were smaller than usual and a couple were decimated.
We did puzzles--Bible puzzles of all kinds--and we worked on
research papers and personal manifestos.
We even took a walk one sun-filled, wind-blown afternoon.
Some of the students thrived on the one on one attention.
My seventh-graders did all the puzzles and asked for more.
It was a relaxed week, for them, full of smiles and cozy times.The seniors worked on papers, the sophomores wrote stories,
but my junior class surprised me. They sighed, grumbled and muttered just loud enough to make sure I would hear and be properly insulted:
"Busy Work".
It seems that the ultimate insult to a student is to be given busy work.
Yet as I pondered, it seemed to me that all work done well is busy work. . . and any work which teaches in the working or dislodges the mind--overcoming the inertia of rest--is valuable work.
This is a message for my "I'm so bored and can't handle a little free time" students:
So school was different for you this week. There were no lessons in English or history. There were no notes in Bible; no tests in math. Life departed from your steady diet of pizza and taco grande. What you didn't realize was the veritable smorgasborg spread before you in this unusual five days. In chemistry you made huge progress on piecing together a class quilt. In Bible you learned how to do a cryptoquote and read scripture as well. You played academic games; you helped pack away all the theater seats in the auditorium so the janitor could clean the floors over spring break. You filled in for various kitchen jobs and developed a better appreciation for those who normally leave class early so they can help in the cafeteria, and though all smorgasborgs are not about food, you even got to eat fresh strawberries over ice cream and pork chops with gravy. You watched movies, you got scheduled quiet time to get ahead on your reading requirement for the quarter, and you ate cherry filled donuts made by the home economics class remnant.
Yet all week, you dragged your feet and murmured.
If my name had been Coach, I would have made you run laps and run laps and run laps. Now that's busy work. Yet even in that, there is strength and training. Can't you see what I'm telling you? Life is all about work, and I fear for those who disdain it.
Sunday Scribblings
10 comments:
It sounds like they squandered a wonderful opportunity, and that makes me sad for them. I'm glad your other classes were able to make the most of it. Not everything has to be so directly goal-oriented.
Check out www.toondoo.com sis. It's a wonderful creative opportunity waiting to happen. My students love it.
Your students don't realize when they have it easy, makes one want to roll one's eyes.
I want to go back to seventh grade and have you for a teacher!!!
Students are same all over the world. Sometimes they do not realise what is truly good for them.
The books I would write
Indeed! Excellent post!
Those were great educational opportunities that you provided for them. Some students get it, and some don't. Even though I homeschool my kids, it's the same in our house. Two of my kids don't realize all the learning experiences that they have. Last Spring, we took a trip to New York City, Lancaster, PA,and Gettysburg. Those 2 daughters thought that it was a break from school and learning. I ended up making a long list of learning experiences from that trip to write about in a future homeschooling post. To me - there are opportunities to learn all around.
I wish I could go back and tell my younger self a few things. The question now is how to instill these ideas into my own kids.
Nice post! Enjoyed visiting your blog. Please stop by…
Sounds like your a fun teacher to have.
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