Posts Tagged “music”

No Fun-n-Fluff

This week we had our last Professional Development workshop. As they talked about the different styles of learning and the need to appeal to all the learning styles in the room, intermittently they would say, “But this is not “fun-n-fluff” OR “Remember it’s not “arts-n-crafts”. The message is pretty clear…..learning is SERIOUS business…..keep to the task at hand ALWAYS. Well there’s a mindset that will build lifelong learners……NOT!

True learning does not happen when someone is shoving it down your throat. True learning happens when you are interested, open-minded and enjoying the tasks that have been taken on. I put forth this case in point. I had a very high achieving fifth grade group for guided reading this year. They were a varied group of learners, bringing a wide variety of learning styles with them to the group. I chose a new book I had been wanting to do with a group; The Monument by Gary Paulsen. The cover of this book is BORING!!! Very blah and the “preview” is not very intriguing either. So when I presented it to the group, you can imagine they were NOT thrilled.

I offered this compromise – they could actually write a literature unit for the book. It would go into the guided reading library for other teachers to use. This way, they could make sure the book would be interesting to all the other 5th graders who “HAD” to read it. They were skeptical but after a chat amongst them, decided that it might be fun, as long as I agreed THEY had the final say on activities. I agreed and they began to read the book.

Initially, I was appalled – is this what we, the teachers, had done to them?! They were set in a rut; vocabulary, two or three journal questions, and maybe an illustration. SNNOOOZZZZEEE! I didn’t say much for the first few chapters….and then, it happened….one of them said, “We’ve done a lot of vocabulary and questions.” I jumped on it(casually of course, though I wanted to scream), “Yes, you have.” I sent them back to look it all over. When they came back the next day, they had determined they were boring. In reality, they were doing what they had been taught – many teachers use this formula for teaching novels. How sad, and guess what – that way is the “no fun, no fluff” way.

I was prepared, I turned to the computer and pulled up four or five websites that pertained to the book, including one on the Vietnam War Memorial, one about metacognition, one about Van Gogh and some music interludes as well. They started looking at the bigger picture, and peeling away the layers that Paulsen is so good at putting in. NOW, we were having fun. They laughed, they debated, they looked deeper, they found connections, they had a hard time editing down the activities and I had a very hard time getting them to close up when group time was over. Vocabulary took a back seat as they decided that only the words that were really important to a big idea needed to be addressed. In the end, they put together a decent unit with a wide variety of activities, connections and use of technology. Another 5th grade teacher used the unit with his group and gave them some notes and critiques back. This just spurred them on – they wanted to do another unit on their next book.
But wait, we had FUN and yep, there is a little fluff in there, there is also a lot of learning, learning that meant something to them.

Lessons about learning, looking outside the box, asking questions and not finding all the answers – life-long learning strategies, were all right there. We did create another Lit Unit for Soldier’s Heart, also by Gary Paulsen. Their approach this time was quite different. They started out by researching the writer and the book first – looking for Paulsen’s purpose so they could connect to it. And, my job was so easy…..I just let them go and pointed the direction when they got a little lost. That unit is GREAT!

Their fifth grade classroom teacher and I traded groups shortly after the Soldier’s Heart Unit was finished. I really hated to give them up. About two weeks after the trade, the teacher says to me that she is disappointed in two of the group members because they aren’t getting their work done. This is not a problem I had with them. A week after that, I hear from a few in the group, “Mrs. R. we really miss your group. When do we get to have you again?”

Fun and Fluff…..it’s not the basis of my lesson plans, but it’s in there…….and it always will be.

In the Spirit

This time of year, students have a difficult time concentrating on academics, to say the least. Music programs, special events, secret projects for their parents, and parties fill their minds….well it fills the holes around the big event – SANTA! I am normally a big holiday spirit person….big on finding the little things that make people happy, baking, wrapping, and decorating. One year though, the whole school was lacking the spirit – that was the last year we knew we would be in our building. The following year we would all be consolidated into one building. This was not a move anyone was particularly looking forward to because we enjoyed our small building, close working relationships and collaborative freedom. The Polar Express saved that year for me (and a few others too I think).
That was the year that the movie for The Polar Express came out. Our local movie theater made it possible for all the students to attend a showing of it. So we did lots of preteaching and extending activities to get ready for it. On the day we were scheduled to go, the students were just vibrating. I was assigned to go with a first grade class. This particular class had a high number of at risk and special education students. Some of these students had behavioral issues. I was seated between two of these students.

“Molly” was normally unable to stay in her seat. She had no impulse control, sensory issues, and few social skills. She sat on my right and “Tristan” sat on my left. He too lacked social skills and struggled with impulse control, but he also dealt with a home life that was chaotic and impoverished. In fact, so much so that attendance was often and issue. I envisioned spending much of the movie in the lobby.

As we waited for the movie to start, we talked about the book and their favorite parts. We talked about trains, snow and bells. Then the lights went dark and the magic began. Both sat mesmerized by the screen. Halfway through the movie, “Molly” snuggled into my arm, sighed, smiled up at me and settled in for the remainder of the film. Complete satisfaction, contentment and happiness very evident on her face.

“Tristan” pulled up his legs, and chewed on his cuffs. Every once in awhile he would lean over and say something to me. Most of the time I could not understand him, however, on one occasion, he was very clear. When the little “poor” boy was frantically looking for his present after he fell into Santa’s sack, “Tristan” leaned over and clearly said, “I bet I could find a present in there for me, too.” I assured him, he could.

When the movie ended, the theater was silent for a few minutes….the spell lifting……for my little charges, but not for me. I walked out of there under their spell…..the spell of their innocence, their hope, and their wonderment carried me through that season. Each year since then, I carefully re-open that gift.

Merry Christmas – Happy Holidays – and a wonderful, hopeful New Year!