Week 2 - The Element

I would like to start by saying that I really love this book! I have found myself making references to it twice now, while teaching my middle schoolers. I have also noticed that my ability to recognize and point out my students' various intelligences has improved too! The kids have been pleasantly surprised when I take a minute to comment on the doodle on the side of their paper or the rythm that they are tapping out on their desk. I actually told one student that I pictured him as a Matt Groening type of a guy more than I saw him as a Beatle to encourage the quieter artistic side of him!

I really think that it is easy to forget about all the different types of people that it takes to keep our world running and changing as it does. This book, and all the vingettes about people who have found their element, is reminding me that the traditional ways we measure intelligence are really NOT going to give us an accurate picture of that person or their potential for greatness!

I feel pretty far removed from elementary school at this point in the year, but while working at the Early Childhood Learning Center in Titusville they used a program called ARL, Assured Readiness for Learning. It focused on left-brain and right-brain thinking and did a great job at allow the children to express their knowledge of concepts in creative ways. Chapter 3 of the book reminded me of that. All year I have been fighting to find a balance, an avenue for students to show me that they can comprehend without giving a paper pencil test. At times, this has just served to frustrate and overwhelm me as some students simply will do nothing no matter what. Apparently they aren't in their element! Those that do find ease with these types of projects amaze me with their creativity!

On a final note, my favorite quote to this point in the book has to be this. Billards champion Ewa said, "If you find a place where everybody like the same thing you do, it becomes really fun!" Oh, how I strive to make my classroom a place where everyone can get some enjoyment out of learning! Now if only the kids would cooperate!