Follow the Flow

“Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.” -  André Gide

I’m always looking for the words that capture my particular way of moving through the world and today’s Inspiring Quotes offering gives voice to my experience of teaching as a verb, not a noun. I might add “be open to surprise” or “follow the flow,” both of which articulate my class today with first-graders. While we were all enjoying dancing the play-party The Paw Paw Patch, one boy complained of a headache, so I let him sit out. But wanted him to keep connected, I gave him a pair of spoons to play with the music and after about five-minutes, he was killin’ it! An unexpected surprise for us both.

When it was over and the kids were lining up, I was still playing the music on the piano and one girl started to dance in an Appalachian clogging style. She was great! I asked if she took dance lessons and she just said she taught herself to dance like that. And then, to top it off, the kids told me it was her birthday! So I called back the spoon player, changed the words to “ Happy, happy, happy birthday!” and had all the kids sang gather in a circle around her singing while she danced. 

 

Need I say that none of this was in the lesson plan? Can you imagine how happy she was?

 

So teachers, parents, people, stay alert to possibility, be open to surprise, follow the flow and be prepared to be astounded.