In the sixth grade, there was this teacher, whose name escapes me, who would begin her class every day by reading a chapter from a book to us.  Pippi Longstockings was the one I remember most clearly and every day she would leave us dangling at the end of the chapter with “that’s it until tomorrow”.  Ugh!!  I wanted to hear what happened next!  It was a powerful mix of anticipation and imagination that was stirred in me every day through a simple story.

Maybe I’m just a nerd, but school was like that for me.  What are we going to do next? I must have had some great teachers.  Even those subjects that were routine, like a new spelling list where you had to write the words so many times and write them in a sentence and define them, still meant they were NEW WORDS.  So yes, there is certainly a place for routine in life, but there needs to be the promise of a new adventure that keeps you looking forward to what is coming next.

It struck me yesterday as we were finalizing the details for our vacation that I was feeling that sense of anticipation again.  Sure, we know how we were getting there and  where we are staying, but the adventure is in the unknown details of each day during the trip.  It’s knowing just enough that makes you want to know more.  The possibility of a new adventure is a shot in the arm for sure.

I often wonder if we leave room for anticipation for kids today, in life and in education.  Sure, if they’re young enough, EVERYTHING is an adventure, (just watch a class full of Kindergarteners : ) but even then, adults can be quick to squelch that adventure, all with the best of intentions.  For families it may be in the name of safety or wanting to protect the child.  For educators, it may be in the name of classroom management or making sure that every child has the opportunity to to experience the same content.  However, sometimes, lessons are best learned when we let go and allow the excitement of anticipation to push the desire for learning.  Don’t give them all the answers.  Let their natural curiosity lead the way to learning.  Nothing teaches life lessons better than trial and error.

This is why one of the things I feel strongly about in terms of technology use by kids.  Don’t you wonder if the use of technology takes all the wonder and curiosity out of everything? There’s not a chance of a figuring something out for themselves because Siri, Alexa and Google know all.  How do we take something apart and rebuild it?  We go to YouTube and follow the directions.  There is no exploration, mystery or adventure.  It’s actually a little sad.

Of course this sense of adventure can get one into trouble.  I’m pretty sure I could write an entire book on the mishaps my boys got themselves into, all in the name of adventure, but those are also the things they remember when they talk and laugh about their childhood together.  Chances are I don’t want to know ALL the details – they survived after all – but all three of them remain curious about life and look forward with anticipation to their next adventure.

Adventures aren’t always safe.  Adventures can be scary.  Like getting lost on a New York subway or being stuck by yourself in an airport not knowing when you’ll get where you’re supposed to be going.  But adventures can also be life changing and miraculous.  The discovery of beautiful scenery you never would have experienced if you hadn’t gone the wrong way or meeting new people who change you in some way.  Being in just the right place at just the right time when you never planned it that way.

As I was thinking about this, something came to mind that was like a slap in the face.  Many times in my own classroom, my students walk in and ask (to the point of making me crazy), “what are we doing today?  Are we going to do (blank) or (blank)?  Can we do (blank)?”  Like I’m doing song requests for them on the radio.  Did I just date myself?  Anyway, I find myself getting irritated because I just need to get into my lesson, so I stop all the questions with the my own question “do you guys ask your other teachers these questions?”  To which they respond, “no”.  That should have been the big hint for me there.  They’re excited to know what the adventure is going to be in music and rather than encouraging that excitement and anticipation, I try to squelch it in the name of time management and being a “responsible” teacher.  Shame on me!  Of all classes, music should be the most open to adventures and getting kids excited about learning.

What is life without adventure and mystery?  What is life without anticipation and imagination?  Do my students enter my room in anticipation or dread?  Am I filled with anticipation or dread when I enter my classroom?  I’m thinking this needs to be a personal and professional goal for me this year of school.  Life is too short to not have things to look forward to, adventures to anticipate and new things to learn.