I took a chocolate tasting class a couple of months ago (planned and taught by Reference Librarian extraordinaire Bill Meltzer at Old Worthington Library). I decided then and there that I wanted my students' experience in our classroom to feel like, if not taste like, the chocolate tasting classroom that night.
Here's what I learned about my fourth grade classroom at the chocolate tasting class:
•WE WANTED TO BE THERE.
I understand that not every child loves school the way I did (and still do), but I hope to make my classroom so safe and inviting that my students look forward to our time together.
•WE GOT TO USE FUN MATERIALS.
Although we can't work with chocolate in our classroom every day, I will do my best to build hands-on activities into every day, if not every lesson. With a new SmartBoard, and Franki's brilliant thinking about learning to use it WITH the students, I think I've got a pretty good head start on this one.
•WE STARTED WITH WHAT WE KNEW AND THE TEACHER BUILT ON THAT.
Scaffolding. I want stay focused on scaffolding, not on rescuing. (see also Risk-taking below)
•WE DIDN'T GET IN TROUBLE IF WE DIDN'T FOLLOW DIRECTIONS EXACTLY.
I don't want to be the kind of teacher who must have absolute control over every moment of every day. First of all, I'd go crazy, and second of all, how would the children learn to control themselves? Since I won't have absolute control, I'll have to lighten up and not sweat it when the students...improvise, shall we call it.
•WE GOT TO WORK WITH OUR FRIENDS.
Learning is social. I will honor that. Nuff said.
•WE HAD FUN!
No matter how hard we work every day to learn and grow and achieve and improve and succeed...we also need to have FUN.
Every. Single. Day.
•THE TEACHER WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, BUT HE NEVER MADE US FEEL IGNORANT OR LACKING.
I will work hard to be a valuable resource to my students in their learning, and to make sure that they see me learning right alongside them.
•THE CLASS WAS WELL-PLANNED AND RAN SMOOTHLY.
I will remember the importance of detailed planning. I WILL remember the importance of detailed planning. Every Sunday night, I will REMEMBER the importance of detailed planning.
•THERE WERE BOOKS ABOUT CHOCOLATE ALL AROUND THE ROOM FOR US TO CHECK OUT AND TO EXTEND OUR LEARNING.
Some teaching is about instruction, but a goodly amount of it
7 Comments on Chocolate, last added: 8/19/2010
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Excellent analogy and wonderful ideas to think about this week as I prepare for my students to come back on Monday-enjoyed talking to you yesterday at the convocation!
Wonderful story, Mary -- I like your connections with the classroom. Our family has done various taste tests over the years and we always love it. It's about time to do the chocolate one again...
Who wouldn't want to go to school if we remembered all of those things about learning! Thanks for the reminders even if I can't use food or chocolate in the classroom, I can still use the lessons about what makes learning fun!
Great post. I enjoyed the connections you made between our learning and student learning. It is a great way to reflect on our teaching. It is also a good reminder at this time of the year.
ML, I love this class and I love the connections you are making to your own classroom. So many great points!! Cheese tasting, huh? As good as that sounds, I would love to delve into the nuances of chocolate right now. :)
Yes! This is what learning is really all about. I have been thinking a lot about this lately, too, and found your post to be a great reminder of all that learning should be. Inspiring!
What great insights into school and learning. Our kids start today-- I'm going to print this out and hang it by my desk.