Teaching isn’t just about following a curriculum—it’s about finding ways to connect with students and inspire them to think beyond the obvious. That’s exactly what I did when I combined a smoothie-making project, a high school lesson on Adobe tools, and a home-based three-camera setup.
I’ve always believed everything is connected if you take the time to look. My wife, Tanya Harris, needed to test a three-camera setup for her blog, My Forking Life, and I needed a creative lesson plan for my Adobe class. The solution? A step-by-step smoothie guide that seamlessly linked both. It made perfect sense to me—why not use this opportunity to teach my students something new while supporting my wife’s business?
My students loved seeing me on the screen and in the classroom. They quickly embraced the tools and were thrilled to realize there were no limits to what they could achieve. I even heard from a former student at the barbershop recently, who told me how that lesson inspired him to pursue an unconventional career path.
One of the most unorthodox teaching methods I’ve used was transforming my classroom into a recording studio. The biggest challenge was aligning the NC Standard Course of Study with this idea—it took weeks, but it was worth it. Here’s how it worked:
This approach showed my students that education could be collaborative, practical, and fun. It wasn’t just about music; it was about adding more people and perspectives to the educational process.
In all my projects, my family comes first. Supporting Tanya’s business has always been a priority because what’s important to her matters most to me. As one of the largest food bloggers in the world, her success continues to inspire my creative journey. Every challenge I face is an opportunity to grow and help others do the same.
If there’s one thing I hope educators take away from my experience, it’s this: Meet students where they are and bring them to you. Instead of expecting students to start at a certain level, give them grace and guide them step by step. When you meet them along the way, everyone becomes better for it.
Want to see how creativity and connection can transform education? Explore more projects and unorthodox teaching methods at Flemvision.TV!
