At our school, part of our Small Learning Community Grant requires us to have weekly TASK (Teachers Assisting Students Knowingly) meetings. In structure, TASK classes are like typical homeroom classes, and we meet with those student 30 minutes on Mondays. Each grade level decides on a TASK activity (teachers take turns creating the lessons) and all do the same thing for that week.
I believe the intention of the grant was for it to be something thought-provoking, engaging, fun, different, and community-building. However, thanks to the never-ending pressure of legislation and standardization, this year TASK has been highly academic. Students have moaned and groaned as we taught Literacy Logs and Cornell Notes through TASK and completed reading assignments. And really, who could blame them? Students expect a bit more fun out of an ungraded class where attendance doesn't count. It's no wonder our TASK classes have such a high skip rate!
So, this week was my third go-around at creating a TASK lesson, and I was determined to make it fun, meaningful, memorable and all-together invigorating. I knew I wanted to do something involving character education, tolerance in particular, but that it would have to have an academic component to please whoever is in charge of being pleased.
I stumbled upon Free Hugs and so "Embracing Diversity" was born. The lesson included watching the video and having a class discussion, then following up with a 2 page excerpt from Juan Mann's e-book The Illustrated Guide to Free Hugs. After reading Mann's reasoning for the Free Hugs movement, teachers were supposed to ask students a variety of higher-order thinking questions to get those wheels turning, both academically and emotionally.
I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. The bell rang, and as I walked to my door and saw the signs and the hugs in the hallways, I could smell the sweet sweet aroma of success. Teachers and students commented all day on how much they enjoyed the lesson. My only hope is that nay-sayers and old-schoolers look at the lesson and consider that there may be more than one way to skin a proverbial cat. I believe it was quite evident through the lesson that there are educational and academic benefits to educating the "whole child".
Innovative-use-of-music-media-and-technology-to-fulfill-multiple-educational-purposes WIN!
I believe the intention of the grant was for it to be something thought-provoking, engaging, fun, different, and community-building. However, thanks to the never-ending pressure of legislation and standardization, this year TASK has been highly academic. Students have moaned and groaned as we taught Literacy Logs and Cornell Notes through TASK and completed reading assignments. And really, who could blame them? Students expect a bit more fun out of an ungraded class where attendance doesn't count. It's no wonder our TASK classes have such a high skip rate!
So, this week was my third go-around at creating a TASK lesson, and I was determined to make it fun, meaningful, memorable and all-together invigorating. I knew I wanted to do something involving character education, tolerance in particular, but that it would have to have an academic component to please whoever is in charge of being pleased.
I stumbled upon Free Hugs and so "Embracing Diversity" was born. The lesson included watching the video and having a class discussion, then following up with a 2 page excerpt from Juan Mann's e-book The Illustrated Guide to Free Hugs. After reading Mann's reasoning for the Free Hugs movement, teachers were supposed to ask students a variety of higher-order thinking questions to get those wheels turning, both academically and emotionally.
I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. The bell rang, and as I walked to my door and saw the signs and the hugs in the hallways, I could smell the sweet sweet aroma of success. Teachers and students commented all day on how much they enjoyed the lesson. My only hope is that nay-sayers and old-schoolers look at the lesson and consider that there may be more than one way to skin a proverbial cat. I believe it was quite evident through the lesson that there are educational and academic benefits to educating the "whole child".
Innovative-use-of-music-media-and-technology-to-fulfill-multiple-educational-purposes WIN!
@Lindsay
ReplyDeleteWow! What a great idea to get students fully engaged in learning about and embracing diversity. It is ironic that In a country that is based on strength through diversity, that diversity is often depicted as a program to create tolerance. I think it is time to get back to our roots and celebrate the value of our diverse country.
Ahhhh! What a feeling! This is one of those lessons that the students will remember for the rest of their lives. Great job, Lindsay!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this easily. I teach my students from kindergarten to sixth grade, a total of 7 years! I am amazed when students remember a project from kindergarten or first grade when they are in sixth grade. They can tell me everything about the project and how they felt about it. I am amazed by the amount of details they remember, and that is when I know that I got through to them and made a connection! That is also when that project is placed in the “Keeper” pile. ☺