Learning and Unlearning · Kell's Classroom

Learning and Unlearning

Learning doesn’t stop once you have a diploma in hand or a framed degree on the wall. It shows up every day in how we teach, parent, and respond to life’s mishaps. While much of my work focuses on supporting educators' professional growth, learning itself has always been deeply personal.

I’ve never really taken a break from the classroom- there’s just always more to learn. From preschool in 1994, to whenever you’re reading this now, I have found continual lessons and so much joy in any learning environment, which will always include our first classroom- our home. And, while I haven’t been around forever, I have noticed both subtle shifts and major modifications within these environments.

Most notably, there has been a clear progression from the teacher as the single expert, authority, “do what I say or else” figure to the teacher as a true leader, thought partner, and guide. Instead of teachers being “Knowledge Gatekeepers” and deciding what to share and when to share it, they are now shifting to “Wisdom Warriors,” who help guide students towards sharing multiple perspectives, developing critical thinking skills, and providing support and structure along the way.

The same shift is happening in parenting.

For many of us, we are no longer saying, “Welp, that’s how I grew up, and I turned out fine.” Instead, we’re reflecting, “My parents did their best, and it wasn’t perfect. How can I do better for my babies?”

Now, the tricky thing about that is: how do we teach in a way we never experienced as learners? How do we parent in a way that we never experienced as a child? How do we unlearn things that no longer serve us, both professionally and personally, and relearn in real time while raising/teaching/inspiring the next generation?

The answer is simple, though perhaps uncomfortable. You…do it. Imperfectly. Honestly. Whole-heartedly.

Children are intuitive sponges. They feel your energy. They know your message. They can discern the authenticity of whatever you’re trying to say before you even say it. So, when we’re learning and unlearning, the most powerful teaching we can give our children is to do it out loud. Simply model what it looks like to be unsure, vulnerable, and even completely clueless. We’re only human, after all.

It is okay to say “I don’t know” or “I’m unsure” during a lesson or a tough moment with your kiddos. It is entirely acceptable to acknowledge when your lesson did not go as planned or if you tried building a dresser from IKEA and had to restart seventeen times (and there are still extra pieces that go…somewhere…).

In order to get good at something, you need to be brave enough to be bad at it first. Simply saying “This is new to me, we are learning together” is very empowering. Not only are you reassuring your little ones who are all eyes and ears, but you are reteaching your inner child to find comfort in the challenge of learning something new.

It takes practice. It takes patience. It takes kindness. Once I retrained my inner voice to be as gentle with myself as I would be with my daughter, I found myself more curious, more lively, and more willing to fail fast and fail forward.

So, if you’re in the season of unlearning and relearning-professionally, personally, or both- know that you are supported. Your growth matters. And your inner child is so glad you’re here. 🙂

-Kell

See below for a picture of my daughter practicing her reading skills with her trusted pal, Sirius Black.

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