I focus much of my attention and time to innovating learning environments and practices.  Even in the oddest situations, I try to find something to learn.  Yesterday, I was able to learn a new technique for giving someone critical feedback, and it still has me giggling to myself today.

I was walking with my team to a special event to hear from our new Chancellor.  We chose to walk through the Lower East Side as a little mini-adventure.  I love walks like this, down new streets, seeing things I haven't seen before.  And walking down Orchard Street was pretty cool.  There were stores I had never seen, interesting restaurants and bars, galleries with 3D pictures.  A feast for the eyes.  Who would have known it would lead to a feast for our ears.

As we walked down the street, there was a shoeless man, late 20s/early 30s, sitting on the sidewalk near a small piece of luggage with his phone plugged into a LinkNYC public station charging up the battery.  As we approached him, he began to look me over and says, "Nice tie and tie clip, man."

Wow.  The day was hot and muggy, but a random compliment is always appreciated.  So I shared my gratitude with him, "Thank you so much.  I appreciate that."  And we continued walking.  Apparently he wasn't finished.  I left too soon.

Yelling down the block to me, "Yo!  You need to lay off the gluten, bro."

As my team and I continued our journey, we laughed and laughed.  It was super funny.  We realized during our ensuing discussion that this guy had dome something really innovative that we might learn from.  He reinvented the traditional Compliment Sandwich.

In the newly learned Open-Face Compliment Sandwich, you start with a quick compliment to begin the conversation.  But don't let that distract you from getting to the "meat" of the discussion.  Quickly ignore any thanks and gratitude, and just state the necessary Critical Feedback.  

"I love what you've done with your hair.  Stop chewing with your mouth open."

"Your smile really brightens the room.  Your hair makes me want to cry."

"I'm so glad to see you on such a beautiful day.  Children are frightened of you."

I'm not yet sure if this will work professionally, but it could make some difficult conversations with friends go much more quickly.  And with fewer friends after the conversations end, there will be less of a need for difficult conversations overall.  Win-Win, right?

It was an interesting exercise in finding the learning moment in a situation like this.  And we found one, albeit sarcastic, but we found one.  And I am still laughing today.  That makes the Open-Face Compliment Sandwich a winner in my book.

Side Note:  I got home and was preparing dinner.  A vegan wrap.  His words rang in my skull about gluten.  I ate it as vegan bowl with rice.  Critical Feedback received.  Thank you again, shoeless sidewalk sage.

As I work to rethink what school can and should be, I know how important it is to listen to all stakeholders connected to our schools.  I have been talking with school leaders, community leaders, teachers and teacher leaders, and parents.  This weekend, I sought out the primary stakeholder in schools - the students.

I asked for a students to volunteer to be part of an advisory panel to speak with me about their experience in Middle School and to answer some questions to help advise me on how we can improve Middle School for students in the near future.  They were willing and had some thoughtful insights to share with me about their school life.  Their candor was refreshing and still has me thinking about their ideas.

"We need more clubs and sports."
A problem with many smaller school settings is that often there are not enough resources to allow for diverse academics, arts and electives, as well as sports, to allow students to more fully participate in the school community.  We need to rethink resources, both in school and from the community, to provide opportunity for a well-rounded education.

"We should have more control over our schedule so we can pursue our own interests."
​I have been speaking out for enabling more agency for learners for some time.  I believe, and have seen time and again, learners can lead their learning path.  We have to let go of so much control and TRUST them.  

"Why don't we have classes that give us financial skills and habits for life like saving money, doing taxes, how to read contracts."
There are so many "habits for life" that we need to be more intentional about exploring with our learners.  We are not in this alone.  How do we leverage the life experience of our families and community to help support this work?

"Why are there classes that move slower than others?"
"Why can't we learn the same things, but in different ways.  Not slower.  Everyone learns the same thing.  Just understand that we all learn these things differently."
YAASSSSSSS, young people!  #Dropthemic

"There needs to be more counseling about mental health, drugs and alcohol, and sex."
Our young people want real conversations and the chance to ask real questions about real issues affecting them right now.  We can't wait to do this.  They want real information, not glossed over content and trepidation in their teachers.  This has been part of student commentary that I have been hearing for a long time. 

"Listen to student suggestions for lesson and learning ideas."
Again, we are back to the fact that students WANT the freedom to guide their learning.  They are also asking to be considered important enough (and they are!) to be part of the conversation in planning their learning experience.

This is only a small part of the 4 pages of notes I have from our discussion.  There were many ideas shared, new ways of thinking about the learning environment itself, and deeper conversations about the role young people want to play in determining their learning path.  

Again, I find myself in awe of students when they are given the freedom to express themselves.  Again, I find that young people are asking us to get out of the way and let them do meaningful work.  They WANT to do it.  It's on US to create the environment that trusts and respects the learner enough to bring these ideas to life.  I'm working it, and there is still so much more to do.  How will you help?