The document outlines an itinerary for exploring stories about learning how to learn through the lenses of 7 themes and skills (P.O.R.T.A.L.S.). It invites the reader to follow stories addressing how students can develop each of the 7 skills to become successful learners when faced with challenges. The itinerary presents the 7 skills as routes that learners can take to navigate their learning, starting from their own context and moving between the different skills.

1. Travel with us as we explore stories about “ learning how to learn.” Ventures in Leaning

2. Stories: Adventures in Problem Solving Once upon a time, there were two kids, Hansel and Gretel….

3. Somebody-Wanted-But....So

4. Story Plot for Learning Somebody : Main Characters (Me) and …..(my teacher, mentor, coach, guide collaborators) Wanted: Purpose/Goal/Outcome But: Obstacles or challenges to achieving my purpose/goal. So : What I do/did to overcome the obstacles and succeed at my Learning Goal? See Learning Stories Chart

5. What’s the Problem? We’re not talking about learning the easy things, the less challenging things. If a student has no problem with learning a particular thing, then s/he doesn’t need the 7 P.O.R.T.A.L.S skills. It is when kids are stumped, challenged, discouraged, lost…that they need some guidance. That’s when they need to create their own SWBS story about learning!

6. Travel Plan: Where are we going ? Themes and Skills

7. 7 Themes What does it mean to learn? What’s worth learning? Learner Stories How do learners learn? How does context influence learning? Frameworks * for Learning Research *See www. explorience1.pbworks.com for the Framework link/ bibliography.

8. Travel Logs Stories about how students navigate 7 essential skills (P.O.R.T.A.L.S) for “learning how to learn”: Purpose Operations Remembering Teamwork Actions Laying a foundation Self-Management

9. Our Itinerary We’re going to begin with Purpose , move to Self-Management , then on to Operations . You can’t get far into the Purpose territory without thinking about Laying a Foundation of concepts/ideas/information, so that’s next. You’ll need to Remember what you’ve explored so far, so we’ll make a stop there. And, of course, you’ll want to Act on the Purpose, Operations, Foundation. Last, but not least, we’ll explore ways to make learning most effective by treating it as Teamwork.

10. Stories from Vermont We invite you to follow our stories as we address each of the 7 P.O.R.T.A.L.S. skills that kids will need if they are to become successful learners when they face challenges. We’ll be exploring both the 7 Themes and the 7 essential skills in our blog ( www.wanttolearn.edublogs.com and our wiki www.explorience1.pbworks.com or contact us via email: [email_address]

11. Your itinerary Think of your itinerary as originating in a hub (your context) which allows you to take any of several routes (P.O.R.T.A.L.S.). As you reach an exit, you can get on to a circumferential highway and make your way to a different route. Or you can stay on your original route and explore that territory even further.

12. Once upon a time… Getting started… What Learner Stories do your students tell about: What it means to learn? Their most successful learning experiences? What they know about their own learning?