Genius Hour is not a secret anymore. Thankfully! Educators from around the world are creating classroom opportunities for their students based around the students passions. I am one of these educators. I jumped into the water for the first time and lived to tell about it.
A quick run-down on how I jumped into it. I ran Genius Hour five days a week, for just over a month. Each block of time was one hour in length. Students created SMART goals for individual days and for the week. Monday and Wednesday they worked on their project, Tuesday and Thursday they reflected through blogging and Friday was a flex day. I allowed students to work form home on the premise that they video/photograph or have a write-up documenting their work.
Going into Genius Hour I had read and heard about all the benefits it provides, the idea that students are taking control of their own learning, the concept of students taking their passion and bringing it into the classroom, learning because, well, it's fun and relevant to them. I, however, found a new reason to do Genius Hour in the classroom... bonding!
A quick run-down on how I jumped into it. I ran Genius Hour five days a week, for just over a month. Each block of time was one hour in length. Students created SMART goals for individual days and for the week. Monday and Wednesday they worked on their project, Tuesday and Thursday they reflected through blogging and Friday was a flex day. I allowed students to work form home on the premise that they video/photograph or have a write-up documenting their work.
Going into Genius Hour I had read and heard about all the benefits it provides, the idea that students are taking control of their own learning, the concept of students taking their passion and bringing it into the classroom, learning because, well, it's fun and relevant to them. I, however, found a new reason to do Genius Hour in the classroom... bonding!
Meet Dakota, a grade 7 who loves to combine school and family. He welded daily with his dad, completing his "Kid Chopper". Dakota bragged every day about how "me and my dad decided to go out to the bike shop that my dad and my uncle built" (his website) and complete school work.
On the right we have a doghouse that grade 7 Fatehbir made. "I'm going to get some help from my cousin he does building and he has a lot of supplies that I can use, also my brother and my dad are going to help me." (His website)
On the right we have a doghouse that grade 7 Fatehbir made. "I'm going to get some help from my cousin he does building and he has a lot of supplies that I can use, also my brother and my dad are going to help me." (His website)
No matter the project, there were helping hands at home. No matter the student, there was excitement in their voices and a twinkle in their eyes talking about what they and _____ accomplished. When writing letters to each student about their project the familiar thought of "this must really have brought you and your ____ closer" always emerged.
We as educators always discuss how to bridge school and home. How to get more parent involvement. We discuss the benefits of having parents rooted in their child's learning. Genius Hour brings school home and home to school. It bonds!
We as educators always discuss how to bridge school and home. How to get more parent involvement. We discuss the benefits of having parents rooted in their child's learning. Genius Hour brings school home and home to school. It bonds!
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