hello TED talks ideas worth spreading the idea I’d like to spread is the
the idea I’d like to spread is the
the idea I’d like to spread is the importance of fun in education in its
importance of fun in education in its
importance of fun in education in its connection to learning in 2002 when the
connection to learning in 2002 when the
connection to learning in 2002 when the testing pressure increased in schools
testing pressure increased in schools
testing pressure increased in schools with the advent of No Child Left Behind
with the advent of No Child Left Behind
with the advent of No Child Left Behind I would hear teachers say I no longer
I would hear teachers say I no longer
I would hear teachers say I no longer have time for the fun stuff my answer
have time for the fun stuff my answer
have time for the fun stuff my answer was why would you give up that those are
was why would you give up that those are
was why would you give up that those are the areas where I feel the most passion
the areas where I feel the most passion
the areas where I feel the most passion the areas where I was myself the areas
the areas where I was myself the areas
the areas where I was myself the areas where I felt like I did my best teaching
where I felt like I did my best teaching
where I felt like I did my best teaching where the students then students could
where the students then students could
where the students then students could feel it a few things about me I retired
feel it a few things about me I retired
feel it a few things about me I retired from teaching in June of 2016 after 37
from teaching in June of 2016 after 37
from teaching in June of 2016 after 37 years in elementary education after that
years in elementary education after that
years in elementary education after that I traveled about for nine months and I
I traveled about for nine months and I
I traveled about for nine months and I left coeur d’alene in September of 2016
left coeur d’alene in September of 2016
left coeur d’alene in September of 2016 on my bicycle and I rode from here to
on my bicycle and I rode from here to
on my bicycle and I rode from here to San Diego and then I continued to fill
San Diego and then I continued to fill
San Diego and then I continued to fill the fulfilled a lifelong dream and I
the fulfilled a lifelong dream and I
the fulfilled a lifelong dream and I traveled for the winter as a ski bum I
traveled for the winter as a ski bum I
traveled for the winter as a ski bum I travel around the West one of my
travel around the West one of my
travel around the West one of my favorite parts of my bike trip was that
favorite parts of my bike trip was that
favorite parts of my bike trip was that friends and family joined me along the
friends and family joined me along the
friends and family joined me along the way and rode various legs of it
way and rode various legs of it
way and rode various legs of it including my daughter and her husband
including my daughter and her husband
including my daughter and her husband who rode the entire organ coast with me
who rode the entire organ coast with me
who rode the entire organ coast with me and have a few pictures here of my bike
and have a few pictures here of my bike
and have a few pictures here of my bike trip manzanita Oregon
I noticed a year ago when I was eager to
I noticed a year ago when I was eager to take off and travel and this year I’m
take off and travel and this year I’m
take off and travel and this year I’m very excited to be staying in Coeur
very excited to be staying in Coeur
very excited to be staying in Coeur d’Alene
d’Alene
d’Alene I love Coeur d’Alene I love the
I love Coeur d’Alene I love the
I love Coeur d’Alene I love the geography the people the town and the
geography the people the town and the
geography the people the town and the lake of course and one of the fun things
lake of course and one of the fun things
lake of course and one of the fun things I do with the lake is we kayak and
I do with the lake is we kayak and
I do with the lake is we kayak and paddle out to the floating green at
paddle out to the floating green at
paddle out to the floating green at night and then we dive for golf balls
night and then we dive for golf balls
night and then we dive for golf balls [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] there were four of us on this mission
there were four of us on this mission
there were four of us on this mission and that collection of golf balls is a
and that collection of golf balls is a
and that collection of golf balls is a result of 45 minutes of diving yes for
result of 45 minutes of diving yes for
result of 45 minutes of diving yes for the last 10 years I taught fifth grade
the last 10 years I taught fifth grade
the last 10 years I taught fifth grade at Sorenson magnet School of the Arts
at Sorenson magnet School of the Arts
at Sorenson magnet School of the Arts and Humanities a school a public school
and Humanities a school a public school
and Humanities a school a public school which I helped create and the fun-filled
which I helped create and the fun-filled
which I helped create and the fun-filled curriculum of the school includes the
curriculum of the school includes the
curriculum of the school includes the kids get to learn there a weekly arts
kids get to learn there a weekly arts
kids get to learn there a weekly arts and a daily arts and humanities block in
and a daily arts and humanities block in
and a daily arts and humanities block in which the kids learn to play marimbas
which the kids learn to play marimbas
which the kids learn to play marimbas and African drums the string instruments
and African drums the string instruments
and African drums the string instruments and band instruments they take classes
and band instruments they take classes
and band instruments they take classes in visual arts and in making pottery
in visual arts and in making pottery
in visual arts and in making pottery they sing they dance they perform feeder
they sing they dance they perform feeder
they sing they dance they perform feeder and the juggle so Sorensen kids love
and the juggle so Sorensen kids love
and the juggle so Sorensen kids love coming to school in 1994 my life took a
coming to school in 1994 my life took a
coming to school in 1994 my life took a fun twist when I took my interest in
fun twist when I took my interest in
fun twist when I took my interest in juggling and my ten year old daughter
juggling and my ten year old daughter
juggling and my ten year old daughter and we traveled to Burlington Vermont
and we traveled to Burlington Vermont
and we traveled to Burlington Vermont for the International jugglers
for the International jugglers
for the International jugglers Association festival and I have a vivid
Association festival and I have a vivid
Association festival and I have a vivid memory of walking into the gym
memory of walking into the gym
memory of walking into the gym filled with a thousand jugglers one of
filled with a thousand jugglers one of
filled with a thousand jugglers one of the things I took away from the week was
the things I took away from the week was
the things I took away from the week was the fascinating ways in which people had
the fascinating ways in which people had
the fascinating ways in which people had incorporated juggling into their lives
incorporated juggling into their lives
incorporated juggling into their lives most of the thousand people were
most of the thousand people were
most of the thousand people were hobbyists like me and a very small
hobbyists like me and a very small
hobbyists like me and a very small percentage are actually making their
percentage are actually making their
percentage are actually making their living juggling I left there and I came
living juggling I left there and I came
living juggling I left there and I came home determined to use juggling more
home determined to use juggling more
home determined to use juggling more deliberately in my teaching and I did I
deliberately in my teaching and I did I
deliberately in my teaching and I did I started a school juggling Club I
started a school juggling Club I
started a school juggling Club I incorporated daily juggling breaks in
incorporated daily juggling breaks in
incorporated daily juggling breaks in class which in are these were movement
class which in are these were movement
class which in are these were movement opportunities in an hour our desk
opportunities in an hour our desk
opportunities in an hour our desk oriented sit in your seats schools it
oriented sit in your seats schools it
oriented sit in your seats schools it was a I think it was a big help
was a I think it was a big help
was a I think it was a big help these juggling brakes were where a help
these juggling brakes were where a help
these juggling brakes were where a help to me and to the kids and I think they
to me and to the kids and I think they
to me and to the kids and I think they made our days more productive the kids I
made our days more productive the kids I
made our days more productive the kids I started to teach others to juggle I got
started to teach others to juggle I got
started to teach others to juggle I got better the kids learned rapidly
better the kids learned rapidly
better the kids learned rapidly we started performing at other schools
we started performing at other schools
we started performing at other schools and I realize I could get the kids to do
and I realize I could get the kids to do
and I realize I could get the kids to do almost everything almost anything if I
almost everything almost anything if I
almost everything almost anything if I promised with the promise of a juggling
promised with the promise of a juggling
promised with the promise of a juggling break so as soon as your desk past his
break so as soon as your desk past his
break so as soon as your desk past his desk inspection you may go to the gym
desk inspection you may go to the gym
desk inspection you may go to the gym and juggle was very effective we are
and juggle was very effective we are
and juggle was very effective we are having a ton of fun with juggling when
having a ton of fun with juggling when
having a ton of fun with juggling when Sorenson became a magnet School of the
Sorenson became a magnet School of the
Sorenson became a magnet School of the Arts 10 years ago with juggling as one
Arts 10 years ago with juggling as one
Arts 10 years ago with juggling as one of the Arts the juggling x’ popularity
of the Arts the juggling x’ popularity
of the Arts the juggling x’ popularity exploded our Monday night juggling in
exploded our Monday night juggling in
exploded our Monday night juggling in the gym would have we we would
the gym would have we we would
the gym would have we we would oftentimes have over a hundred kids and
oftentimes have over a hundred kids and
oftentimes have over a hundred kids and their families there we had a Tuesday
their families there we had a Tuesday
their families there we had a Tuesday morning juggling before school juggling
morning juggling before school juggling
morning juggling before school juggling and with my fifth graders we instituted
and with my fifth graders we instituted
and with my fifth graders we instituted juggling buddies so we were reading and
juggling buddies so we were reading and
juggling buddies so we were reading and juggling buddies with the kindergartners
juggling buddies with the kindergartners
juggling buddies with the kindergartners we get together weekly and they the 5th
we get together weekly and they the 5th
we get together weekly and they the 5th graders would help the kindergarteners
graders would help the kindergarteners
graders would help the kindergarteners with those skills and then at the end of
with those skills and then at the end of
with those skills and then at the end of the year they would do it they did a
the year they would do it they did a
the year they would do it they did a performance with the for the
performance with the for the
performance with the for the kindergarten graduation I have a little
kindergarten graduation I have a little
kindergarten graduation I have a little video of Alise fifth grader Elise and
video of Alise fifth grader Elise and
video of Alise fifth grader Elise and her juggling buddy
we taught that we spent a lot of time
we taught that we spent a lot of time teaching the kids the importance with
teaching the kids the importance with
teaching the kids the importance with the routine of having a beginning and a
the routine of having a beginning and a
the routine of having a beginning and a middle and an end and that was very
middle and an end and that was very
middle and an end and that was very helpful also the our performance group
helpful also the our performance group
helpful also the our performance group was get a frequent request to perform at
was get a frequent request to perform at
was get a frequent request to perform at other places and we we did that
other places and we we did that
other places and we we did that including large venues and I have a
including large venues and I have a
including large venues and I have a little video to show you and we would
little video to show you and we would
little video to show you and we would oftentimes have 90 kids at our 7:00 a.m.
oftentimes have 90 kids at our 7:00 a.m.
oftentimes have 90 kids at our 7:00 a.m. practices and I have a video to show you
practices and I have a video to show you
practices and I have a video to show you a snippet of a half-time juggling show
a snippet of a half-time juggling show
a snippet of a half-time juggling show at a Gonzaga University basketball game
[Music]
[Music] they’re good they’re good kids were
they’re good they’re good kids were
they’re good they’re good kids were juggling just continued to grow kids
juggling just continued to grow kids
juggling just continued to grow kids would take their juggling props on
would take their juggling props on
would take their juggling props on family vacations I would hear funny
family vacations I would hear funny
family vacations I would hear funny stories from families about how
stories from families about how
stories from families about how such-and-such was broken in the living
such-and-such was broken in the living
such-and-such was broken in the living room as their kids were juggling
room as their kids were juggling
room as their kids were juggling obsessively apples and oranges were in
obsessively apples and oranges were in
obsessively apples and oranges were in in danger sixth grader Jake shared that
in danger sixth grader Jake shared that
in danger sixth grader Jake shared that he had exchanged an impromptu juggling
he had exchanged an impromptu juggling
he had exchanged an impromptu juggling show for ice cream on a family vacation
show for ice cream on a family vacation
show for ice cream on a family vacation in Mexico I was loved and what was
in Mexico I was loved and what was
in Mexico I was loved and what was happening in the parents were loving
happening in the parents were loving
happening in the parents were loving what was happening with her with
what was happening with her with
what was happening with her with juggling the next big step was in 2010
juggling the next big step was in 2010
juggling the next big step was in 2010 former student Shay his family was they
former student Shay his family was they
former student Shay his family was they were taking a year to travel to to live
were taking a year to travel to to live
were taking a year to travel to to live in Bolivia his father was an emergency
in Bolivia his father was an emergency
in Bolivia his father was an emergency room physician and his mother a social
room physician and his mother a social
room physician and his mother a social worker and they wanted to go to Villa
worker and they wanted to go to Villa
worker and they wanted to go to Villa Bolivia to volunteer with their skills
Bolivia to volunteer with their skills
Bolivia to volunteer with their skills and to give their their family and
and to give their their family and
and to give their their family and experience living in a different culture
experience living in a different culture
experience living in a different culture while they were there they met she met
while they were there they met she met
while they were there they met she met John Cannell who was an American who had
John Cannell who was an American who had
John Cannell who was an American who had traveled to Bolivia when he was 18 and
traveled to Bolivia when he was 18 and
traveled to Bolivia when he was 18 and he started teaching street kids how to
he started teaching street kids how to
he started teaching street kids how to juggle to give them better skills to
juggle to give them better skills to
juggle to give them better skills to help support their families John this
help support their families John this
help support their families John this evolved into John forming a nonprofit
evolved into John forming a nonprofit
evolved into John forming a nonprofit organization called performing life
organization called performing life
organization called performing life Bolivia which is active today twelve
Bolivia which is active today twelve
Bolivia which is active today twelve years later and as it has helped
years later and as it has helped
years later and as it has helped thousands of kids develop circus arts
thousands of kids develop circus arts
thousands of kids develop circus arts skills and with their academics when
skills and with their academics when
skills and with their academics when John when che and his family returned to
John when che and his family returned to
John when che and his family returned to coeur d’alene they said wouldn’t it be
coeur d’alene they said wouldn’t it be
coeur d’alene they said wouldn’t it be fun to bring John from Bolivia bring him
fun to bring John from Bolivia bring him
fun to bring John from Bolivia bring him to Sorensen for a juggling residency and
to Sorensen for a juggling residency and
to Sorensen for a juggling residency and we talked about it for a couple years
we talked about it for a couple years
we talked about it for a couple years and then we did in 2015 and 2016 we
and then we did in 2015 and 2016 we
and then we did in 2015 and 2016 we brought John Cannell and a brother and
brought John Cannell and a brother and
brought John Cannell and a brother and sister duo of Ed a lead and a Scarlett
sister duo of Ed a lead and a Scarlett
sister duo of Ed a lead and a Scarlett and they came to Sorenson school and
and they came to Sorenson school and
and they came to Sorenson school and coeur d’alene for a week of juggling and
coeur d’alene for a week of juggling and
coeur d’alene for a week of juggling and cultural residency I have a video I like
cultural residency I have a video I like
cultural residency I have a video I like to show you is just a snippet of some of
to show you is just a snippet of some of
to show you is just a snippet of some of the energy of that week something I saw
the energy of that week something I saw
the energy of that week something I saw this week was a lot of practicing and
this week was a lot of practicing and
this week was a lot of practicing and hard work and perseverance
that that is a scarlet from Bolivia what
that that is a scarlet from Bolivia what are our teachers
are our teachers
are our teachers [Music]
[Music]
[Music] addley
addley
addley [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
it’s Carla
it’s Carla [Music]
all of that crazy energy culminated in a
all of that crazy energy culminated in a show on this stage at the end of the
show on this stage at the end of the
show on this stage at the end of the week Thursday night show they’d started
week Thursday night show they’d started
week Thursday night show they’d started working with the kids on Monday and on
working with the kids on Monday and on
working with the kids on Monday and on Thursday night we did a show on this
Thursday night we did a show on this
Thursday night we did a show on this stage what do I see in that video I see
stage what do I see in that video I see
stage what do I see in that video I see kids having fun with working solo or
kids having fun with working solo or
kids having fun with working solo or working alone
working alone
working alone with that all that craziness in the gym
with that all that craziness in the gym
with that all that craziness in the gym sometimes there’d be 150 kids in the gym
sometimes there’d be 150 kids in the gym
sometimes there’d be 150 kids in the gym we had virtually no discipline problems
we had virtually no discipline problems
we had virtually no discipline problems because the kids were able there were
because the kids were able there were
because the kids were able there were lots of choices of ways they could get
lots of choices of ways they could get
lots of choices of ways they could get involved and it was who we saw kids
involved and it was who we saw kids
involved and it was who we saw kids setting goals individually setting goals
setting goals individually setting goals
setting goals individually setting goals that followed some of the school things
that followed some of the school things
that followed some of the school things we had set up we had established a 50
we had set up we had established a 50
we had set up we had established a 50 club as soon as you can get 50 throws
club as soon as you can get 50 throws
club as soon as you can get 50 throws with beanbags you met you were you were
with beanbags you met you were you were
with beanbags you met you were you were recognized as soon as you can pass the
recognized as soon as you can pass the
recognized as soon as you can pass the globe test these balls that plastic
globe test these balls that plastic
globe test these balls that plastic balls balance on that and kids worked
balls balance on that and kids worked
balls balance on that and kids worked hard to get to accomplish those we had
hard to get to accomplish those we had
hard to get to accomplish those we had the kids what I saw in the in the video
the kids what I saw in the in the video
the kids what I saw in the in the video were kids creating and they loved
were kids creating and they loved
were kids creating and they loved working together in groups to create
working together in groups to create
working together in groups to create routines and shoot for being in the show
routines and shoot for being in the show
routines and shoot for being in the show and certainly one of the one of the
and certainly one of the one of the
and certainly one of the one of the wonderful big things that came out of
wonderful big things that came out of
wonderful big things that came out of this was the multicultural appearance
this was the multicultural appearance
this was the multicultural appearance experience of the kids learning about
experience of the kids learning about
experience of the kids learning about Bolivia and we worked hard on that from
Bolivia and we worked hard on that from
Bolivia and we worked hard on that from starting in September they came in
starting in September they came in
starting in September they came in January of helping them to learn about
January of helping them to learn about
January of helping them to learn about Bolivia and if we had a Sorensen student
Bolivia and if we had a Sorensen student
Bolivia and if we had a Sorensen student on stage right now who had been there
on stage right now who had been there
on stage right now who had been there during that time they would say John is
during that time they would say John is
during that time they would say John is scarlet and I had a lead are their good
scarlet and I had a lead are their good
scarlet and I had a lead are their good friends yeah how did all this how did
friends yeah how did all this how did
friends yeah how did all this how did this fun enhance learning certainly the
this fun enhance learning certainly the
this fun enhance learning certainly the one of the biggest thing was confidence
one of the biggest thing was confidence
one of the biggest thing was confidence we performed the kids performed often in
we performed the kids performed often in
we performed the kids performed often in front of large groups and I saw this
front of large groups and I saw this
front of large groups and I saw this transfer to the classroom at any time
transfer to the classroom at any time
transfer to the classroom at any time with classroom presentations or anytime
with classroom presentations or anytime
with classroom presentations or anytime there in front of an audience their
there in front of an audience their
there in front of an audience their confidence was evident one time before
confidence was evident one time before
confidence was evident one time before one of the Gonzaga shows performances I
one of the Gonzaga shows performances I
one of the Gonzaga shows performances I was standing
was standing
was standing with a group of kids before they went on
with a group of kids before they went on
with a group of kids before they went on I said are you nervous they kind of
I said are you nervous they kind of
I said are you nervous they kind of looked at me with a puzzled look of no
looked at me with a puzzled look of no
looked at me with a puzzled look of no it’s like oh okay
it’s like oh okay
it’s like oh okay they’re confident the group work they
they’re confident the group work they
they’re confident the group work they did which was extensive through a
did which was extensive through a
did which was extensive through a juggling working with larger teams and
juggling working with larger teams and
juggling working with larger teams and working with partners was led to
working with partners was led to
working with partners was led to wonderful things in the classroom group
wonderful things in the classroom group
wonderful things in the classroom group work which we did a lot of including the
work which we did a lot of including the
work which we did a lot of including the generation of ideas the the sharing of
generation of ideas the the sharing of
generation of ideas the the sharing of their own ideas and listening to others
their own ideas and listening to others
their own ideas and listening to others ideas a wonderful life skill and finally
ideas a wonderful life skill and finally
ideas a wonderful life skill and finally we know that the most impart of teaching
we know that the most impart of teaching
we know that the most impart of teaching is is our relationships and I develop
is is our relationships and I develop
is is our relationships and I develop these relationships with kids that were
these relationships with kids that were
these relationships with kids that were beyond academics we had fun together and
beyond academics we had fun together and
beyond academics we had fun together and we got to know each other in different
we got to know each other in different
we got to know each other in different ways and I think that was the basis for
ways and I think that was the basis for
ways and I think that was the basis for my work with these amazing kids and now
my work with these amazing kids and now
my work with these amazing kids and now I would like you to meet some of these
I would like you to meet some of these
I would like you to meet some of these kids and see some of what they can do
kids and see some of what they can do
kids and see some of what they can do [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
this is Nathan Nathan’s in sixth grade
this is Nathan Nathan’s in sixth grade his father has named Eric Edmonds
his father has named Eric Edmonds
his father has named Eric Edmonds [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] job Nathan Marissa and Linda uses these
job Nathan Marissa and Linda uses these
job Nathan Marissa and Linda uses these are the Globes I was talking about
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] and now I get to have a little fun with
and now I get to have a little fun with
and now I get to have a little fun with these kids
these kids
these kids [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
buh-buh-buh we give ourselves three
buh-buh-buh we give ourselves three tries three tries
tries three tries
tries three tries [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
literally okay
literally okay almost
[Music]
[Music] up down
up down
up down [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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