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Yesterday I tweeted a call for topic ideas. Julianne suggested balance. And now I’m stuck. I liked that this was a topic that would make people think, but I wasn’t prepared for being stuck.
Balance is so open to interpretation. Are we thinking about the balance of reading to writing, technology to paper, challenging to easy? There are so many ways we can look at balance. In my own life, I need to balance work with play, eating healthy foods, using my time wisely, and on and on.
I look at each one of my students as a small balancing act. I need to give them enough but not too much. This week we were behind. Most of my students had spent their class time on creating digital Wonder presentations, so they hadn’t completed their writing assignments (Slice of Life and Reader response). A few of them were actually in a panic over getting it all done. The title of the day was “Finish it Friday.”
When I announced that I wanted to do a poetry activity, I heard groans. I insisted that we all stop and take 5 minutes to write together. This turned out to be a good decision. Creative juices flowed. My kids turned back to technology not as a chore but as a choice. I posted some of the results on Poetry Friday.
Teaching gifted students is always a balancing act. I want to challenge them to think deeper and work harder, and yet, I cannot forget that they are children. They need creative play as well. The best lessons are ones that balance the two. The funny thing about my kids is even if the assignment is not all that creative, they find a way to interject their own voices. They will be heard.
Kaiden’s presentation on how books are made included his own sense of humor as well as information on how paper became books.
Do you have “Da Knawledge?”
Please add the link to your digital literacy blog post.
Reflections on the Teche 
Yes, so true – give them space to create and they make sure that their voices are heard.
I love the idea that your students embrace technology to be expressive. I will have to think about this topic before writing a post.
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Sorry Margaret, I wasn’t able to open the link above to share my post, so here it is:
https://ateachinglifedotcom.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/digilit-sundaybalance/
I fixed it and added your link. Thanks.
Yes! Each student is a balancing act. Keeping that play in the learning is so important, for us all. I’m glad you wrestled with this topic. As always you make me think.
Here’s my post for the link up. I couldn’t get to the link.
Should be working now. I added your link. Thanks.
I just read an article about creativity that Lucy Knisley posted. It goes with your thoughts: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/opinion/sunday/how-to-raise-a-creative-child-step-one-back-off.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0
I have a hard time with balance with my gifted kids, too. They need to be challenged and really enjoy that, but sometimes they get really stressed because of the expectations of the class.
And they are very vocal about their suffering.
Ha! Yes!
Balance is on my mind all the time. I noticed a balance in what you did beyond what you talked about. You let Kaiden balance his ideas with his process and product. I think teaching kids how to balance is also so key. I find with gifted kids that they need to balance one interest with other things so they can have different perspectives.
Yes! Sometimes they are all over the place. Powtoon is great for my boys who love animation.
Margaret, our Friday was crazy too! Every day is a balancing act, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing Kaiden’s PowToon. I still need to let my kids play with that tool.
Margaret, I finished my post and want to thank you for giving me a push to think deeply about finding balance.