One of the more exhilarating things classroom teachers rave about each and every year, is that free-range autonomy to create, create and create... play with the given curriculum for our various grade levels, bringing *new* life into the established and mandated framework, with lots of colour and a variety of engaging hands on activities geared towards all learning styles, and subject areas. This is a huge win-win with our dynamic county and district public school programs. Our 'He said, she said' series allows us to make humorous, yet genuinely important (and critical) connections with all our young children for greater classroom success as we get raw firsthand feedback of what motivates them, and are able to integrate such into our weekly lesson planning preps.
They get excited seeing their individual names and something they like (or even dislike) in critical thinking two-step and three-step word problems we have created... and will often be able to apply the strategies from this one experience to never-before-seen similar concept-related questions along the way.
*It's all about making that connection as opposed to memorizing/copying a past answer with repeated material for instructors and students alike.
I love this relaxed oral classroom share first thing on a Monday morning, on Hump Day, 20 minutes before dismissal on a Friday (bags already packed to go), or after one of our harder working days. They need these balancing-stretch-moments too. My latest classroom check-in below...
And happy Hump Day! :)
