Saturday, July 15, 2017

Just Like Flipping Pancakes: The Ingredients of a Student-Centered Classroom- Part One

The batter: baking soda, salt, and flour make up the basic ingredients of any pancake mix. Add some water and, voilà! This powdery substance enters its initial journey into an amalgamation. But this template only gets you the squishy part of the breakfast treat. The cooking of the batter, sometimes sweetened with cinnamon or heartier with wheat or corn, is where the true magic begins. If the pan is the perfect temperature, just the right amount of oil or butter, this varies with preference, and the mixture is poured in evenly, then the most beautiful golden pancake, crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside begins its formation. Then the timing must be just right. If removed too soon, it falls apart. Too late and it gets burnt. Next, it gets flipped, and if it lands spot-on, you end up with the perfect, circular pancake. A stack of them is a truly remarkable sight. Then the creme de resistance, fruit, or different flavors of syrup. There are just about endless possibilities here: chocolate chips, whipped cream, you name it. A simple batter, in a box or homemade. Either way, if time and patience is in place, you end up with a hearty and delectable morning meal. 

For child and adult alike, pancakes are a welcomed sight. Dripping with flavor, offering choice and always providing nourishment and a little nostalgia. A dollop of syrup and this silky carbohydrate, although in a slightly different form, is the delicacy of most children around the world. The pancake itself is very typical with little variation, the toppings however are what make pancakes such a popular breakfast item. Each with an advantage; fruit both sweet and healthy, chocolate chips melt and coat the pancake with a layer of goodness, while just syrup alone, maintains a minimalist approach. If you lay out all the accoutrements, letting hungry guests choose and mix and match, from a simple menu you have created an exciting itinerary. They now have variety and alternatives they didn't even know they had or wanted. They have been provided with a plain, unmarked canvas just waiting for their masterpiece to be constructed. It is even more of a gem, jewel, treasure because it was designed towards personal taste and desire.

Pancakes in all their glory, can be messy: sticky, viscous, dripping off our chins. But, we somehow deal with the sloppy treacle because underneath the molasses of goodness there is a genuine satiation that only pancakes can bring. A freedom of flavor. An independence of toppings. A personal vision of how to stack or layer, butter or Mrs. Butterworth, blueberries or strawberries each convergence of technique and ingredients erecting a unique monument of craving, taste and appetite. Each spontaneous endeavor personalized and fulfilling until the last bite. When finished a smile slowly builds, as the final drizzle of sweetness is consumed, the last crumb devoured, the memory stored to put in place the craving for another adventure of flapjack, griddle cake, crepe, hot cake perfection.

Giving students the space to be innovative is integral to a student-centered classroom. Tomorrow we will discuss the recipe to implementing freedom of choice and creativity in your student-centered learning environment. 


No comments:

Post a Comment

#OneWord2023- Plant

Humus, soil, Earth- the substance that brings fertility and nourishment. Home to decomposers, revitalizers and care-givers. The foundation f...