06/23/2026
One of my favorite reminders from this week's Adaptive Cooking Course: meaningful learning doesn't always look the way we planned.
As part of our exploration of the five senses, we created stations focused on touch, taste, sound, sight, and smell. At our sound station, participants were invited to shake different foods in mason jars and listen to the sounds they made.
One participant had a different idea.
Instead of using the jars, he chose to pour rice into a metal bowl, listen to the clanging sounds it created, and explore the texture of the rice with his hands.
Was it what we had planned? No.
Was it exactly what he needed? Absolutely.
The goal wasn't to complete the activity "the right way." The goal was engagement, curiosity, sensory exploration, and learning. By following his interests, he transformed the activity into something even more meaningful.
When we let go of compliance and make room for autonomy, creativity, and connection, some of the best learning happens. ❤️