It’s one of the highlights of the year for me as a teacher. After working (some might say “struggling”) our way the Odyssey, I surprise students with the culminating project: a board game based on Odysseus’s adventures. They think it’s fun; I design the details of the assignment to require some real problem-solving practice, legitimate “technical” writing (they have to create instructions for their game, and they must be clear enough that other groups can play without their help), and some creativity.

Today, they played the game.

Students playing peers’ board game

I walked around, snapping pictures, listening in on conversations, smiling when they get so involved in the whole procedure that they don’t even notice me, don’t even remember they’re also supposed to be evaluating the projects as well.

It’s a good day to be in the classroom.