More Art, More Computers, More Fun!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Recently, (Okay, not that recently, but I only just finished) I was asked to draw up some professional development goals to help guide my work with the kids here at HCS. The exercise forced me to step back from the day to day tasks of providing enrichment activities and take a look at the big picture. What, exactly, should our enrichment program look like? Here's what I wrote:

More Art, More Computers, More Fun!
"Enrichment students need projects that are open-ended and allow for playful discovery, and that really is the goal that I’m shooting for: to introduce projects that provide joy and invite creative thinking. The arts teach kids there’s often more than one solution to a problem. In fact, as an artist it’s better if our solution doesn’t look like everybody else’s. The arts invite us to take risks, to see the world with new eyes, to take a new path. It’s the arts that teach us to find joy in trial and error, to be flexible, to break the rules."

Back in September I wrote in my journal that everything we do should have an element of play to it. When I think about my day-to-day programming I catch myself wondering if I'm honoring that pledge. I'm handing out an awful lot of worksheets. Worksheets are easy; play is hard. Worksheets are neat; play is messy. Worksheets look productive; play looks like... play.

When I look back at that first sentence of my goal statement, I can see I've wandered. It's time to roll up my sleeves and get back to playing.

Coming Up

December 10th: Enrich Me! for Grown-ups. Here's a chance to brag about what's happening in your enrichment groups. Share ideas for math, swap winning book titles, vent (a little) about the bumps in the road. I'll bring coffee and dessert. You bring your best ideas. The swap starts at 7 p.m. See you then.

Week of January 12, 2009: Continental Math Meet #1

Coming Up

Week of January 12, 2009: Continental Math Meet #1

Okay, we've had a little trouble with the video. But I know I can do this; it just may take a little time. And a little pain. But I'm not giving up.

Check out the new bookshelf. I've displayed a few of the books that you've read in the lit groups. If you send me the titles, I'll post the rest of your books. You can also send me the books you're reading or going to read. Feel free to post reviews (I think we can do that) and we'll have a place to go for reading suggestions. Anything else?

Oh, yeah. Don't forget about Odyssey of the Mind. If you're thinking about being on a team, or if you're a parent and you're interested in coaching, drop me a note. I'm trying to help people get teams together, so let me hear from you.

Don't forget to leave your comments.

tom

November 12, 2008

Hi, Everyone. While you're sitting home enjoying a half day of leisure, I'm at a workshop in Williston learning how to create a blog. And because I'm a generous person, I've decided to share my blog with you. Enrich Me! is the title of my blog, and you can come here to find out what's going on with the HCS Enrichment Program. I'll start out pretty basic, but as I get smarter about blogging I'll add more stuff. Feel free to visit often and leave comments. The best way for me to grow this thing is to respond to the ideas that interest you most.
So here goes, you guys. For starters, you can check out a video of a story I told at a school last year. Hope you enjoy it.