'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?