tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244094017308426068.post6039594870035422255..comments2014-07-15T07:12:39.900-04:00Comments on Mrs. Wideen's Blog: Is It Possible To Make Genius Hour Longer?Mrs. Wideenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734976311375754429noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244094017308426068.post-2638292859998499742013-07-01T16:27:19.516-04:002013-07-01T16:27:19.516-04:00Darnee,
Inquiry Circles is a great book to start w...Darnee,<br />Inquiry Circles is a great book to start with and although I have not read it yet, A place of Wonder, is the book currently on my desk to read next. Mrs. Wideenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00734976311375754429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244094017308426068.post-4592673061094752502013-06-24T22:48:07.220-04:002013-06-24T22:48:07.220-04:00I teach 2nd grade cluster, so I'm definitely g...I teach 2nd grade cluster, so I'm definitely going to look into how I can incorporate Genius Hour into my week somehow (shut the door & do my thing ;) Which books did you order? I'm looking to do more reading as well :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08288706997406748077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244094017308426068.post-42089132101406633072013-05-01T17:06:43.479-04:002013-05-01T17:06:43.479-04:00I loved your description of Genius Hour in your cl...I loved your description of Genius Hour in your classroom. I too work with younger ones from K-3rd grade -- all subjects. Having the freedom to design my own schedule, which is pretty open-ended most of the time, I feel very strongly that we can design our curriculum to be a 'genius one' most of the time and still fit in most if not all of the standards you are expected to cover. <br /> <br />I'm not sure the labels are so important although I did wonder myself whether or not I was doing 'Genius Hour' when my kids spent several hours a day fully engaged. Is it now 'passion-based learning' or is it 'challenge-based learning' or 'PBL' but then I thought it didn't really matter. Kids were engaged, excited, and felt empowered to make decisions about their learning.<br /><br />For me, I found it's not as easy as just letting my kids go, doing whatever they wanted because then it became just projects, and we do them all the time as a way to apply and demonstrate information. Instead for me it became discovering ways to guide their thinking so they were analyzing and synthesizing, thinking critically and creatively. Any yes, kids of the age we teach can begin to do this!The Phoenixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245048889800402269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244094017308426068.post-30642126312878806452013-04-29T09:10:40.747-04:002013-04-29T09:10:40.747-04:00Great to hear your experiences with genius hour. I...Great to hear your experiences with genius hour. I am going to try and implement this too, I know my kids would love it. Any good finds and recommended reads on the inquiry books you brought from Amazon? <br /><br />Thanks for sharing all your ideas on your blog, I get new ideas every visit!Laura Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271177587387936467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8244094017308426068.post-6111872634397081272013-04-28T20:01:19.898-04:002013-04-28T20:01:19.898-04:00Hello from IL!
I don't know much about 1st gra...Hello from IL!<br />I don't know much about 1st graders, but my niece and nephew are in 1st grade, and I bet they'd love Genius Hour time once a day, or three times a week. I know they also need specific lessons, as well, but you can incorporate many choices in this learning, too, I'd bet. I'm trying my darnedest to give my 7th graders choices each day, especially the days we don't have Genius Hour. I know they feel a part of the system when I do this, and I believe I get more participation when I do so. I HAVE to do grammar instruction. But I let classes choose - all in one day, or each day as a warm up? I HAVE to do writing prompts, but I let them choose - on the laptop? IPad? Writing? Take home to finish? Choose a different topic? As long as we are covering the standards, and what we're doing is not impacting their learning, I'm good.<br /><br />Enjoy the journey with those little ones. I'm excited for them, and hope they ask their teacher next year for their own personalized learning time!! Thanks for this post!Joy Kirrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08883167887036480979noreply@blogger.com