Being a Contribution
Zander from The Art of Possibility
At the beginning of the school year the students in my class are nervous when I say “Everybody up” but by the end of the year they are at ease and look forward to presenting their contribution in front of the class. Contribute is the second of my three class rules and yes, I do agree with the Zanders that the contribution game does have remarkable powers.
I have never had a student come up to me and say that another student did not deserve an A for their contribution because it was less work than their work. Kids recognize and accept that certain kids have to work harder to contribute and can appreciate their limitations. Connections kids make with each other as they contribute are powerful and often lead to more conversations. “You brought your water sample from the fish hatchery, you know I used to live out there…”
Currently we are planning our genetics fair where kids research their genetics of their pets or zoo animals. Some students choose to contribute to the class experience by bringing in their pets and explaining their genetics. I have had everything from horses, to cats, to dogs, to goats, to chickens at school. One student taught the class about dominant curly haired guinea pigs and recessive straight haired guinea pigs. The genetics of the thoroughbred and the quarter horse were evident and matched the personalities of their owners.
Last year a family brought their alpacas to school and over three hundred kids learned about alpaca genetics; that was an amazing contribution from a local family. It was a day for their shy son to shine and share his expertise about alpacas. His greatest contribution that day was sharing his gentle alpacas with the learning disabled kids. No, they did not understand the genetics but they got the thrill of petting a soft alpaca.
Last year a family brought their alpacas to school and over three hundred kids learned about alpaca genetics; that was an amazing contribution from a local family. It was a day for their shy son to shine and share his expertise about alpacas. His greatest contribution that day was sharing his gentle alpacas with the learning disabled kids. No, they did not understand the genetics but they got the thrill of petting a soft alpaca.
Photo courtesy of Jasmin
And for the kids who do not have a pet to contribute they created extra special power point presentations about zoo animals and their breeding programs. Many of the penguins in zoos around the world come from our local San Diego Sea World.
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It is great that you have contribute as one of your class rules. As a I started this degree, I have been asking my kids and other children how their experience in school can be improved and I was surprised that being a part of the class took precedence over technology. They just wanted to be able to contribute or do something not just sit in their seats and listen.
ReplyDeleteYour post brought back some nice memories of when I taught fourth grade. My students would come in at the beginning of the school year, and most were shy, quiet and very self-conscious. By the end of the year, through encouragement and reassurance, many had broken out of their shells and had become confident learners. It sounds like your classroom is a place of security and comfort, where students are encouraged to take a leap of faith and get involved. Great work, what a life-long learning experience!
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