When I work with beginning teachers, there is a leap of faith moment, where I ask them to trust in the process, put in the work and then the magic happens – poof. But the real Wizard of Oz was not a lights and magic show. He really was a facilitator who used a little of what he had, but mostly tapped into the strengths of others to help them achieve their goals. The potential was already in the lion, the tin man, the scarecrow and Dorothy. The true magic of the wizard was in planning a strategy to help them to really believe in their own potential.

In the fall when we roll out our 1:1 laptops, it may seem like smoke and mirrors; magic encased in metal and glass. But all of us behind the curtain at Kula Waena are planning a strategy to tap into each child’s full potential. One way that starts is through the SAMR model. The short video tells you what it is, and just know that behind the curtain, our planning and implementing is framed with this model in mind.

E lauhoe mai na wa’a; i ke ka, i ka hoe; i ka hoe, i ke ka; pae aku i ka ‘aina.

Translation: Paddle together, bail, paddle; paddle, bail; paddle towards the land.