Thoughts

Morning Writers. Today I am proctoring the BST Writing Exam so Ms. O will be in the lab with you while you compose. Here are some thoughts for today as you research your topic of interest and compose. First, look at the clock on the computer and note the time.

What drives us to achieve? What compels one individual to go above and beyond and another to get by? This thought started yesterday when I was mentally noting- again- that some people's blog posts are consistently of a greater length and depth than others. Don't get me wrong, I admire a snappy, succinct writer, but there's little substitute in terms of writing growth than actually writing more. In 5th hour, this point was driven home even more powerfully. My science fiction class has a project right now to design their own planet, culture and people. Some people have literally typed 6+ pages while others have their work on 2-3 sheets of notebook paper. How do I even begin to assess one versus another? Or, how do I know if 6 pages for one is a breeze and 2-3 notebook pages is over-achievement for the other? Wild. Ideally, I assess a student against themselves and what they are capable of. BUT, what if a student rarely gives glimmers of their most amazing, but totally achievable kind of work? To use a Jordy phrase, BLARG.

Last night Quinn and his Dad came home from Dad's Class (Early Childhood Family Education) with a class photo of all the kids and their Dads. Freaking adorable. Applying my consternation from above onto this photo, I wonder what parents, adults and teachers should do to create a culture where excellence is the norm, not only for the "reward" of a grade- that's far too fleeting and lame- but for the sense of pride and accomplishment or the evolution of self. I routinely tell Quinn he's the brightest, most curious, friendliest and lovable little boy. I validate his actions with phrases like, "Great running! Way to eat your peas!" and other silly sayings. What kind of learner will Quinn become? How much of his intellect and giftedness will he apply to school and how will he distinguish between the worthy work and the busy work-- as you all surely do without even realizing it.

Feel free to respond to this. Also, what time is it now? Please let me know how long it took you to read this message. Why? I'm trying to determine how long people spend reading, researching, brainstorming, etc. so that my expectations for actual composition are fair. Thanks! Have a splendid day!