tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post4104111418551788034..comments2024-02-09T07:57:45.221-05:00Comments on Leading Motivated Learners: Snow DayTonySinanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00624064743310267544noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-80435676502230542632014-01-25T10:24:46.471-05:002014-01-25T10:24:46.471-05:00We have a "Snowed In Day" coming up this...We have a "Snowed In Day" coming up this week. Everyone will be dressed in PJs and bring their favorite books to cuddle up with. We'll be graphing how we eat our pancakes (which can only be done by eating them!!!!) drinking hot cocoa and making our own s'mores. I'm told there's also a "snowball fight" between classes where the snowballs have sight words on them! I'm looking forward to my first Snowed In Day!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09184675984949913831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-21161448707540251912014-01-22T10:55:18.970-05:002014-01-22T10:55:18.970-05:00Awesome post as always. We need more "snow&qu...Awesome post as always. We need more "snow" days. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11993565169293403455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-81609053832518373982014-01-22T09:32:54.804-05:002014-01-22T09:32:54.804-05:00Love this and so true Tony. We need to start bein...Love this and so true Tony. We need to start being creative and innovative. Heck, we can create the day as an Edcamp as well, let the kids create it. Great post - I really enjoyed it! VickiAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14271094218122374793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-5256440330656690282014-01-22T08:17:29.344-05:002014-01-22T08:17:29.344-05:00Tony, this is great, particularly in this day and ...Tony, this is great, particularly in this day and age when society is moving too fast. Slowing things down, getting centered, and being in the moment is what snow days are all about (and what real/authentic learning is all about as well). <br /><br />Yesterday, while 90 of my 7th graders were in Frost Valley, nearly 60 were back home with us, for various reasons. We took this as an opportunity to treat these 60 kids to a day of team building and fun. We had a special breakfast together, built and launched rockets, did yoga, played ELA-based card games, made posters to promote this month's character building (anti-bullying) message, and we planned to participate in a paired reading buddy activity with kindergarteners from our elementary school across the parking lot (which was cut short due to an early dismissal, but will be revisited now that we've established this partnership). <br /><br />This was a day of "real life learning" and I was proud to be a part of planning it and to see it executed by a team of teachers, open to facilitating this day. <br /><br />And tomorrow, we take these same kids to the Cradle of Aviation Museum and to Hofstra University for a second day of authentic learning. Today, we have a "real" snow day. Can't wait for tomorrow, when we have another one. We've got to seize these opportunities whenever they present themselves!<br /><br />Way to recognize this and capture it in words...happy snow days!<br /><br />Dennis Schug @DJrSchug<br />Principal<br />Hampton Bays Middle SchoolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-68004166917770554172014-01-22T06:11:03.223-05:002014-01-22T06:11:03.223-05:00I tried posting a comment last night but it didn&#...I tried posting a comment last night but it didn't work for some reason, so here goes take 2! Yes, I think this idea is genius. While I am not an educator (not by degree or by trade, though I am our son's first "teacher"), I think this is a wonderful idea and school's should absolutely implement "in-school" snow days. Not by saying: "Okay, no class work today! Lets whatch a DVD instead!" But by perhaps having each child bring in their favorite board game. Or having the kids work in groups to write skits and then performing them at the end of the day. Or splitting up into pairs and each buddy teach their partner something that they know how to do (blow a bubble, hula hoop, tie their laces, etc.). Or maybe even go through the paper recycling and create art projects with the found items. The possibilities are endless and this would give kids and teachers a boost and get the creative juices flowing. <br /><br />KellyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-16528801576922217802014-01-22T05:56:56.407-05:002014-01-22T05:56:56.407-05:00Tony, I agree. My building did something similar w...Tony, I agree. My building did something similar with two weeks in June last year. After all the state testing and post testing, we agreed -- enough was enough! http://poststar.com/news/local/something-different-final-exams-replaced-by-projects-at-area-middle/article_020ab040-d85f-11e2-ade3-0019bb2963f4.html . It was great. Thank you for writing this..plan to share with team leaders tomorrow. Happy Snow Day and Happy Me for having you for inspiration in my PLN. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11595104927382579131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45969838602256425.post-36466609882286400132014-01-21T23:22:52.617-05:002014-01-21T23:22:52.617-05:00That could not happen in my school. Every single s...That could not happen in my school. Every single subject is scheduled down to the last minute. I find a way to fit in Mystery Skypes and other things, but it isn't easy.And if they come in your room and you aren't teaching what is on the schedule...smhLisa Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14289525703981289695noreply@blogger.com