Just an idea...

Something I'm throwing around in my brain...
But want to let it simmer as to how it would actualize itself...

What if:
Students chose how they were going to be part of the "Team" that is known as a classroom. Each student takes their strengths and commits to using those strengths (drawing, singing, movies, rote memorization, usw.) to help the class.

I think it's a great idea... it's so much like real life where businesses hire different people to take on the different tasks in order to have the business run smoothly and at its best. Why should we, in education, be different? Yet, I think it might necessitate a few things:

Contract grading of some sort? Perhaps contracted services? I don't want students to not offer their service because they feel that it will be on top of work that might already be overwhelming.

A real use of their skills. Not just a one-time thing and a very minimal one-time-thing at that. It needs to be real... and it needs to be purposeful and fulfilling for the students.

All of this came to mind as I see the amazing artists I have in class and the student who writes and sings her own music... beautifully. How could I harnass that to give them pride in what they do and have German be a part of it?

So I want to think this through a bit more... and then try it on a small scale still this semester... because it might be something truly amazing for my ENORMOUS split class next semester.

Ahhhh, the enjoyment of German 1... again...

Today we had another fantastic bout of discussion.

We did the history quiz and I had the chance to do my normal "spiel" abou the various questions on the quiz... and we ended up getting into a few discussions about various things... one was why people voted for Hitler. Another was genocide in general... and how America did it as well. We had an interesting conversation about the Native Americans as well as war today. I was able to meaningfully side-step a question directed at me about my opinion of war and discuss that we shouldn't have tunnel vision and that everyone needs to consider that question because it affects their future... which brought us to the discussion of a draft which would surely include both women and college students this time. A girl in the back teared up a couple times today... both during the Native American discussion and the discussion of the draft. She is so soft hearted and such a thinker.

I really enjoy these conversations.
And this class has been amazing for having these conversations.


P.S. on a brighter note, one of my 11th graders mentioned today that his mom says that German has changed him. He said that he used to be quieter and crabbier... and now he's just (and then he did this crazy flipping the pen dance with a big smile). I'm understanding that as a good thing. I asked if maybe he just finally felt like it was okay to be that person... he kind of nodded as he looked over and started to talk with his Tischpartner.