Genius Hour

I did this great activity in class today — Genius Hour. The kids prepped another day when I had to go on a field trip. They were supposed to write 10 steps about something they could teach the class and a paragraph. But today, they got a full assignment credit if they only presented, on anything they wanted — no judgement. If they presented, they got an exceeding (A+) no question. It was amazing and I will definately be doing it again. First off the perks: the ones who presented were excited to participate, they knew the task was easy, the ones who didn’t present were engaged and listening and it was actually really fun. And any excuse to get ESL kids speaking or presenting is worth it. Some of their self selected topics they taught us today: how to write a check, the alphabet, the cursive alphabet, how to put on your shoes (crocks), how to spell airpods sounded out, how to do a cartwheel, how to brush your hair, how to draw a flower, how to make a quesedilla, how to make spring rolls. [Most all of this is verbally — another perk] how to thread a needle, how to study and get all A’s, how to make fried chicken, sex ed (they all take sex ed in grades 6-8 and it was pretty tame), how to be annoying to others, Polynesian club, how to have Rizz (essentially this teen term means to be good with the “other sex.”, what not to say to Asians, how to play chess, how to draw a circle and how to do sign language (they asked if they could include some bad words — my answer — yes).