snow days

 Good morning all,

I woke up this morning to the news that today is a "traditional snow day" instead of a distance learning day.  I can't tell you how indescribably good that feels for me as a teacher, or how excited I am for my students to go play in the snow.  I know that it is something that only happens in cold climates, but to me, this is a rite of passage for students and a really nice break for both teachers and students.  

When I was young (back when the earth was new LOL) we used to pack ourselves into my dad's subaru and go to work with him, and ski all day, with breaks for sandwiches and sometimes learning how to be a mechanic or weld from him.  He was a maintenance worker at a ski area, and I loved every second of that snow day life with him.  Some days we stayed home and snowshoed, or did cross country skiing or sledding.  But either way, we got out in the snow and played.  This is something that I believe my students need.  Just the change between their demeanor before and after a mask break (when they can run and play for 10 minutes with their masks off in the outside) leads me to believe that kids need play.  

I wonder how students can be led to that kind of play, when they aren't in school.  Maybe they will do it naturally.  However, I did a do now activity where I asked them what they did when we had a snow day half day, and most of them said, "nothing."  Some said sleep, some said movies, but far fewer than I'd hoped said they played in the snow.  

So, in summary: kids need snow days.  Adults need snow days.  But both groups should play in the snow because it's better for them and it makes them happier and healthier.  


Have a great snowy day all!


~Mark


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