Joy and Passion...the Secret Ingredients

I have a quote that hangs in my room by Julia Child's that says, "Above All, Have a Good Time!"  ​This is a constant reminder to me that beyond the standards, curriculum and learning targets, joy and passion is at the heart of it all. If we want to teach students to be life long learners, we must create an environment where they enjoy learning.

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This quote by David Geurin is powerful, "If our students master every standard, but do not discover joy and passion in learning, we have failed them."  If we truly want students to retain the skills that they've learned, we must bring joy into learning and help them discover their passions.  I want students who leave my class and think back on Culinary Arts class fondly.  I hope that 20 years from now when students are applying their skills in a restaurant kitchen or making dinner for their family that they will realize that those days in Culinary Arts were a building block for a lifetime of learning.  If we don't create a learning atmosphere that is joyful and passion-filled, will our students see the relevance of what they are learning?  Will they continue to build on those skills once they leave our class?  So often we overcomplicate that which is really quite simple. If our main focus is bringing joy and passion back into teaching and learning, I believe the rest will fall into place.  Our school culture will shift. Our attendance will improve.  Our test scores will skyrocket.  Our teachers and students will thrive.  Joy and passion...the secret ingredients.

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