This really is what it is all about

[MsCoffeeLover]

Y'all, the kids had an assignment to made a cell model. We made analogies to candy and Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory. I received some really good models from really colorful 3d models to all the parts of a cell on the football field.

However, one of my kids came in with the attached cake. It was three dimensional and labeled appropriated AND it was TASTY! One of my kids even said, "This is a dream come true!" It was the best thing.

[Seabear]

Ms. Coffee,

Congratulations! It does make it worth it doesn't it?
You must have had one heck of an impact on that student! I can remember a handful of teachers that influenced me, and two principals!

I am sure you are one of the special ones -especially because of your coffee magnet! (Mine says "Coffee - you can sleep when you're dead! I'll ppost a shot as soon as I figure this all out!).

Keep on Truckin'!
Seabear

[MsCoffeeLover]

Thank you Seabear. Speaking of coffee magnets, there some on sale in Target yesterday, and I came home with a few of them. They have that same dude on them.

I sent the parent a wonderful thank you note, but the fact that the parent could see my response to her bringing in the cake to my last period class really helped.

Mom said she enjoyed the experience with her daughter, loved the learning aspect, and agreed that it really was a wonderful idea of bringing parents and students and education into a really fun thing. She also said that her daughter hadn't been making the best decisions in so many cases lately, and she was happy to take part in and see the positive attention from this aspect. It was a wonderful lesson in so many ways and mom has since offered to bake a few more cakes for other things.

That day was a GREAT day, and I have to remember that day when the students try to mess with me.

[busbus]

MsCoffeeLover,

This is great. I'm always looking for things to share with my new teachers. This is one that I will share.

I have a new teacher who is teaching science (not her field) to 7th and 8th graders. I know that she will welcome this idea.

Thanks for sharing. And, yes, this really is what it is all about. :)

busbus

[MsCoffeeLover]

Busbus, whatever I have is yours for the sharing. Let me know whatever else comes up because I will be more than happy to share a few assignments. We are fixing to do a mitosis comic book that was an inspiration in the middle of class. The kids loved it.

[MsCoffeeLover]

Y'all, I couldn't believe it. Another student brought in a cell cake yesterday. It was a nice chocolate cake with some kind of white (and tasty) icing as the cytoplasm. This student had actual candy for all the parts of the cell: pieces of hershey candy bars, m&m's, gummy worms, a marshmallow for the nucleus, etc.

Check it out!! That last period class is the luckiest class EVER! and cake has totally helped keep them in line! Plus, I was really proud of my girls on how they helped out and brought cake to their teachers as well.

[sgaestel]

That looks like a great project, MsCoffeeLover! Don't you just love it when a project works out so well?
I just got projects turned in from my junior English students, and some of them knocked my socks off! One student created a scrapbook of Holden's life in the novel The Catcher in the Rye...and he did it in first person and then added little strips of paper explaining the signifigance and symbolism for each item! It's always a good day when your students wow you like that!:):):)

[Boxcar]

The cake looks delicious!

It is always great to see what students can do. Sometimes they really surprise you.

[Ms.Rodman]

That is awesome. Food always makes for a fun project. I wish more of my students (obviously with the help and support of parents) would be more dedicated and creative when our projects come up!

[upnorthteacher]

My son had the same project for seventh grade science. He made a giant cookie with different kinds of candy topppings and icing for the different cell parts. It was great fun to see my 12 year-old boy bake and create something on his own!

[wtrafton]

Sorry. I posted before I meant to.

[wtrafton]

My daughter also did a similar project and still talks about it today. She even helped other students in the class do their projects. The unique project and abstract way of looking at it has also left behind an amazing retention of the cell parts. With all the testing our students have to do I fear we are losing creativity and this is one example of how important it can be. I love it.

[MsCoffeeLover]

Thanks guys! It really is cool. Today I finally sat down with the other cell models to grade those. Even though they are not cakes, the kids really did a good job. There were many 3d models, and, overall, they did a really good job. There are a few that are just horrible.

Even though I have a checklist, grading projects are much harder than grading a test.

I think I may hang a few of these cell models on the ceiling--the 3d ones that is.

[jsfowler]

I am always impressed with your classroom activities you discuss. I can tell your students value you and you have high expectations for them. When you set the bar high, they will reach for it. I have also been getting wonderful projects this year. I have taken the time to really spell out my expectations and try to show them previous examples.

[MsCoffeeLover]

Thank you, jsfowler!! I appreciate that.

There are so many ideas I want to do, but I have to keep in mind the students I have for that year. But again, these two surprised me. You just never know.

Some of my assignments hit me right in the middle of class. I love it when that happens, but I also hope administration isn't going to walk in to tell me that the plans for that day didn't go along with the plans that were turned in for the week.

I have tried other creative assignments, but they didn't seem to be accepted as well until this school year. The excitement level is different, the parents are different, the skill levels are different.

Thanks again! It is nice to know there are folks listening to a few of my ideas. :D

[Miss.Amanda]

wow how impressive....you did something wonderfull to spark the creativeness in that child...congrats to you

[hot_teacher]

Wow those cakes look awesome

[Autumn]

Thanks for sharing!

[nicole1971]

Cute cake, I bet the class enjoyed it!