I feel like I am in kindergarten again.

Moriah, 3rd Period (smiling as wide as the sky).

We made snowflakes yesterday. Ya know, the ones we made in elementary school by folding paper, making cuts, and then unfolding them to marvel at the beauty of our creation. Those snowflakes.

But first we read a comic.

Our focus for the semester is “Identity,” and our Essential Question that will drive our work is “Who Am I?” So, as we delve deeper into the realm of identity, we started with Nature v. Nurture yesterday. After viewing a short clip on epigenetics (see below), I asked the kids to read the comic and answer the following questions.

1. What does the cartoon reveal about nature? Support with evidence from the text.
2. What does the cartoon reveal about nurture? Support with evidence from the text.
3. What is the central theme of the text? Write a theme statement.

Then I asked them to consider how our classroom culture related to the comic, particularly our use of Smiles and Frowns.

It honors our differences, our individuality.

We get to see how different and how alike we all are.

You keep us frozen, keep our snowflakes from melting.

Snowflakes from melting. Not sure I have ever been paid a more strange or satisfying compliment from a kiddo.

I then asked them to walk back with me to the first day of class ninety-some days ago, when I shared my “Roles, Routines, Rights, Responsibilities” approach with them, asking in particular if they remembered their first and most important role from the top of the list.

“Be ourselves,” they smiled.

I smiled back. And I told them everything I do is so they not only better discover themselves but also–maybe more importantly–never lose themselves in my room. If kids lose themselves in my room because of the environment that I create, then I cannot–I will not–weather that storm. That I could not accept. So I work to prevent such a terrible tempest. I work hard to save the unique beauty of each snowflake that enters my room.

And with that, I told them they’re all my little snowflakes and to celebrate and honor them we were going to make snowflakes! They responded with glee.

Today, they will add ten character traits to their flakes and hang them ceremoniously on the north wall of my room. Just the place we’d expect a snowflake to be most comfortable.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…playing the “number game” (gaming the standardization game). Continuing with parallel structure.

…hanging snowflakes.

…diving deeper into Nature v. Nurture, reading psychology articles and preparing for tomorrow’s discussion.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Thursday, all. Be yourselves.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.