Alfred sat at his desk doing what appeared to be nothing.
He shifted and squirmed, left for the bathroom, returned, and still produced no work.
I watched and wondered, and then I asked, "Do you need any help? Are you thinking?"
He nodded.
I went back to my work, and then about an hour later, he had produced a magnificent story.
He needed the time to think.
At Poughkeepsie Day's STEM to STEAM and Beyond Workshop, Pam Moran @pammoran supported the need for "slack"--think time.
When we rush students, we essentially boil their ideas rather than let their wonderful ideas simmer.
We should provide time in classrooms for the simmer--the fine interaction of thoughts, ideas, speak, and creativity.
Likewise, educators need time for the simmer too--we become frustrated and overwrought when our days turn into lists of tasks, rather than focus on fine ideas and student learning.
Hence, as you choreograph the students' day, make time for "slack and simmer," the think time necessary to do a job well.
