Spring Break Week

Isn't it amazing how when we are relaxing and not at school we are still completely engaged with thinking about our kids and what we can do different or more?

I spent a couple of my days off in Kansas City with a girlfriend and her daughter.  We had planned a weekend of shopping, BBQ, and water slides at Cocoa Key Water Park. It was supposed to be a shut off the work brain and turn on the fun side... yep, I had a good time but I was constantly thinking of school.

I had to find my way to the hotel with the GPS on my phone and was reminded of my students and how they feel when given directions.  "Turn West on 39th Street" meant NOTHING to me when I was in an unfamiliar area, and in my frustration I connected with my students' frustration when given not specific directions.

Checking in would have presented another frustrating situation for students as every hotel registration form seems to be different.  I had paid online, so all I had to do was sign, but I'm OCD and had to read it to make sure that everything matched what I thought it should be.   The directions to our room were given so quickly that thank goodness there were four sets of ears listening because between all of us we were able to construct meaning and find our room.

We think of employability and academic tasks and some life skills.  Rarely do we think of leisure activities such as listening for appreciation, applications (like hotels) for students to fill out, and finding out about and find ways to do fun things. I need to think on this more and find ways to integrate them into instruction as well...