Artcore teacher, Billy Hughes, recently created a video for the Network Charter School Showcase, a typically live celebration of school community talent and interests that has pivoted to a youtube video share in these Covidian times.

What a pleasure to witness Billy’s affection for his bees, and the video gives one a sense of Billy’s presence as a teacher. He cultivates space for learning through observation. He invites us into the WONDER.

The sounds, the order-out-of-chaos, the complex systems of a thriving hive, the intentional structures of the beekeeping boxes. Billy invites us to marvel at these wonders with him. By the video’s end, I was buzzing like an engaged learner. I felt curious about the little temporary gummy trap for the queen. I did a quick search for images of the formed honeycomb, and I most certainly wanted a taste of the honey those bees will be making.  

When we, as teachers, get to invite learners into realms that resonate for us, personally, the content comes to life. Enthusiasm is contagious. After watching Billy’s video, his students may not all begin a life of beekeeping, but they will have witnessed a significant adult in their lives modeling responsibility, vulnerability, risk taking, and life-long learner behaviors.