Engage students & supercharge learning with Genius Hour #geniushour

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theann.com/WMBK/1Geniushour.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.theann.com/WMBK/1Geniushour.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Authors of the Genius Hour<br />Manifesto and hosts of<br />#geniushour chat<br />Joy Kirr, Hugh McDonald<br />Gallit Zvi, and Denise Krebs<br />are the Fantastic 4 of<br />genius hour. They are 4<br />teachers DOING it.<br /><a href="http://www.bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1064:jackstreet54&catid=91:every-classroom-matters&Itemid=259" target="_blank">Listen to this week's show</a><br />to learn more.</td></tr></tbody></table>Really? Every child is a genius? Hooey.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I admit, that is what I first thought when my friend <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.angelamaiers.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Angela Maiers">Angela Maiers</a> said this. However, if you look at the <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&ie=UTF-8#output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=define%3A%20genius&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&fp=cd06aebfd86711c8&ion=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.46340616,d.eWU&biw=786&bih=805" target="_blank">definition </a>of genius:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"1. Exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability.<br />2. A person who is exceptionall intelligent or creative, either generally or in some particular respect: "musical genius."<br />Synonym: talent"</blockquote>We are looking for the natural abilities of students. Now, don't mistake natural ability for the art of mastering. We all know naturally gifted athletes who never accomplished anything because they were allergic to sweat, or naturally smart kids who accomplished nothing once they had to study. Genius takes time but talent can be spotted and nurtured.<br /><br />One thing is sure, if a child never knows their own talent... they will never get on the path to genius. It starts with identifying and nurturing passions.<br /><br /><b>I'm a passion meter. </b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_T_7did-vRIXAZmWzSIjvrng5uiyMDpqpihdyZfmR1UZxncGY69TPM8oQvCaRPSldyb5ilySmR5TJ-pjVNSH9uc7Q94XVxXFTKJKpot6YEDxgTkLP_Ic2c7NYI8oHI2JAOFhqZ_WHGok/s1600/bigstock_Child_at_an_elementary_school_11969195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_T_7did-vRIXAZmWzSIjvrng5uiyMDpqpihdyZfmR1UZxncGY69TPM8oQvCaRPSldyb5ilySmR5TJ-pjVNSH9uc7Q94XVxXFTKJKpot6YEDxgTkLP_Ic2c7NYI8oHI2JAOFhqZ_WHGok/s320/bigstock_Child_at_an_elementary_school_11969195.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why should students be doing the same thing all<br />the time? Can't we lead them in inquiry based<br />learning experiences where they are explorers,<br />scientists, creators, and inventors?<br />We must help them <b>find their genius</b> <br />so they can find purpose.</td></tr></tbody></table>My job is to help students discover those passions and innate talents that they don't know they have. Twenty percent of our time is spent on personal interest projects. Every teacher can't do 20% time, but EVERY teacher, EVERY school, and EVERY classroom can have an exciting, engaging genius hour. It is that important.<br /><br />Recently on the <a href="http://www.bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=91&layout=blog&Itemid=259" target="_blank">Every Classroom Matters show</a>, I sat down with the "Fantastic 4" of Genius hour: <a class="g-profile" href="http://plus.google.com/104794016439453807655" target="_blank">+Joy Kirr</a> (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/joykirr" target="_blank">@joykirr</a>), <a class="g-profile" href="http://plus.google.com/116768967906418575185" target="_blank">+Denise Krebs</a> (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/mrsdkrebs" target="_blank">@mrsdkrebs</a>), <a class="g-profile" href="http://plus.google.com/111290898005385378026" target="_blank">+Hugh McDonald</a> (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/hughtheteacher" target="_blank">@hughtheteacher</a>) and <a class="g-profile" href="http://plus.google.com/100431687261076181726" target="_blank">+Gallit Zvi</a> (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/gallit_z" target="_blank">@gallit_z</a>).<br /><br />Do you know it was the first time all four of them had physically talked in real time? It was electric as they discussed passion based learning and how they implement genius hour in the classroom. They are doing incredible work and I highly recommend adding them to your PLN.<br /><h2><b>Listen to the authors of the Genius Hour Manifesto: </b></h2><b>Click here to listen:</b><br /><a href="http://www.bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1064:jackstreet54&catid=91:every-classroom-matters&Itemid=259" target="_blank">Radically Authentic Learning: How Classrooms Change when Student Genius Drives Learning</a><br /><br /><div><blockquote class="tr_bq">Genius hour wiki: <a href="http://geniushour.wikispaces.com/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e73be; font-family: 'PT Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">geniushour.wikispaces.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: 'PT Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">#Geniushour chat - first Wednesday of each month.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: 'PT Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Genius hour manifesto: </span><a href="http://educationismylife.com/genius-hour-manifesto/" style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">http://educationismylife.com/genius-hour-manifesto/</a> </blockquote></div><br /><b>Do you want to nominate someone to be on the show? </b><br /><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1M2q29jGG-rdMd8j3mV9fZBkfBt4CksC_72wUKrSmVNU/viewform" target="_blank">Fill out the nomination form.</a><br /><br /><b>Want to know more about Every Classroom matters and how to subscribe?</b><br />Read "<a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-every-classroom-matters-show-and.html" target="_blank">The Every Classroom Matters Show</a> and a tutorial on how to subscribe using iCatcher"</div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=3396c07f-114b-4926-8b7f-a2dfb5d70b2f" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

Engage students & supercharge learning with Genius Hour #geniushour

Authors of the Genius Hour Manifesto and hosts of #geniushour chat Joy Kirr, Hugh McDonald Gallit Zvi, and Denise Krebs are the Fantastic 4 ...

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