Lori Sabo
December 7, 2012
Volkswagen has an initiative called The Fun Theory. It's dedicated to the idea that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people's behavior for the better. Innovative participants have shared their best thinking and inventions to help prove the theory, submitting ideas like the world's deepest trash bin, a soda machine that functions like a slot machine for recycling old cans, a piano staircase (my personal favorite) and more.
The fun theory is one of the cornerstones of Daily 5 as well. No matter which Daily 5 we are launching, we build urgency and purpose by letting students know that their choices will not only make thembetter readers and writers, but will be fun for them.
It isn't just snake oil. When students have perfectly fitting books and settle down in a comfortable spot to read for an extended period of time, it is fun. Getting to write about things that really matter to them in forms that fit the topic and audience is equally enjoyable.
If the momentum in our rooms is beginning to sag, it's a perfect time to revisit and reestablish the fun factor. Have focused sharing around who had fun today with a book, their writing, or their Word Work efforts. It will be infectious, and could be just the booster shot everyone needs to delve back in with a new sense of urgency.