This week we welcomed back our education editor Rebecca Leon as she returns from her EF Education First tour to Berlin, Germany, and Davos, Switzerland. Rebecca represented Scholastic during the professional learning tour and the Global Leadership Summit, where about 1,600 students and 200 teachers came together to collaborate and embrace new perspectives on teaching and learning from around the world.
Check out our recap below to see Rebecca’s exciting journey!
Bon voyage to #ELA education editor @RebeccaLeon12 as she departs today on a very special #ClassMagsGlobalFieldTrip with #EFTours to learn about the best teaching ideas from around the world. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/Hn7Es2djQ9
— Scholastic Teachers (@ScholasticTeach) July 7, 2019
On walking tour of Berlin with fabulous group of educators! #classmagsglobalfieldtrip #scholastic #EFTours pic.twitter.com/yroTybckxa
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 8, 2019
At Brandenburg Gate with 4 amazing State Teachers of the Year. Just beyond, the Berlin Wall once stood. @2019LATOY @2019ATOY @KTOY2019 @MeTOY2019 #classmagsglobalfieldtrip pic.twitter.com/gNfllHyFkF
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 8, 2019
At Berlin Wall transformed: “Many small people who in many small places do many small things that can alter the face of the world” #classmagsglobalfieldtrip @EFtours @ScholasticTeach pic.twitter.com/Z9TjIYasBi
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 9, 2019
Meet Bridgette, world history teacher from Texas (and Champion, her school mascot!) Bridgette has her students create puppet shows to retell events from history. What a great way to get kids to understand and synthesize! Love this idea! #socialstudies @ScholasticTeach pic.twitter.com/k0fYxzBPr0
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 9, 2019
This is no ordinary gym and these are no ordinary men. This is a welcome center for refugees in Berlin, a much needed space for kids to do sports and heal from trauma. Erik and Filip are two of the amazing people who make this happen. #classmagsglobalfieldtrip @EFtours pic.twitter.com/ncKvygWIcw
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 9, 2019
Just experienced the power of storytelling, in English and Arabic, at workshop with wonderful storytellers Rachel and Ihab. So much to offer for the classroom! Ts, check out #storytellingarena! @ScholasticTeach @EFtours pic.twitter.com/ktHFUuApvn
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 10, 2019
So much to learn and take in from this. #classmagsglobalfieldtrip https://t.co/CTTbgt1kRr
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 10, 2019
Visited the Berlin Wall memorial this morning. Imagine if this were your view of life? #classmagsglobalfieldtrip @EFtours pic.twitter.com/K8ZWsbsnBw
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 11, 2019
Off to Davos for #efsummits with @2019LATOY and @MarkeyTamara pic.twitter.com/9M8Aue9nq4
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 12, 2019
What stories are you telling and what stories are you not? Inspiring and thought-provoking words from poet @ClintSmithIII at #efsummits @ScholasticTeach pic.twitter.com/Ppz6fwgmmA
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 12, 2019
In auditorium with 1600 student leaders, waiting to hear @AnnCurry at #EFsummits. Much excitement in the air! @EFtours pic.twitter.com/xz8bDV0YFc
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 13, 2019
Graphic record of powerful speech and slam poetry by @ClintSmithIII. #EFsummits #classmagsglobalfieldtrip pic.twitter.com/MJcgp9t0L5
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 13, 2019
This is the awesome group of educators I’ve been fortunate enough to travel with to Davos #EFsummits #classmagsglobalfieldtrip #storyworks pic.twitter.com/7LsxncjgYa
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 13, 2019
Awesome session with activist Justin Tindall. Ts, find materials to support your LGBTQ+ students and llesson plans at https://t.co/hStOasb9i9. @ItGetsBetter @ScholasticTeach #EFsummits pic.twitter.com/FGJc9p672w
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 14, 2019
This can be the generation that makes change. Impassioned messages from youth activists @SevernSuzuki @ItGetsBetter @TheValidate @davidhogg111 #efsummits pic.twitter.com/zPOjqbP203
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 15, 2019
Thank you for sharing this @MarkeyTamara. Totally agree, this is an idea that could enrich schools and beyond. @ScholasticTeach #EFsummits https://t.co/fjzqDEXts8
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 15, 2019
A final walk on the alp. I’m heading back now, grateful for the insights and ideas I can share with teachers, and for the new friends I’ve made in this truly special group. Thank you @EFtours for this incredible experience. #storyworks pic.twitter.com/sFXUwqsM9x
— Rebecca Leon (@RebeccaLeon12) July 15, 2019
We asked Rebecca to share some of the key takeaways from her trip: “One clear theme throughout the trip was the power of storytelling. From listening to refugee newcomers describe their journeys from Syria and Afghanistan to Germany, to sitting rapt as an author from the former East Berlin retold her tale of trying to escape, I return richer, more empathetic because of these stories and many more.”
She also took notice of the energizing effect of traveling with a group of thoughtful and dedicated educators: “Each place we visited sparked a conversation: how a country remembers and retells its history, how a German school day compares with one in the U.S. (and how to avoid getting hit by the many sleek streetcars that glide through Berlin!). And of course, how to take the experiences back to the classroom – or in my case, how they will influence the materials we create in Scholastic Classroom Magazines.”
For more information and articles from Scholastic Classroom Magazines that help build knowledge, spark curiosity, inspire empathy and ignite a passion for learning, visit scholastic.com/magazines.
