David Henkes of the Northfield News read the communication committee's press release and decided to come out to Prairie Creek to see what we were up to. He spent two hours with the kids, watching them work and asking them about the project. The students were thrilled to share with him, although many wished he had had a chance to talk to them longer, "What about the props?" asked one, "I have a lot to tell him about those!" (You can check out his article in this Wednesday's Diversions page and a video he's posted on line).
Today, as I watched the Herons perform music for a packed house and then show their special people around the school (including our incredibly messy classroom), I was struck by a connection I hadn't thought much about before. The interest and attention of others is such a gift and so crucial in a progressive classroom. Without the extrensic "proof" of grades to assign value their work, we force children to develop their own sense of accomplishment. When others, especially other adults, show a genuine interest in the students' ideas and work it further validates their efforts in a way that I think is much more authentic than a grade. We create for ourselves, yes, but every artistic and most intellectual pursuits exists for an audience, too. When we we have no audience for which to create, it is easy to feel our work has no purpose.
Back to the nitty gritty: We had a nice block of time to work on the London part of our project today and it was exciting to see how much the children have to share with their visitors. The ferry master built his boat and studied up on what might have been in the Thames. One child changed his job to a rat catcher and will be offering a pence for every rat found on the night of the performance (an enthusiastic crew made paper rats during our indoor recess). A discussion about Elizabethan beauty led to a makeup shop where one can have one's face powdered to look more pale. All of the students are busy thinking about how to share information in conversations with you on Thursday.
The Rookery 
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