Category: Authentic Teaching

Authentic Project Ideas – Dams

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Project Ideas, Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

This is a dam in Iowa. When my husband showed me this picture I didn’t even realize at first that it was a dam. Very attractively done, in my opinion.

This got us talking about the pros and cons of dams. Dams prevent many problems, but they also cause many problems.

Authentic Learning – These ideas can be used at any grade level. With younger students there will be more group produced work.

Read: Gather and read information from several sources. (Good authentic lessons don’t rely on just one source…Why not?)

Write: Take notes about what you are reading.

Math: How many dams are in our country? Create a graph showing numbers for the last decade/century.

Geography: Where are they dams. Create a map. Do they tend to be in one part of the country or all over?

Science: What problems do they prevent and why? What problems do they cause and why? Write a report. Create a poster or tri-board. Write a pamphlet.

Opinion: What do you think? What should we do about current dams/future dams.

Really Authentic Learning: This research may take your students in another direction – water usage, water shortages, conservation…

A New Year

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Books for Children, Social Awareness and Responsibility Skills, Uncategorized

I have decided to start the new year with an adaption of my favorite story. Many times, during my teaching career, I gifted a copy of this adaption, and a starfish necklace, to teachers I worked with, to remind them why we we do what we do.

A young boy was walking on the beach, he paused every so often, to pick up an object and throw it into the ocean. A man was watching the young boy. The boy came closer and the man said, “May I ask what you are doing?”

The young boy replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the water by themselves. If they don’t get back into the water, they will die.” 

The man replied, “But there must be hundreds of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t be able to make much of a difference.”

The boy bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

Adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

As I have stated many times, this blog started as a means to promote my books. Then it gradually, and authentically changed to be a means for me to post authentic ideas for teaching. So my blog about authentic teaching and learning is totally authentic! I didn’t plan for it to happen, it just did. And because I followed my interests and didn’t remain constrained by the original purpose of this blog, I have continued to grow as an educator, even in retirement.

Not only have I continued to grow as an educator, but I have been able to continue to make a difference in my own little way. Anyone who teaches, understands that we all want to make a difference, in our own little way. I know my blog does that. I get the biggest thrill to see all the different countries that people are from who read my blog. Wow, what a head trip!

Also, writing my books has allowed me to continue to make a difference. All of my books, children’s and adult, are written to educate. And, of course, being asked to write a book about The Jared Box Project – what an honor. Eyen, Tex, and I feel truly privileged that we were able to help spread the word about this amazing project.

So, I begin 2024 by thanking you for allowing me to indulge in my passions, and feel that I am continuing in my own little authentic way to make a small difference in the world.

As educators, it is easy to become overwhelmed with what we are tasked to accomplish.  So, remember the starfish story, try to make a difference, one starfish at a time…

A Most Wonderful Time of Year – Maybe

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Social Awareness and Responsibility Skills, Uncategorized

“Giving Back.” This has always been my “theme” for December, and a very authentic one at that. I have shared ideas for giving to others throughout my blog. Most can be found under “Social Awareness and Responsibility Skills.”

For so many, hmmmm, maybe most of us, the holidays is not a Hallmark Holiday Special. (Not knocking them, I love them!) There is definitely a “set up” for most people. The holidays never turn out as you want, or expect them to.

I have always found that giving to others is the highlight of my holiday season. For those who have so much, it is important to give back. And for those who have less, but can still give, it really takes the sting out of the disappointments that might occur.

I hope your holiday season is going well, wherever and whatever you are celebrating! You are making my holiday season brighter by just reading my blog!

Teaching Authentically at the Holidays

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Social Awareness and Responsibility Skills, Uncategorized

This is the time of year when I always come back to my favorite family holiday story. I have told it many times, but feel it is worthy of repeating.

As a preteen in South Florida (note the Florida themed Christmas Tree in the photo above) my great-grandfather gave me Avon face powder for a holiday gift. Needless to say, I was disappointed by this gift. Instead of lecturing me about being ungrateful, or exchanging the powder for a different gift, my mother agreed that this was not a great gift for a girl my age. She suggested that perhaps there was a young woman somewhere that might not be getting gifts for the holidays who would appreciate this gift.

This was before the internet, Giving Trees, etc., and it took many phone calls for my mother to find an agency that was collecting gifts for needy families. We ended up “adopting” a family for the holidays. Our whole family picked out gifts for this family. This was a tradition we continued throughout my childhood, and a tradition I continued with my own children.

With the internet, Toys for Tots, Giving Trees… There are so many ways for children to become authentically engaged in the spirit of the holidays. Children can be given examples of ways to make the holidays special for others, can choose to engage in these activities/organizations, or come up with new authentic ideas.

Happy December! Happy Authentic Teaching!

The Gift of Authentic Learning

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

On a recent road trip, we ended up spending the night in Wilson, Kansas.
This city is the Czech Capital of Kansas and has the largest Czech Egg in the
world!

There were also many other smaller, gorgeous eggs around the town. If you
have ever visited Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, it reminded me of that town,
except there were Groundhogs all over Punxsutawney, and Eggs all over Wilson.

So much of authentic learning is paying attention to what is around
you. Add a dose of curiosity and a cell phone to do some research, and an
overnight stop becomes a lesson in Czech and Slovak folk art, culture, and history.

I was fortunate enough to attend a middle school that operated by authentic
teaching and learning. This developed a life-long curiosity that has never left me. I just can’t drive by the largest Czech Egg in the world without looking this up and doing research. By the time I was finished I had spent an evening reading about the history of the Slavic region of the world.

What a gift that middle school gave me.

Unfortunately, the town Folk Art Gift Shop was being renovated. My husband
viewed this as a bonus as we didn’t leave the town with a shopping bag of gorgeous Czech Eggs.  (No worries, I believe you can buy them on line!)

Dealing with Fear

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

There is much going on in the world today that can cause children, and adults, to feel fear. I realize that fear is a huge, and loaded topic. Some topics should be referred to and dealt with by mental health professionals. But other fears, including many brought up by topics taught in class, can be dealt with authentically.

The older I get, the more I don’t like heights. I am sure that it has something to do with the fact that the older I get, the wiser I get. Wise people do not ride trains up the side of very tall mountains!

Well, I am happy to say I overcame my fear. Mostly because I had no choice, as we had purchased tickets to ride to the top of Pikes Peak, and they weren’t cheap! I also read the history of the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, and it had a perfect safety record for 127 years. And my husband held my hand – which does not make it safer, but whatever works!

As I stated, fear is a topic that is going to come up in education. Letting children express their fears is important. Letting them put their fears into authentic context is very important. Letting them learn more about, and research what they are afraid of is a solid first step to overcoming, or at least dealing with, a fear. My research about the Cog Railway helped me feel safe enough to go on it. Looking at the safety records of airlines helps me feel better when I fly. Researching the actual number of alligator attacks in Florida makes me feel safer when I visit my mother. Learning about the shark attacks in the oceans makes me stay out of the ocean! Not giving on that one!

And I almost forgot to mention the donuts at the top of Pikes Peak, world famous, delicious, and another motivation to get on the train!

Authentic Projects vs Themed Units

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

What is the difference between an Authentic Project and Themed Learning.  Basically, when a project is authentic, the student is allowed to explore and learn about what interests them.

In a Themed Unit, the students are usually presented with worksheets and assignments with little to no allowance for authentic exploration. 

Think of it this way.  You introduce a driving question about tornadoes.  (This popped into my head because we are traveling in the Midwest and seem to be a day behind some horrible weather that has spawned tornadoes.)  In a Themed Unit the students learn about tornadoes, do research about tornadoes, write about tornadoes…they may even create posters, displays, and diagrams about tornadoes.  But the unit ends there.

In an Authentic Project you can start with the same driving question.  Perhaps, “What causes a tornado?” But from there, students may follow other paths of interest based on your introductory lessons and their research.  One student may want to explore how to build tornado resistant structures.  One student may find that hurricanes spawn tornadoes, and become interested in learning more about hurricanes.  One may want to start a fundraiser for recent victims of tornadoes.

I have discussed before how even though this sounds like an impossible scenario for the classroom teacher to control, it is actually easier as you have motivated students who are creating their own authentic learning situations.

Need to teach percentages during this time…pull everyone back together to do a lesson on the percentage of your country that is prone to tornadoes (this is a themed unit – then return the students to their authentic learning).

Tricks of the Trade

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

Teaching is an art. And artists have many tricks of the trade, as do teachers.

I recently remembered an event that happened years (decades) ago, that I know definitely made me a better teacher. A trick of the trade, so to speak. Early in my career, before marriage, children…when I actually had some free time…I took figure skating lessons. I was a legend…in my own mind! I could jump at least a quarter of an inch off the ice for a distance of at least two inches. I could spin so fast that you had time to do your laundry during each rotation, but hey…I was impressed with myself!

I took private lessons, which was honestly therapy for me. You can’t focus on anything else while you are skating, if you want to remain upright! So, it took my mind off of school problems, boyfriend problems, etc.

At one point, I worked on the entrance to a spin for about six months and made no progress. One night my instructor was sick, so I took a lesson with someone else. I learned the entrance that night. When my instructor was back, she was amazed and asked me how I finally got it. I told her that the substitute instructor told me to put my weight on the back of the blade, and all of the sudden it happened. She said she had been telling me that for six months. I replied no, she had been telling me to lean back. She was totally exasperated and replied that that is the same thing!

Now basically both convey the same message. But obviously one statement resonated with me, while one did not. When I thought about it later, I took leaning back to mean to lean my back back. I wasn’t leaning back on the blade. Now in hindsight it seems obvious that I needed to lean back on the blade, but I just wasn’t hearing that. It was just semantics really. But the different words made all the difference to me.

As a special education teacher, one of my tricks of the trade was to listen how the classroom teachers were explaining something and then use different words to explain the same thing. Or to use a different example. Or a different approach. It wasn’t that one of us was teaching better than the other…it was just that you never knew what was going to make it click for a student. And I learned this from the figure skating incident.

Using projects to teach authentically will only work if teachers continue to work on the art of teaching. It actually becomes even more of an art when you teach authentically, because it is different, and engaging, and wonderful.

And the above photo is of my figure skating awards, which are now 40 years old…and I still have them and still am proud! See you at the Olympics!!

Teaching Authentically

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Uncategorized

“We miss you.”  No, you miss my money.

“You are like family.”  No, family doesn’t charge me for things they give me.

“Sale ends today.”  And you will start another one tomorrow.

“Come into our store, we are having a New Year’s Sale.”  Same thing, you will have another sale next week.

None of these sale tactics work for me.  However, we just went into a store that totally got my attention.  There was a huge Ferris Wheel in the center of the store.  They had a cafe, a play area, a huge assortment of goods for sale at a good price, and excellent service.  They weren’t pushy, they didn’t care if you came in, rode the Ferris Wheel, got a cup of coffee and left.  But once they had you in the store, they had a chance for you to see the good prices and witness the excellent service.  This is how you entice someone to come into your store to shop.

What are other ways to get someone’s attention?  To make them want to shop in your store? To make them want to invest in or buy your product?  I believe that being authentic makes the difference to a buyer.  Just like teaching authentically makes a difference to the learner.

Asking a student to work on a project to make an ad or commercial for a store is not authentic unless the student has an authentic involvement with the product.  If your goal is to have your students write persuasive ads for a product, sit back and listen and wait for the authentic opportunity.  It will present itself.

Working on projects to create a new sport.  You will need advertising to get people to buy tickets. Designing a new type of airplane.  How do you get people to invest in it, or fly on it? 

Designing a warmer winter coat.  Don’t send me an email telling me that you miss me and I should buy the coat!  Not authentic, not interested!

And I authentically wish you a Happy New Year, and a wonderful year of teaching authentically!

Teaching Authentically – Start Small and…This is SO Cool!!

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Books for Children, Uncategorized
Early sketch for
Tex the Explorer
The Jared Box Project

Eyen and I are so honored to have been asked to write a book about The Jared Box Project. This is an amazing group that donated boxes of games, toys, etc to children in the hospital. They have donated over a million boxes to over 400 hospitals in the United States and also internationally.

As I have mentioned before, I started this blog as a way to get my books “out there” on the web. I had never even read a blog before, but the folks in my 55+ community told me I had to have a presence on the web for my books. Then the blog took on a life of its own and became a way for me to continue to promote authentic teaching and learning.

One of the concerns that teachers have is how to handle a huge authentic project on top of everything that they are already required to do. I can’t emphasize enough that you start small and take it from there. Many authentic projects are short, sweet, and accomplish their goal of engaging students without a lot of fuss. Some simply don’t work – time to move on. And some take over your life. The Martian Colony Project I worked on in 5th grade did just that. When that happens it actually becomes easier to incorporate your curriculum goals and objects as the project is so big you have everything happening right in front of you!

My books started as a deal I made with my illustrator, Eyen, to write a book together once he was an adult. We made this deal when he was in 5th grade. This was an authentic project that has engaged me and taught me so many things as an adult learner. I had no idea it would become this big. I had no idea we would publish five books together, with the Jared Box Book being number six – and more planned. I had no idea I would publish two books about teaching authentically with my principal, Peggy.
I had no idea I would write a blog – I had no idea what a blog was!

When I retired, I wanted to stay mentally active. I wanted to stay involved in promoting authentic learning. I wanted to continue to help others and volunteer. Oh, and I wanted to explore unique craft stores and boutiques.

Being involved in the authentic project of writing books with Peggy and Eyen has accomplished all of that – even the shopping part – explained below! I never planned for things to happen this way, but I payed attention to opportunity and walked through doors as they opened for me. I didn’t get up one morning and decide to write seven – and counting – books. I made a deal with a fifth grader over a decade ago, and here we are! A real authentic project with students should start just like that. Have a driving question or goal, start out small, pay attention to opportunity, see where it takes you.

So Eyen and I are now working on our book for the Jared Box Project. I am honestly overwhelmed by this opportunity, in a good way! I would have been overwhelmed in a bad way if this had been a goal of mine a decade ago, or if the opportunity had presented itself before now. But this had been a long a winding word to get to this point, full of so many amazing authentic teaching and learning experiences.

Eyen and I will be donating the book to The Jared Box Project, and we both feel blessed to have this opportunity. And I have become hooked and making Jared Boxes – hence the shopping part – so much fun.

Our goal is have the book out by the end of next summer. Stay tuned. And meanwhile, check out The Jared Box Project !