February 17, 2009

Time for a Clone

One of my favorite classes last semester was the one where I paired students up, gave them random silly topics and told them to let their imaginations run wild as they rushed to create and present compelling introductions and conclusions for their assigned speech topics.

Last semester, my favorite group told the class that crop circles were not formed by aliens. They were formed every time Chuck Norris sneezed. It was hysterical. The entire class cracked up and it's a moment I don't think any of us will soon forget.

Today we had a few more of those moments. I had this feeling at the beginning of the semester that I was going to like these kids, but I didn't know if they could live up to how much fun my group was from the first semester. They proved me wrong today.

One group discussed tsunamis and a student told a "true" story about surfing a wave that landed him on top of a skyscraper. Another group impersonated a sleazy furniture salesperson. A third group told us the movie "Signs" was real and that we should all go home and create "booby traps."

I have to say though, the best one of the day was about cloning. The clincher at the end of the speech. . . "If you're feeling alone, it's time for a clone."

Classic good classroom stuff.

From the way the class responded, something tells me this student will be known from here on out by that very unique quote. There is absolutely no better feeling than when you take an important lesson, make it fun, and it's a smashing success.

Wait until they see what I have planned for them Thursday. . .