A Best Day in Education

Thinking about a "Best Day in Education" was hard for me. I don't have a Teacher of the Year award, and I haven't had a former student return with a beautiful success story.

Was it the time a troubled student gave me a giant hug at conferences?  Or when we had a guest help us launch amazing pop bottle rockets?  Or our orienteering day?

Those were big things, but also small things came to mind... a mini pep rally to remember it's EARTH'S TILT that causes the seasons.  Or when we were being silly, pretending to be doctors and "operate" on the parts of a flower.  Gosh, singing the Parts of a Microscope song and the Mitosis Waltz were pretty good days, too...

So, I've come to discover that the best day for me has got to be a day I've made a good connection with the students.  And, it may have a twist from a typical day.

This lead me to my favorite "best day" in education--the Flashlight Lab.  The Flashlight Lab is a different lab.  There are no steps to follow.  Students are simply exposed briefly to simple circuits, given supplies, and instructed to make a flashlight that turns on and off.  The biggest advice offered to students is in the form of persevering.  To emphasize the point, we read Rosie Revere Engineer, a book about a character who fails over and over, doesn't quit, and eventually finds success.

Some students are able to create a flashlight within ten minutes.  These fast finishers often surprise me.  Way to go.  They get to further explore different circuit supplies.  Completing the project wasn't obvious to our next group of students finishing the flashlight.  The exciting thing for this group is they got to learn something new and apply it.  This group really enjoys the project.  Our final group of finishers learns a different lesson.  They need a few hints here and there, and they've got to CHOOSE to proceed.  Bringing home a student made flashlight is pretty cool, and ultimately everyone perseveres to complete the project.  They too CAN do it.

On my best day, every student learns a lesson.  Every student comes home with work that makes them proud.  I come home worn down but knowing that day I made a difference for my students.

Kelley P