It's not about the ducks...

Ok.  I have a confession.  I love Duck Dynasty.  Seriously.  I've seen every episode more times than I want to admit.  Oh yeah, I actually own the first two seasons on DVD.  (Thanks, Amazon!)  I love, love, love the Duck men.  I want the bobble heads, too.  True story.

Except for some occasional news, Big Bang Theory, and UK basketball, I rarely watch TV; however, I can't get enough of the Robinson family.  Uncle Si and Willie are my favorites; I think everyone should have an Uncle Si of some sort!  I also love the wisdom of Phil.  Okay... I just love all of them.  If you haven't watched it, give it a try.  You will laugh - guaranteed.

Here's the thing:  this amazing family started their business based on ducks.  The Robinson family members are now famous because of ducks.  Their company is called "Duck Commander."  The title of their program on A&E causes you to think you're going to watch a television show that has something to do with ducks... however - the show is not about ducks.  Gotta say it again - it's not about the ducks.

I've thought about my latest TV obsession as it relates to my classroom.  I have had some conversations recently with colleagues about flipping.  There's no question that "flipping a classroom" continues to gain popularity in education circles and think tanks around the globe.  Everyone wants to talk about the videos; I get that.  I'm even guilty sometimes of talking too much about the videos.  Here's the lesson: it's not about the videos.

Most of us who are "flipping" would agree, I think, that we never want to return to "the old ways" before we experienced the powerful learning that we see every day.  It's truly a beautiful thing to witness a classroom be transformed when the teacher stops standing in the front of the room all day!

So... if it's not about the videos, then what is it about?

Based on my experiences with my 4th graders this year, I think it's about a few of these things:

Relationships - they look out for each other and encourage each other.  We're all in this together.

Collaboration - students work together, reflect, process, question, research... because there's time for it!  I love to hear the questions they ask each other.  One day, a few of them debated whether a square could be a rectangle, and whether a rectangle could be a square.  There's more time now for phrases that begin, "I wonder..."

Acceptance - students work in different groups every day based on their levels of understanding and what they need to work on.  It's okay.  We don't make assumptions when peers are in the "advanced" group.  Wherever you are today, it's okay.

Student engagement - they are working.  Not playing in their desks, not daydreaming, not playing with their pencils, not drawing, not staring out the window...

Student ownership and reflection - the survey every night asks them to reflect on how well they "get it."  Now that we are in our routine, they no longer answer the survey questions in an attempt to please me.  They're honest.  When they don't "get it," they let me know.

Risk-taking - a few students who were former introverts have transformed into extroverts!  That has been so cool to see.  Students who have never raised a hand in class are now volunteering to "give it a try" when working with others on tough problems.

Communication - the blog has allowed students to ask questions when they get confused.  It has also allowed them to offer insights and opinions and communicate with each other outside the regular school day.  I love that.  The surveys also provide the opportunity for them to share their thoughts and reflections.



It's a process... every day.  We still have work to do.  It's not perfect, but it's pretty amazing.  For me, it's not about the videos.

I still don't think it's about the ducks, either.