Denise and Gallit are often asked for a succinct description of Genius Hour. There are no strict rules, but it’s helpful sometimes to be able to provide a brief definition, as you advocate for the time and support to create Genius Hour in your own classroom. Try this one!
Teacher Hugh McDonald has put together a succinct list of 10 things he likes about The Genius Hour Guidebook. See if what he shares sound like something that might help you provide the opportunity for your students to grow as creative and passionate thinkers.
Here are the easy-to-click links listed in the Notes section at the end of each chapter of The Genius Hour Guidebook: Fostering Passion, Wonder, and Inquiry in the Classroom. They lead to lots of resources!
Genius Hour Guidebook authors Denise Krebs and Gallit Zvi expand on their 10-minute Google Hangout video chat with more easy-to-implement ideas that will help teachers create an engaging, trouble-free Genius Hour experience for every middle grades student.
The “My Genius List of Things to Do & Be” is an idea-catcher that’s also helpful in keeping up when students have several projects underway. We also use it to drive some reflection, assessment and sharing. Download a blank version that you are free to reproduce.
Here’s a useful handout that can help teachers introduce students to the Genius Hour concept. It’s often the first step in convincing students that they do have interests worthy of pursuing during “their” time. Download a blank version that you can reproduce.
In this practical new book, early adopters Denise Krebs and Gallit Zvi show you how to implement Genius Hour – a special classroom time when students can develop their own passion-driven, inquiry-based projects and take more ownership of their work and their learning.
Many students will rely on some sort of research process for their Genius Hour project. Gallit and Denise recommend the use of Silvia Rosental Tolisano’s 21st century adaptation of the KWH organizer — the KWHLAQ Chart. Learn more and download the chart from Fickr.
Genius Hour is just the beginning, says teacher Joy Kirr in her Afterword to the Guidebook. “It is a baby step, and part of the journey to flipping your classroom on its head and handing the learning over to the children.” It’s all about autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
The Genius Hour Guidebook has a great “Frequently Asked Questions” section. Here are a couple of sample answers and a list of the other questions Gallit and Denise address in the FAQs. Our favorite: “Why call it Genius Hour? They aren’t really geniuses.”
