“Muddy Sneakers is doing education right.”
Joanne Bartsch is a Muddy Sneakers Board member and a long-time beloved educator at the Carolina Day School. We are thrilled to share this seasoned educator’s reflection after shadowing an expedition.
“My spring break was highlighted by an amazing day I spent out in the field with 5th graders.I expected an engaging, thoughtful, imaginative, and creative lesson, and the Field Instructors did not disappoint. Our topic for the day was Forces and Motion, a topic that honestly doesn’t ignite a huge amount of excitement for me. I also had no idea how to incorporate such ideas into an outdoor lesson.
But by the time we had described examples of motion along our walk, explored areas of the creek where the water moved at different speeds, built boats using natural materials, designed an experiment to answer a question about motion using our boats, and collected data to support hypotheses, I was beginning to understand even more clearly the deep design of a Muddy Sneakers lesson.
I was really moved by the Muddy Sneakers’ Field Instructors. Before the expedition began, notes from previous expeditions were used to help instructors better prepare for the social/emotional and safety needs of some of the students. Extensive time was spent to ensure that there was ample opportunity for the development and maintenance of relationships between MS instructors and students. And that is perhaps where I think Muddy Sneakers’ unique gift lies.
After the buses departed, I stayed for the instructor debriefing. Each instructor summarized their day: the ups and the downs. It was an incredible team moment and an example of real-time professional development and mentoring. The instructional staff was open, vulnerable, and deeply supported by their colleagues and the lead staff.
Muddy Sneakers is doing education right across the board.
So now, I have a more real, more personal, and more powerful understanding of so much more that is Muddy Sneakers, and the story that I can now tell isn’t someone else’s. It’s mine. I want to continue to add to it. I encourage you to find a day to join a group of fifth-graders and see the magic unfold as they see it. It will be so worth your while.”
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