Today is Presidents Day, a day to recognize the commitment and dedication of the United States Presidents, past and present. I’ve done some googling and uncovered some interesting facts about the US Presidents. Next year, I will suggest that my 6 graders create a trivia game. If you can turn learning into a game, the kids are hooked. I also spent some time catching up on school related tasks, although the finish line is always moving. And… Yes, I did some shampooing! My stairs were screaming for a makeover!!
While completing tasks, I pondered the subject of my next blog. As I was completing my last “household” task for the evening, my blog topic surfaced!! The most amazing things happen when you least expect them! I had cooked a pot of soup. I must say, it was quite tasty! It was filled with my favorite vegetable choices. The task at hand required me to pour the remaining soup into a large plastic storage bowl, seal the bowl with its coordinating lid, and place the bowl in the frig. Seems like a simple task, especially for a skilled principal like me! Well my eyes were working correctly but logic was on vacation! Although I saw that the bowl was filled, I continued to pour more soup into a bowl that was filled to the rim!! There was absolutely, no way that the coordinating lid was going to fit. As a matter of fact, I made more work for myself because I had to clean the counter top after the spillage!! Now this is when the “principal brain” snaps into gear. I likened my mishap in the kitchen to instruction in the classroom.
As I was cleaning the counter, I thought about my recent visits to classrooms. The teachers had been excited about the topics they had presented. They had appeared very confident and knowledgeable. From the corners of the classrooms, I could see what the teachers couldn’t see. Their glows of “enthusiasm” had blocked the looks of “I got It!”; “Please let me try It.”; “Stop talking!”; and “I need some personal help.” All cries, from the kids sitting at their desks. From the corners, I could see the signs, the kids were wiggling, they were drawing, they were looking at anything but the teacher. I wanted to say, “Stop talking!”; “Let the kids explain it!”; “Let the kids Do It!”; and “Let them get into groups!” That same voice should’ve screamed, “Stop pouring the soup!” when I was pouring too much soup into a bowl that was too small.
The just of the blog is simply this, “Sometimes, we Do Too Much!” Occasionally we think that a little more is best when we’ve already served the perfect portion of soup. From time to time we forget that we can always add a dash of salt to a bowl of soup. Sometimes we forget that one day the kids will have to make their own soup.
To my amazing teachers, I say: “Let the Kids MAKE Soup NOW!” Who cares if it is bland, lumpy, or chunky! It’s their soup! “Their Soup will taste better with practice and time!”
