Back with the kids today. Can’t wait to see how they’ve grown. They had work over break. Oh, I didn’t assign anything, and they didn’t know it, but they had work to do, and my hope is that they weren’t even aware they were doing it. But today, ready or not, I will take measure.

No test. No pop quiz. This is a different measure. I am going to simply watch and listen. That is how I will take measure.

Fortunately, I have a meter in place to take such readings, to extract such data. Nothing scientific. Just a good old-fashioned look-them-in-the-eye and listen-with-my-heart approach. Smiles and Frowns.

For those new to the 180 classroom, Smiles and Frowns is an activity we do every day at the start of every period. We go around the room, and we each share a smile and/or frown from our lives. Kids always have the option to pass. It takes five to seven minutes. We do it every day–no matter what. For seventy-five days, we have shared ourselves, our stories, and today, now that we are back, I will take measure of its impact on our classroom culture.

But why today? Why take measure today? The kids have been away for two weeks. Away for two weeks. That is something we’ve not had. But it’s exactly what we needed. Time away. Time to reflect. Oh, I doubt my kids spent much time reflecting on theme or methods of elaboration, but I will bet they spent time thinking about each other, thinking about our community. And as they did, I hope they were taking their own measure of themselves and the world, particularly the little world that we have together created in room 206 thus far this year.

Of course, I am not so naive to think that they spent a significant amount of time doing so, but my hope is that in their quieter moments they did find themselves thinking back on their experiences over the past seventy-five days, and it is my greater hope that, as they did, they were reminded of a sense of belonging, a sense of connection. Experiences are anchors. I hope all of my kids feel securely anchored in room 206.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…reconnecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…finalizing interview and presentation preparations for our projects.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Thursday, all. Good to be back.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.