What did you do at school today?
Were you ever asked that as a kid? Do you ask that of your own children? The answers you probably get from your kids are the same ones you gave your parents years ago. Nothing.
Why are parents so interested in what their kids did at school? And why do kids lack the knowledge or skills to respond to this simple question? What if the question didn't need to be asked or answered? What if parents already knew what happened at school because they were there.
So.....our middle school PE class invited their parents to school to come and share the learning. This open house was to be used to showcase the unit of work on Frisbee that we had just completed. Invitations were sent out with the expectation that they were to come dressed appropriately for sport. Days before the event, students planned the lesson, deciding who would greet and introduce, who would show videos, who would set up the activities. Students would show their 'How to Play Ultimate Frisbee and Frisbee Golf' videos and then take their parents out for a game of each. There was a great deal of excitement as the big day approached.
Today, the parents showed up. Each enthusiastic to be a part of the learning, each excited to be hanging out with their kids in an unusual environment and each dressed appropriately.
The parents were fantastic. They participated and followed directions from their children. They experienced new things and were excited and laughed when they succeeded and equally as much when they needed some extra coaching.
The students were brilliant. They guided their mums and dads around a Frisbee Golf course in the playground and challenged them in a game of Ultimate Frisbee. They explained rules and strategies, gave feedback on technique and supported their parents with encouraging suggestions for improvement.
Hopefully, the question tonight will be "What are you hoping to do at school tomorrow?"
Were you ever asked that as a kid? Do you ask that of your own children? The answers you probably get from your kids are the same ones you gave your parents years ago. Nothing.
Why are parents so interested in what their kids did at school? And why do kids lack the knowledge or skills to respond to this simple question? What if the question didn't need to be asked or answered? What if parents already knew what happened at school because they were there.
So.....our middle school PE class invited their parents to school to come and share the learning. This open house was to be used to showcase the unit of work on Frisbee that we had just completed. Invitations were sent out with the expectation that they were to come dressed appropriately for sport. Days before the event, students planned the lesson, deciding who would greet and introduce, who would show videos, who would set up the activities. Students would show their 'How to Play Ultimate Frisbee and Frisbee Golf' videos and then take their parents out for a game of each. There was a great deal of excitement as the big day approached.
Today, the parents showed up. Each enthusiastic to be a part of the learning, each excited to be hanging out with their kids in an unusual environment and each dressed appropriately.
The parents were fantastic. They participated and followed directions from their children. They experienced new things and were excited and laughed when they succeeded and equally as much when they needed some extra coaching.
The students were brilliant. They guided their mums and dads around a Frisbee Golf course in the playground and challenged them in a game of Ultimate Frisbee. They explained rules and strategies, gave feedback on technique and supported their parents with encouraging suggestions for improvement.
Hopefully, the question tonight will be "What are you hoping to do at school tomorrow?"
