1. Small Schools - Big Impact
Rural Conference
2007
Rural Conference
October 2007

2. Imagination - Creativity Interdependence - Connections
Creating the Terrain
Inquiry - Curiosity
Imagination - Creativity
Interdependence - Connections

3. Rural Rhythm Provide some rural evidence
Give an illustration from our past
Give an illustration from our current practice
Pose a question

4. The Rural Picture Networking and Community All - Diversity
Literacy - Health
Cultural Understanding - and Language
Innovation and Sustainability

5. What are our strengths? Teamwork across roles Learning gains Community
Health

6. Every Rural Learner
When every single learner has a strong life chance - they know, can do, can be and can live together -
our world will be a better place.
50% of Aboriginal youth in BC do not graduate
20% of non Aboriginal youth do not graduate - and the rate is higher among some groups of new Canadians
50% of secondary students report they are not engaged in learning

7. RURAL CHALLENGES Sustaining Quality Achieving Equality
Creating New Forms of Unique Quality

8. Rural Thinking Global Questions
Shifting from a sorting to a learning system - viewing age variations as assets
Encouraging inquiry and lifelong curiosity - making intense exploration valued
Developing new forms of
connecting - through rural ingenuity

9. Every Rural Learner Needs
Curiosity
Creativity
Connections and
Connectivity

10. Encouraging Questions
Curiosity
Inquiry
Encouraging Questions

11. Curiosity The inquiring mind The power of a good question
The connection with nearby and virtual places
Curiosity extending over a lifetime

12. Cross Age Curiosity

13. Creativity
Innovation
Ingenuity
Design
Arts
Imagination

14. Curiosity Strategy The role of the interview Find the adult
Create the questions
Appoint a chair
Hold the interview
Write, photograph, draw

15. Curiosity - Inquiry Teacher Inquiries….
How can I connect more powerfully with the histories and families of my learners?
How can I use the learning power of the older learners?
How can I work with colleagues to develop oral language understandings?

16. Curious Learners How can I help the “elders” of our community?
How can I help cultivate and save the abalone?
How can I be a literate citizen?
How can I be a healthy buddy?

17. Connections Creating Trust Multi-Age Partnerships Connectivity
Diversity

19. Cwelelep
Being in a place of dissonance, uncertainty in anticipation of new learning

20. Watchful Listening
An openness to listening beyond our own personal thoughts and assumptions

21. Finding stillness amidst our busyness and need to know
Kat’il’a
Finding stillness amidst our busyness and need to know