Genius Hour

I just read a discussion thread in a teacher forum where a second grade teacher mentioned using a "Genius Hour" model in her classroom.

A quick search of the term "Genius Hour" led me to the slick teacher-to-teacher site geniushour.com, which features a short, front page video in which the narrating teacher explains how he employed the concept in his own classroom.

The concept draws primary inspiration from Google which, in an effort to attract and retain top talent, lets employees devote 20 percent of their workplace time to unsupervised pet projects.

Projects have to be consistent with the company mission, but beyond that simple dictate, the worker is free to carry out the project in whatever manner they choose.

More than a few high level Google products, gmail most notably, started their life as sideline projects of this type.

In education terms, 20 percent free time allotment translates to one class period per week. Hence the term Genius Hour. In the video, the teacher lays out the guidelines he uses to keep the work productive. He also discusses some interesting projects that have come about as a result of this classroom management policy.

Suffice it to say, the Genius Hour concept seems tailor made for the Chaotic Classroom approach. I can see it being really popular with the students, especially in math class where the daily lesson grind can take a toll on student and teacher alike.

I owe a follow up post on my experiences and experiments with Geometry Regents Review this summer. The experience has me rethinking class routines, focusing more on building a predictable, weekly cycle of lessons and tasks as opposed to a daily cycle. I'm not sure whether I have the planning chops to pull it off just yet, but I see a way to use a free period incentive of this type to encourage better practice and a more accountable use of classroom time in the days leading up to that free period.