So… Today is the first snow of the year in our neck of the woods.  Actually, it started yesterday.  I had a substitute in my classroom.  When I saw the snow I ran into the room and opened the blinds for my students to see.  This was risky.

Exposing a group of students to the possibilities that coincide with snow coaxes out an innate wildness.

in other words…

When kids see snow, they go crazy.

As soon as I opened the blinds every student was out of his seat.  Their eyes were wide, mouths gaping.  Their little minds were counting the snowballs, snowmen, sleds, and snow forts.  Calculating wether it would be enough to miss school.  And most of all, hoping.

The reason I am blogging about this is that we need to be aware of the wonder around us.  Some teacher shut their blinds it started to snow.  Understandably so.  It’s hard to teach wild kids.  However longterm, kids are much more likely to remember things you taught them that they were wild about.  It’s just how our brains work.

Today, open up the blinds and expose yourself to the world around you.  Sure, there are times we need to buckle down and be focused.  Just be careful.  You do that too much and the real world will pass you by.