After week two, and discussing the concept of “genius hours,” also known as “free inquiry” projects, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to implement this approach in an elementary classroom. Genius hour is a block of time, approximately one hour a week, where students pick their own topic and create a project out of it, with no other criteria. Genius hour is a powerful tool to teach children skills like planning, working independently, researching, critical thinking and reflection, while also fostering creativity. However, because this approach gives students much freedom, it does come with some challenges.
First off, I always found the hardest thing about big assignments was simply choosing my topic. In an elementary class, I would start off the free inquiry process by spending lots of time planning with the students by asking them about their interests, strengths in school, and things they are curious about. To make sure students are motivated and supported, teaching lessons on time management, discussing goals, and regularly checking in with students one-on-one would be crucial to the process. As a teacher, I would also make sure to provide many sources, including question templates, library books, weekly journals to take note of their process and plans, and reflection questions.
While the assignment will take many weeks, I would emphasize the importance of effort and hard work in their final project. I would acknowledge their growth mindset and their ability to work through challenges independently. By giving students the confidence in their individual learning, we can further motivate them to participate in all aspects of school!