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Monday, December 16, 2013

'Twas 5 Days before Winter Break

With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas 5 days before school break and all through the class
Not a brain cell was stirring, must think and think fast
The objectives were posted on the board with care
In hopes that good thinking, soon would be there.

The children were dressed in bright blue, green and reds
As visions of vacation days danced in their heads
And Marie in her Ugg boots and Jon in his cap
Had just settled their brains for a short in-class nap


When all of a sudden there arose such a clatter
They sprang from their chairs to see what was the matter.
Away to my laptop I flew like a flash
Turned on the projector and sent them to the hash (tag)

The look on the kid’s faces along the back row
Showed a bit of a stirring, a glimmer, a glow
When what to my wondering eyes did appear
But a live online chat and ideas to share

With hot topics the kids were so lively and quick
I knew in a moment that this was the trick.
More rapid than eagles their thinking it came
I whispered and smiled and called them by name

Now SCAN tool, Edmodo, Today’s Meet and Wiki
On laptops, on Ipads, on mobiles with twitter
To the top of Blooms Pyramid, to the top of the class
Now think away, think away, think and think fast

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky
Up to the tallest heights the ideas they flew
With creativity, critical thinking, and communication so new

And then, in a twinkling, I saw on the screen
The comments and thoughts of each one of those teens
As I stood there amazed my thoughts swirling around
In came the principal with some thoughts profound

She was dressed all professional from her head to her foot
And her tablet was open to observe something good
A bundle of energy we had in the class
She was so impressed she got in on the task

Their work, how it sparkled, the ideas so fresh
The comments were helpful, their words start to mesh
They supported their arguments with evidence and more
Their writing more confident than ever before.

I spoke not a word, let them go with their work
And watched as they collaborated as I just did lurk.
And after the bell rang, not one child rose
Too engaged to hear it, I had to suppose

I sprang to the door as the kids cried out loud
And assured them their work was saved to the cloud.
I heard them exclaim as they moved out the door

When can we come back and do this some more?

2 comments:

  1. This was wonderful; both the experience & the poem.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! I think kids would have fun doing this too!

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