The 6 Senses

Most research will tell you that people learn best when most/all of their 5 senses are engaged.  My students learn best when they use all 6!  This is because at their age they have a heightened sense of adventure.  Just ask the video game and technology industries, they capitalize on this all of the time and make huge profits.  Maybe we could learn something from them- or not.  I've been in the fanciest school buildings around, none of them are as stimulating as the outdoors.  I don't think Common Core accounts for the engagement of a child's senses, never mind their sense of adventure.  

It seems like we tend to over value our curriculum or body of knowledge and undervalue our delivery system and the practical use that our standards have in store for our students.  In the end, regardless of the curriculum, the teacher is the only person who can "deliver the goods."

Today my kids explored the forest where the discovered clay deposits in the stream, a project adventure course, the sweet smells of birch and sassafras.  They continued to work on their spoons & forts as well as their ability to work together, solve problems and manage their own time.