ROME, GA—It smelled like Saturday morning, and it was only Friday afternoon, Sept. 30, on one of the second-floor hallways of Elm Street Elementary School. A quartet of sixth graders were huddled around a flat-top burner alongside English language arts teacher Aneatra Caldwell, debating the best tell-tale signs that a pancake is ready to be flipped. Another group was chit-chatting between syrup-laden bites of their own completed efforts from their turn on the portable stove. A room full of smiles were lit and so were those pancakes.
This is simply one of countless examples of what one would find happening during Genius Hour, a reoccurring and well-loved part of the flow at Elm Street.
Principal Laura Walley did not hide her excitement about these days and all the potential they hold for Elm Street’s students and staff. “Genius Hour was originally created as a way for teachers and students to connect outside of academic standards and the regular rigor of the classroom,” she explained. During this special time, which occurs once every five to six weeks, teachers have a chance to share their passions, hobbies and interests outside of being a schoolteacher, and students gain a different perspective of the teachers all while furthering connection and possibly doing something they’ve not done before.
Glow in the dark golf? You got it. Some volunteer time loving on the animals at PAWS? Done! Wait, since it’s spooky season, how about designing a unique, one-of-a-kind jack-o-lantern to print in 3-D because they do that, too! The nature of the activities explored during Genius Hour is so very broad, and the students really look forward to soaking it all in.
Walley pointed out that Genius Hour is also an opportunity for students and staff to play with the technology materials that belong to the school just for the sheer enjoyment of it. For example, Reading Interventionist Abby Boles invited a group of students to use the virtual reality (VR) technology in the media center for the afternoon. They had options of going on a VR fieldtrip to the zoo, exploring a pirate ship and walking the plank, or baking cakes in a VR kitchen and eating them up. There was no assignment, project, or goal involved other than to experience all they could in the time they had, have fun, and try not to bump into each other.
Special education teacher Jim Franklin, a lover of golf, turned the foyer outside the media center into a glow in the dark putting course and delighted little Wolves got a chance to both learn and practice their short stroke on Astroturf backlit with LEDs. There’s hardly anything cooler and more unexpected to find outside the school library, and this gets extra points being that it was built with the help of students as an after-school STEM activity led by Franklin for enrichment. “These children now know Mr. Franklin is really crafty, that he knows how to play golf, and maybe one of them may find that they like it, too,” said Walley.
There was coding, there were tangrams, music, Ozobot fun, hydro-dipping in magic milk, and even old-fashioned board games. One class was updating the trail signs at Gerrard Park with Fit-To-Read stories and exercise videos, as well as stenciling the parking lot with exercises that can be done on the pavement.
While the sky is really the limit, Walley said she encourages teachers to think about introducing things they enjoy that might relate to the various career pathways offered at Rome High School’s College and Career Academy. “To think that something they first experienced at Elm Street could spark an interest in a child that could lead to their future career is a big part of what this is about,” she said.
Media specialist and resident technology guru Melanie Arrington takes full advantage of this concept. “Technology is my heart,” she said. “Fortunately, it falls under my position here.” During this Genius Hour, Arrington led students to create musical pictures through the Scratch coding program, creating a circuit from the imagery drawn in graphite to a grounder—themselves or their partner. Gears were turning and ears were piqued as they worked together to pick out a tune while keeping the circuit connected. The kids had a blast trying to come up with songs by playing their drawing, all while connecting on more levels than one.
Walley credits Arrington, who is presently the school’s Teacher of the Year, with the inception of Genius Hour. “When Melanie has an idea, you listen,” said Walley. “She has been at Elm Street for 24 years. Her heart—her everything—revolves around what she can do to make this a better school, and this is another one of those things.”
Every teacher and every student has embraced the time and experience that is Genius Hour, and what it adds to the energy and culture of Elm Street has and will without a doubt continue to grow and expand. So will young minds, interests, dreams and spirits.
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