Tinkerings

During our faculty Christmas party, the teachers and spouses sitting at each table were set up as teams to play a Christmas Trivia version of The Amazing Race.  Shortly after starting the quiz, it became apparent that some of the questions might not be known by anyone.  Almost as one body, people at each table whipped out their cell phones to begin Googling for answers.

There was no thought process here.  No questions about whether it was ok.  No one standing over them telling them that cell phones were cheating.  They just did what came naturally to them.  Naturally even to those who would be classified as digital immigrants.

What would happen to student engagement if we just let them do what came natural when they had to find answers to tough questions?

Something to consider…

Last night I attended our annual Lake Forest Middle School faculty Christmas party.  Typically, this event is pretty much the same from year to year.  It is always enjoyable as we get to sit and talk and eat and listen to songs and have fun.  Last night was a little different….

This year’s Christmas party was held in a barn at Black Fox Farms just south of Cleveland, TN.  It was beautifully decorated with Christmas lights everywhere and trees put up all around the building.  Rather than our usual “formal” setting, this year was a lot more laid back.  Nearly everyone was in jeans (OK, not me but I hadn’t been home from work yet).  Our food was catered from Shane’s Rib Shack.  And the blue grass band….yes, the blue grass band….played throughout most of the evening.

It was loud.  It was fun.  It was different.  And I loved it!  I can’t speak for everyone, but it was the most fun I’ve had at a faculty Christmas party.  Kim Goins did a fantastic job of coordinating the event (as she always does), and kudos go out to Kim, Jamie Ogle, and Kane Ayres for a wonderful job decorating the tables.

Did I mention that one of the blue grass band members is an 8th grade student at LFMS?  I know it is probably an oxymoron of some type, but the blue grass rocked!

Now we’re just trying to decide if we can get everyone up to Gatlinburg for next year…..