imagination requires no rules
it’s fall, y’all. that beautiful season of life with vibrant hues, rich textures, crackling bonfires, and sticky s’mores. i dream about such conditions to become a reality.
as i sit here patiently longing for these things, i know that i am using this visual imagery to sustain me here deep in the heart of florida. it is frequently said that we have two seasons: wet and dry, but always hot.
while most of north america is celebrating the unpacking of sweaters, visiting pumpkin patches, and wearing fashionably functional boots, floridians are trying not to break a sweat while drinking pumpkin spice lattes and walking kids around trick-or-treating for melted candy.
we do a lot of pretending. which requires an astounding amount of imagination. personally, my favorite activity is going to the beach for an early october sunset in flip flops and a billowy scarf (for appearances only), and building a subtropical snowman out of sand.
okay, okay. this brief journey through my brain will now direct itself back to the point. even though we have to think creatively about how we can enjoy the fall season without the cool, crisp breeze and the falling leaves, it is possible to use this as a simple object lesson.
as a longtime elementary educator, i have always loved storytelling. i love creating vivid visualizations as the means to share what is in my head and heart. i tell my students that the stories i write and tell are important. i like to add that they are usually one hundred percent true (with embellishment for effectiveness).
imagination is critical in a child’s development. it is the catalyst that allows innovation, originality, and curiosity to take hold.
this is the year that i have taken a deep dive with my students into this realm. we are into our second quarter of the school year and i must tell you that i have yet to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and burned out.
you may be shaking your head and wondering how this is possible. well, after twenty-one years in the classroom, i will share my secret power.
i let go.
i let go of the need to control every moment of learning.
i let go of the unrealistic expectation of believing that i am the only one capable of steering the learning experiences.
i began this year by building trust. setting boundaries with flexibility and the willingness to let things fail if needed. i loosened the constraints. i gave them some slack. most importantly, i encouraged them to be inquisitive and imaginative.
what they can imagine, they can achieve. that became our motto. what they have accomplished in just a few short weeks has been nothing short of amazing. they are inventors, scientists, authors, illustrators, detectives, and experts at completing challenges set before them.
by just letting go, i am able to watch them thrive. we have a busy, happy, and creative classroom. sometimes we utilize technology. sometimes we go ‘old school’ with markers, paper, scissors, and glue sticks. often it is loud. often it is messy. but it is always good.
there are no rules in imagination. in the same way that i am able to envision the fall season of open windows and crunchy leaf piles, let’s empower students to nurture their ingenuity, learn from the processes, and create a world of new possibilities.
