This week, I decided to do things a little differently. Previously, my blogs would focus on learning a new trick, commenting in where I learned it from, what i thought of the resource, and a goal for the following week.
However, this week i thought it was about time to try my hand at performing the few tricks I had learned for people who would give me honest criticism. Kids.
I work part-time as a substitute educational assistant for the Regina Public School Board, and so I saw this as the perfect opportunity to try out some of my highly refined illusions. To my surprise, the tricks were met with wonder (when they worked), and for the most part were met with positivity. In one classroom I worked in, performing the simple coin disappearing trick from my first blog served as a reward for getting questions done and done well. One student (who has a tough time with motivation) began showcasing their knowledge in order to get me to perform for them.
This experience has really touched my heart, because, as a future educator, the feeling of helping someone understand and succeed is a core reason as to why I entered the discipline. I wouldn’t have thought that there was a place for magic tricks in a classroom but, because of this learning project I am finding ways to use it.
I am now curious as to what other things this would apply to. What knowledge have we decided is important for students to learn and what have we deemed irrelevant. I am curious to see what other skills students are learning through this project that will also be useful for teaching.
Shorter blog this week, but perhaps my most meaningful one yet.