My most powerful Literacy Design Collaborative moment was in sixth period language arts. We had just finished a module on Romeo and Juliet, adolescent brain research and decision-making when I was notified of a surprise visit from the state Department of Education, local co-op and school district. I thought this visit would be the “proof in the pudding” on the efficacy of the module.

I shared with the visitors that we had just finished a unit on Romeo and Juliet and offered to open the floor to ask the students about what they had learned. I wanted my students to be relaxed and have a good time telling them what they had learned about adolescent decision-making in this module.

“Metacognition is thinking about your thinking.”

One of the administrators, from another area in the state, stood up and said, “I would like to ask you about metacognition.” My students were not flustered at all. They seemed confident in what they had learned, and one of them stood up and said, “Metacognition is thinking about your thinking. That is what we have been doing with adolescent brain research and Romeo and Juliet.”

They then spent the rest of the time talking with the visitors. They knew the play, they knew how their decision-making is poor at times, and they knew strategies for making good decisions.

That was when I knew; that was my powerful moment with LDC.