This was also posted on my blog at http://www.yetthereismethod.net/
Today was a beautiful day here in north Alabama! Right around 80 degrees, a light cloud cover, and a slight breeze made it a wonderful day to be outside, which has been nice after the few recent rainy days we’ve had.
Today was a recess day, no doubt about it.
As a teacher of third graders, I’m a big fan of recess. I know the research: How students need a time of physical exertion, how recess helps student engagement, and how nice it is simply to have a break (okay, that last one was peer reviewed personal research, as in, all of the other teachers in my grade level like a break, too!). Mostly, though, I like to play on the playground, and this was that kind of day.
On occasions like today, I feel the best vantage point for my playground supervision is the top of our large geodesic dome. I moseyed on over, and climbed right up to the very top. I’m probably going to hurt myself someday, but today was not that day. This particular structure isn’t the most popular on the playground since we recently had new equipment installed, but within a few minutes I had a swarm of kids all around me, clamoring for my attention. Needless to say (yet he says it anyway), not many of our teachers have been to the top of the dome. We had a big ol’ time hanging out and talking, and I watched nearly a dozen students show me how they could drop down “from almost at the top, Mr. Gels!”
“Wow, look at you!”
Writing this slice reminds me of a day during my first year teaching. One of the students challenged me to a race around the playground. Being an enthusiastic, sprightly 41-year-old, I picked up the gauntlet he threw down and we were off. Rounding the last turn, I wiped out in the loose gravel and absolutely shredded the right knee of my pants as well as me. For the record, I still beat him. We were gasping for air at the finish line (me more than him) and he looked down and saw the blood running down my exposed leg.
I’ll chuckle about his first words for the rest of my days: “Mr. Gels, is your mom going to be mad?”
Kids. Sheesh.
Yet There is Method 