sometimes learning smells like apple crisp

Pancakes, it is the first kitchen lab the freshmen do and it is to show them that they THINK they know how to cook and read directions but of course the pancakes always burn and always taste horrible. My sup. came in a few weeks ago when I had the freshman cooking pancakes. My room reeked! The students had burnt batter to the electric burners and had missed the pan completely and sprayed the counter with cooking oil, then used one tablespoon of baking soda instead of 1 teaspoon of baking powder. What was unknown to all of us in my tiny classroom was that even though the vent was on and the windows open the hallway now stunk. The sup. asked me what in the world we were doing? "I replied learning! students, what did we learn today?" They started talking about remembering what a little t means and to read the box before using the item and that "medium high" isn't the same as medium, etc. etc. (with prompting of course-they never just answer freely). My sup. told me that it smelled all the way down the hall, I replied with a huge smile (hoping he and the students would find me funny which they didn't) "sometimes learning stinks" he didn't say anything just walked out but my students all day long would tell people when they asked what smelled that it was "learning."

Today we made apple crisp, sometimes this lab works out well, sometimes not because the students make it in the microwave and if they push the zero one too many times 2 minutes goes to 20 and it's usually 4 or 5 before anyone notices and yeah....burnt apple crisp STINKS!

However I am very very proud of my students they did well, enjoyed it and could tell me (with prompting of course) what they learned. So now I am going to finish my lunch and remind myself that everyday can't be a good day and while there are tons of things to do before Monday I need to enjoy today. Today learning smelled great!