It's Halftime, Fairfield...Otherwise known as Midterms.

I am an imp.

I continue to draw from the class of 2006 and how, at the end of the day and during their senioritis, they hated to work on anything. The only thing that proved to be a success for getting them talking, thinking, wondering, and learning, was bouncing a single balloon in the air for the entire period. I've since channeled that as an activity that works at the University level, too.

It's midterm time and my freshman are hosting that fried look. Actually, it's more like the yolk of a cracked egg. They're almost done with a rather substantial book, have written two drafts of a narrative and a significant letter, submitted weekly writing pieces, and attended 11 classes. We, at halftime, are transitioning to the next steps of our composing together - the research.

I decided to lighten the mood a little by providing midterm mentoring packages:

• an alien (because college is a new planet for them to explore)
• monster teeth (because it's time to bite into the research)
• a monster finger (to begin scratching beyond the surface)
• a bag of chips (because they have to sustain themselves)
• a bandaid (because I'm sure their first research attempts will cause boo boos)
• a tattoo (because it's time to mark territory)
• smarties (because we are what we eat)
• and an orange balloon (because it's time to begin bouncing around ideas)

The mentoring package was delivered as we answered a question a student posed about Outcast United. She wondered, "Do refugee mothers, like the mothers of the boys in the text, have adequate health insurance in the U.S.?" It was a timely question and I found a few supplemental materials. Together, we explored alien territory, bit into her question, scratched beneath the surface, snacked, took chances, marked territory, grew smarter, and collaborated on our thinking. 

The audio is probably not good above, but the students were bouncing the balloons while having serious conversations about healthcare, their opinions of it, and how they could defend their position given the supplemental reading. They then posited a statement they could defend. 

I teach a Cornerstone course for the University and in addition to developing writing skills, its aim is to build community. Today, I feel, community was further built. And for somer reason, they were too embarrassed of their orange balloons to carry them out of the room and across campus. Now, I have 20 balloons for another event. Hmmmmm.