I visited every classroom this morning to take a count of students and to introduce myself to new students. I explained that my name is prnounced the opposite of High See; my name is pronounced Low See or Low C. The second graders thought that was funny and the fifth graders thought that was weird.
When I visited in Mr. Goldman's fifth grade, I got the question! Students rushed up to me and asked, "Do you like broccoli"? Not the question I was expecting. But, the students were building classroom community by completing a scavenger hunt finding out interesting aspects about classmates. Most students were having difficulty finding anyone in the class who liked broccoli.
As students waiting anxiouly for my boccoli answer, I had to stop and ponder, "do I like broccoli"? I admit that I have joined Weight Watchers for Men Online and Charles Barkley's weight loss has inspired me. In his video, Charles clearly explains that he will never say "broccoli is good". He is willing to say, "broccoli is OK."
With all honesty, I gave the students my answer, "yes, I like broccoli." After all, I am eating broccoli several times each week because it has zero points. Weight Watcher fans know what zero points means - "the food does NOT count on the daily total". Truth is - I do like broccoli (now), sorry Charles.
So, I signed my name on the savanger hunt paper for many fifth grade students. They were all grateful because they were closer to winning the game. Can authentic learning be in a game format? Is it necessary to find out about classmates, about the people in the learning community? The answer to both questions is the same, "\yes and yes". Learning is best when students feel connected and when there is some fun in the learning tasks. Yes, I like broccoli.
Like a rubber ball I come bouncing back to you.... The artist is Bobby Vee. No, it was not the Cyrkle; they sang a different song. OK, you can check it out online now. Don't forget, when your students come bouncing back to you, ask them to tell you two or three good things about school today. Maybe one of their answers will be, "when Dr. Losey said he liked broccoli and signed my paper under broccoli liker."
awesome!! I'm loving your blog!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe foundation of a strong community started BEFORE the first day of school for so many SCE teachers and students. As an educator I am always so proud and touched to see the teachers receive their class list the week before school and immediately begin the process of contacting each student and family. As a parent to elementary students, there is nothing like seeing the surprise and joy on their faces when they receive a postcard or phone call from a new teacher welcoming them to the classroom. Before they walk into school on the first day the children know they are welcomed and a teacher is looking forward to meeting them. What a sense of belonging! What a sense of safety! Those are the building blocks of creating a strong school and classroom community. To hear that it continues throughout the first week and beyond says tremendously positive things about the teachers at SCE.
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