to develop knife skills. Within a Sprint are definable, actionable tasks, such as how to hold the knife, sharpening, etc. Finally, the time frame for a Sprint should be relatively short.
A series of Sprints organized well should lead to accomplishing a larger goal.
An additional benefit is if a Sprint doesn’t work out, you haven’t committed too much time or effort.
“Dividing larger goals into Sprints also acts as damage control. Perhaps one Sprint doesn’t work out. You realize that it’s not for you, or you come across information or a situation that throws a wrench into the gears. If you planned a Sprint well, shutting it down won’t derail you from related Sprints. At worst, you may have to shuffle around your schedule a bit.” (pg. 164)
Sprints are safe risks.
Rethinking Strategic Plans
Spring is the time when schools start planning for next year.
This work can feel overwhelming. It is especially true with literacy goals. Which area needs our attention for professional development and school improvement? Because reading, writing, speaking and listening all work as one, it is difficult to wrap our collective minds around.
Instead of yearlong plans, what if we break up professional learning into Sprints?
For example, if we are trying to build a better reading program:
Examine the faculty’s shared beliefs about reading instruction.
Begin with co-creating classroom libraries with the students.
Transition to shared reading as a powerful instructional strategy.1
The difference here compared to traditional professional development is, these sprints invest in teachers before resources.
Wisdom from the Field is also a feature in my new book. Join me May 5 to chat about it on Twitter!
For more information about this approach to professional learning in literacy, check out Regie Routman in Residence: Transforming Our Teaching Through Reading to Understand.