Classroom Trailhead
In Vancouver, BC, I walked down onto a beach, and welcoming me in was a simple postage that read “you are entering a space where…”.
It didn’t say a lot, but it was impactful. It reminded me that I was present in nature, to be respectful of the land, and to be aware of the magic around me. My dad and I immediately thought, “What if you put this in your classroom?” And boom,, the classroom trailhead was born.
I went through a few of variations of it, and it will no doubt be one of those things that changes and evolves over time as we adapt to what our students need each class, but to create it, simply think of the following:
What you value
What you want students to value
What you want students to learn
How you can convey that in a few simple paragraphs
Easier said than done but basically, just think about students reading it and immediately knowing what your classroom is all about. It sets the tone on day 1, instantly creates a culture you can always refer to, and reminds students the why. Add some background texture and images that relate to what you love, and boom, you got your trailhead. I simply made mine on word, had ChatGPT help with correct wording, even had it create my mountain image, and you can be done in a matter of moments.
I’ve attached mine here if you want something to start with.
Feel free to edit it to your liking, with your language, your values, and your culture. Send it to me here!
