Prep Time

The French have a term, mise en place (pronounced MEEZ ahn plahs), which refers to "having all the ingredients necessary for a dish prepared and ready to combine up to the point of cooking." (Epicurious.com)  Ingredients are sliced, diced, clarified, put in little containers so the chef can cook efficiently and the food good and ready to serve in a matter of minutes.


Teachers, like chefs, have our own mise en place.  We call it "prep" - maybe "planning" in more traditional schools - and it is essential to every lesson.  Blended  teaching practitioners slice, dice, and clarify information from several sources.  The difference, I suppose, is that even when the learning ingredients have been mise-en-placed (I'm not sure if mise en place is a verb, but for now, I will use use it as such), the meal will turn out different every time because of those who digest it.  


Chefs need not take into account the age, background, and psyche of their diners.  Teachers always do.


And so we water the ingredients down, if we must; and add as much flavor and spices (in the form of visuals, games, and multi-sensory activities) to satisfy the taste of the learner so much that they will always remember what they digested, and keep asking for more.  

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We are currently at the mise en place stage of the coming school year.  Resource speakers have been invited, the room has been rearranged, schedules set, and materials prepped.


Bon Apetit!

Back to School

"For in every adult there dwells the child that was, and in every child there lies the adult that will be."  

- John Conolly (The Book of Lost Things)

Over the summer I watched and listened to my students as they entered their "tweenage" years, and I had to face the fact that there will be less cuteness (if at all!), and more angst.  When I read Teacher Thea's latest Tale, I wax nostalgic about my students' cute years.  I wouldn't go back, of course, but from time to time, one wishes for a classroom without side comments, without the snickering, and with so much less disquietude.  Then I snap out of it, and suddenly look forward to the interesting things they have to say, their opinions, their observations; and perhaps get a glimpse of the adults they will eventually become.


And get those "aaaw" cuteness moments from the sixes and sevens (the lower grades)

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I may be in for quite a ride this year, but so will the Blendies.

Make-cation in it's final weekend, I find myself gearing up for SY 2011-2012.
I've got first-week of schools plans brewing in my head, and I'm coordinating with guest speakers already.

I'll be teaching two classes I haven't taught before, and the journey looks to be an exciting one.  There will be a lot of blending in terms of methodology and more inter-curricular crossing!


I'll be posting some of them, in case somebody out there wants to use them at home.  


Stay tuned!

Break

School's out this week, for myself and Teacher Z, at least.
The summer sessions over, we're resting up and gathering energy for the coming school year. A vacation turned make-cation, my materials are gathered an it's time to roll.

On the Make list:

• Update blog
• try out the Makin's Clay
• Try white poster paint in place of acrylic gesso (price and availability limitations) to prep pages and get rid of lines (it works.  the pen slides smoothly across the surface)
• Drawings. Lots of them.
• Envelopes out of magazine pages - this was a class project that turned out nicely, I thought I'd do them at home.
• Chinese Jack Stones.  

Other things on the relax-you-deserve-it to do list:

• Watch the new X-men movie (in the theater!)
• See people I don't otherwise get to see.
• Read!

I am uncharacteristically late showing up this week. I've taken off my watch and don't plan on wearing it again until Monday.