Saturday, May 30, 2015

To Do List....Genius Hour...Check!

     Our Open House was last Wednesday and the kids got to showcase their #GeniusHour learning.  I had a fantastic turn out of parents who showed up to support their child.  Not only did we have parents, we had grandparents, aunts, uncles and people who wanted to see what all the commotion was stop by and listen to my kids present on their Genius Hour projects.  I am so proud of the work my kids did.  
     I have the pleasure of presenting my experience of Genius Hour to my 2nd and 3rd grade teachers on Tuesday.  The plan is to have a whole grade level participate in Genius Hour next year.  It was opened up to grades K-6 and I am really hoping my 2nd or 3rd grade teachers decide to do it.  I really want to support them next year.  On Thursday I get to present it to the School Board.  I hope they are as inspired as I am.
     I just want to say a HUGE thank you to +Rae Fearing and +Charlene Knowlton.  Without them to calm me down and reassure me I don't think it would have been as big a success as it was.  So thank you ladies, and I look forward to working with you next year to calm someone else down!

Sunday, May 17, 2015

We are very busy...

     #GeniusHour is amazing! My kids have been doing some incredible learning.  They have been meeting with lots of people from our community.  I have to say, Crescent City has some welcoming and helpful people in it.  I am very grateful to many people this week.  First off, Northwoods welcomed to of my boys, Luis and Westyn, into their kitchen to let them see what being a chef was like.  Chef Frank was so gracious with them, they got to make pasta, tour the kitchen and interview him.  Dr. Caldwell made time to meet with one of my girls. She wants to become a doctor.  Dr. Caldwell met with Judith and she got to interview him and tour his office.
     Our goal last week was to revisit our Essential Questions.  It was important to me to remind the kids what they were researching and to go back to the whole point of Genius Hour.   They also looked at each other's questions and made comments or asked more questions.  It was powerful to them, I could tell they really thought about what they asked each other.

Essential Questions #GeniusHour