What they will Remember

It isn't the worksheets that they will remember. It isn't even the videos you choose to show or the snacks you bring to share. That's not what they will remember at all. Looking back over the past 24 years or so, the day to day things are not what the students remember. They remember the time you spent, the experiences you brought, and the way you made them feel. 

I have had the privilege of staying in contact with so many students and parents from over the years and I always am fascinated by they things they remember. And when more than one gets together and I am there, I love to hear them recalling their memories. It's the things like this that they remember: 

Remember when we did that classroom simulation for social studies? 

Remember our marketplace day? That was so fun to run our own businesses! My business raised so much money!

Remember when we Had our dinosaur day, Mario day, glow day, our Angry Birds day, or geologists day? How about our donut day or the Starbooks Cafe'? Remember bringing our books to life? Books like Frindle or the Titanic? 

Remember the time we had a Christmas party at your house? 

What am I doing this year that students that students will remember years from now? Think about things like this to truly give students experiences they will not ever forget. 

It's little things like taking class outside. Learning in the great outdoors is something I remember from grade school and something I love to do with my own students as well. 

It's mixing things up and instead of morning meeting, how about hosting a morning show (think The Jimmy Fallon Show). This was a great idea I got from the book, Lights, Camera, Teach by Kevin Butler. Seriously, my students beg for the cohost show. They look forward to it, want to be on it, and miss and ask for it when we miss it, until it comes back. Currently, we have the cohost show three times a week. It really is a lot of fun and gives students a chance to get up in front with me in a non-threatening way and practice speaking and leading out in front of the class and it is absolutely amazing!

One of the other big things we did that students still bring up this year is when we brought to life the book, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. It was an amazing wrap-up to this book we all shared together. (Sharing books is seriously such a great way to connect. When we've read a great one one of the three following things usually happen...1. Students ask if they can borrow it from our class library 2. Students want to know if there is a sequel 3. Students want to find other books by that author.) It has been a gift to be with my sixth graders since they were in third grade. We've built a lot of experiences and read a lot of books together and still get to think about them and reference them and make connections...it's pretty amazing!

Another thing I love to do that moves on in kids' memories for their lives is to connect our learning with something kids in my class are passionate about. Think of T.V. shows, games, interests, and hobbies. Use those in your lessons. If you have kids that are crazy about sports, create sports related activities. Know someone who cannot get enough of Mario Cart? Why not figure out a way to incorporate it into a theme for your class. The point is, students will be more connected to their learning if it is something they are interested in.