By Shelley Bennett
Today was finally the first day of school! This is my 24th year teaching English at Lassen High School and the excitement and nerves are just the same as they were in 1998.
I remember looking out into the classroom of seniors at the beginning of first period, taking a deep breath, and diving in. Those students have gone on to do great things and it is one of the greatest rewards of my career to see them now and get caught up.
We had short class periods today so I started by challenging my students. They got into small groups of four and I gave them a card with a task on it, a bag of 10 marshmallows, and an unlimited number of toothpicks.
The challenges were all different and ranged from “Create a structure that will hold a cup of water” to “Design something that symbolizes love.”
Students worked diligently and I walked around the classroom and observed.
I heard comments like, “this is harder than I thought it was going to be” and “this isn’t working.” Eventually the comments turned more positive and even triumphant as their challenges turned into successes.
At the end of ten minutes I asked each group to share their creations and thought process. Some of them shared how they had to be creative and “think outside of the box” to come up with a solution. Others told me how it didn’t “look like the picture they had envisioned” in their heads, but it still worked.
They described how they had to change course in the middle of building because something didn’t work. How the shape of the marshmallows made it difficult and the texture was “too fluffy.”
As we wrapped up class, I talked about how writing is much the same. How when I sit down to write my column, what is in my head doesn’t always sound like what comes out on paper.
How sometimes I have to “change course” in the middle because something doesn’t fit but it always works out in the end. It might be different, it might even be better.
I asked that they keep that in the back of their minds as we start writing in class. I want them to be creative and think outside the box. I want them to work through the hard stuff so they can experience success and pride.
With obstacles such as the Dixie Fire and COVID numbers increasing, this is going to be how I approach this school year as well. Ready to take on new challenges, solve problems creatively, and being okay with not achieving perfection. It might not be like the picture in my head, but it will work and might be even better.
Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to [email protected] and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”
