I invite students in one class to visit other of my classes, if their schedule allows, if there is nothing being done in some class, etc. They sometimes take me up on it. Today a student sat in on my 9th pd. class and just observed. When he left, he said, “Good class, Mr. Slavic!” and strolled out.
There is also intense interest among the classes who are not in the 9th pd. class throwdown with Chicago and New Hampshire classes in that newly arranged French competition. Kids smell cool things out and want in on the action. Some will be in that class when we film it because they want to be a part of the filming, because they think they can help the story.
I like it when kids reflect on what makes a good story, when they visit my other classes. They’re not stupid. They get it. They spend their days in school looking for real things, of which there aren’t that many. When they see other class stories being created, their minds are very active, thinking about what kind of kids there are in the class vs. the kids in their own class, etc.
Opening my doors in this way is what we can do with our CC program as well. I think it’s a good thing.