Skip to main content

Philadelphia {Smells like Teen Spirit}

We returned from our annual "roadtrip with high schoolers" last week - successfully completing our trip to Philadelphia.  Every time I travel with my teenage students, it reignites the fire inside of me to be a teacher.  Don't get me wrong, adults are fantastic, and having my wife along on this particular trip was especially incredible.  But travelling with that teenage spirit of curiosity, wonderment, and insatiable energy is second to none....

Making the decision to take our high school kids to different cities throughout the USA easily ranks as one of the top five "greatest decisions of my teaching career."  I have written (and reflected) about these trips before, but suffice to say that this particular trip to Philadelphia only confirmed my feelings.

These kids rarely see boundaries to their world, and most are just impatient to experience it.   So, when we take 74 of them to the fifth largest city in America, it can feel nerve racking.  But it is simultaneously exhilarating - and always helps me see these cities with fresh eyes. So, though their impatience can often lead to recklessness - it also leads to greatness, and definitely leads to adventure.

And we all learn so much about ourselves, as well as each other. From walking the Gettysburg battlefield, to riding bikes through downtown Philadelphia, learning to use a selfie stick, and buying an extra slice for those in need at Rosa's - or even carrying the heavy emotional weight of the Holocaust museum - we are all better for it.  Jessica and I even got an hour long tutoring session from one of my students about how to use the video app, SPARK - which easily allows us to make 45 minutes short films (below).

I hope that the kids got as much out of this trip as I did.






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Im 30....seriously.

I am turning 30 today. So in the spirit of reflecting on these first 30 years of living, I am starting this blog. So, to begin - I shall update my status in life (this sounds complicated, so I will just try this in "list form."): Noah = greatest thing that ever happened to me. having a child was like an act of god, immediatly enacting a revolution on my perspective. Everyone tells you that " it is going to change everything." But I think I internalized that in a way that seemed to say ... things outside of me would change ie: schedules, sleeping, finaces, etc. Those things do change. But I did not accept that it would be ME that would go through the most profound changes. What I mean is, that the world itself has not shifted, but my view of that world (like Picasso in his Cubist period) has been transformed. It has been a traumatic shift for me, but in a beautiful way. Stop everything. "Icky Thump" by the White Stripes just came on the ipod. Sweet Jesus t...
1 comment
Read more

What is Noah doing these days?

What is Noah is doing these days? 1. Noah is obsessed with water. (By "water" - I mean it's properties, temperature, drinkability, etc.) He has always loved to drink water - even more than milk, juice, or whiskey (just kidding!). Anyways, as the weather has warmed he is enjoying the garden hose, creeks, sprinkler, pool, and the sink. Basically, playing in the water is all that he wants to do. Thus, he starts swimming lessons in two weeks. 2. Noah LOVES to be outdoors. He refers to the outdoors as "Bubbles." Though we used to blow bubbles often outside, this is not a daily activity. But Noah insists that the outside is "Bubbles." He also enjoys going on hikes in Daddy's backpack - especially if there is a stream involved. (see above obsession.) 3. Noah now recognizes the following Star Wars characters, machines, droids, etc: Darth Vader, Yoda, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, X-Wing Fighter, Chewbacca, and a TIE Fighter. I am a little bit excited about t...
1 comment
Read more

Ben's May 24 Playlist

1. Grand Champeen (see the side photo - even it rocks) - "Dial T For This" Okay, Grand Champeen is my favorite band these days. Jessica, Jason B, and I saw them in Charlotte a few years ago and it still ranks as one of the the most amazing rock shows I have ever seen. This new album is the next level. They make albums like their life depends on it. 2. Portastatic - "Be Still Please" I will always have a soft spot for Merge records, and anything relating to Superchunk. 3. Wilco - "Sky Blue Sky" - This new Wilco album is an enjoyable listen. I am liking it much more than "A Ghost is Born." Even though I heard that a reviewer called it "the best album the Eagles never made..." What? Put down the Crack. 4. The Hives "Your New Favourite Band" - No one rocks harder than the Hives...no one. I think it is because they are Swedish. When your home country is known most for Volvo, ABBA, and losing the Great Northern Wa...
2 comments
Read more