By Kristen Diehl
The Hanahau‘oli School Professional Development Center (PDC) provides opportunities for teachers and scholars to be “in residence” at Hanahau‘oli School. This program is specifically driven by both the mission of the school and the PDC’s goal of building upon the school’s rich progressive education tradition to support the development of school communities that promote a better future society for today’s children. It is designed for educators and scholars from diverse disciplines and contexts, who are interested in exploring the power and potential of the progressive education movement and who want to investigate and test innovations and improvements in the field. The program is aimed at benefiting the visiting teacher or scholar, the Hanahau‘oli School community (educators, students, and families), and the community at-large. It is a project of the Hanahau‘oli School and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, College of Education Professional Development School (PDS) partnership.
In November 2022, Kristen Diehl, a first grade teacher at Brentwood School in California, spent two full days at Hanahau‘oli School so that she could learn more about progressive philosophy and pedagogy and make progress on her own professional learning goals for the year. The previous summer, she had participated in the Hanahau‘oli Teacher Collaborative: An Institute for Interdisciplinary Curriculum Design. As she stepped into the 2022-23 school year she wanted to build on her summer learning by working on the continued integration of skills blocks (reading, writing, phonics) into the school’s thematic conceptual units, which are guided by essential questions. She and her school team believed she could move this work forward by spending time at Hanahau‘oli during the regular school year, observing “a day in the life” of thematic teaching and learning, particularly in the K/1 and 2/3 multiage classrooms. Below is a reflection on her experience.
When I was little, I loved kaleidoscopes. I would look through the lens in amazement at the myriad of color fragments that all seemed to be moving at once; sometimes toward one another, sometimes away from one another, yet all in concert to make a beautiful whole. As I left Hanahau‘oli School this week, I felt like I had just discovered life in a kaleidoscope. I came for a two day visit to look specifically through the lens of thematic learning and yet I experienced so much more. This colorful kaleidoscope of students, teachers, administrators, staff, and support teams were constantly on the move with pieces shifting moment by moment through the day with students at the center. Each move was never random or haphazard, but carefully crafted to bring out the best in one another to allow each individual to shine as part of a cohesive whole.
While my mind is swirling with so many ideas and inspiration for my own classroom, a few bigger concepts seem to sit at the center of what makes this kaleidoscope work so well.
A student leads a Kukunaokalā kindergarten and first grade multiage class in morning meeting
Student Independence & Agency
From the earliest grades, students are responsible and active members of the school community–taking attendance and running calendar time, facilitating discussion groups, leading flag, and heading lunch tables and “entertainment.” Mixed-age groupings allow students to learn from one another, as well as their teachers, about how the community functions and their role in caring for one another. Students identify their roles, see themselves as leaders, and know that their voices matter.
A team of three teachers guide the Kulāiwi second and third grade multiage class in their ‘Ohana gathering space
Team Teaching & Collaboration
The Hanahau‘oli School community is a place for life-long learners. This is exemplified in the way educators collaborate with one another and the give and take of ideas. Strengths are leveraged for the good of the whole, and constant communication allows for flexibility and seamless transitions. This model allowed for small group instruction facilitated by home group teachers as well as others who pushed in during this instructional dance. The idea of sharing and a broader sense of community was prevalent as so many teachers took time out of their busy day to share with me as well. Even students see everyone in their room as part of the team. I was asked a number of times for help or clarification after being there for just a few hours.
Spaces and materials are arranged to facilitate wonder, questions, and exploration
Inquiry & Wonder
Perhaps the most exciting component was the wondering students exhibited. Learning to ask good questions and then exploring to find answers sat at the heart of what I experienced. From K/1 students observing chicks before naming them, to 2/3 students exploring legends to learn about the craft of storytelling and culture, students at Hanahau‘oli have a curiosity that is flamed by skilled teachers. I observed the beauty of tradition mixed with ever evolving ideas in this inquiry based model of exploration and discovery.
There is a reason Hanahau‘oli School is known as a place of “joyful work”. From the moment I stepped onto campus, I could feel it, see it, and hear it. Joy was felt in the warmth of hugs from new friends, seen in the smiles that permeated learning spaces, and heard in the laughter, questions, and loving reminders from students and teachers alike. The kaleidoscope of Hanahau‘oli is a place to be curious, known, and valued, and within that space one can find joy in the “work” of deep learning every step of the way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kristen Diehl has been immersed in elementary education for over two decades, serving as a classroom teacher and instructional coach spanning grades PreK through five. Her passion is in designing integrated experiences for her students that bring learning to life. Kristen holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Education in Language and Literacy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Kristen teaches first grade at Brentwood School Los Angeles, California. A native of Pennsylvania, Kristen enjoys outdoor living in Southern California.
