So often we hear about "process" vs. "product." But the Honors Project and 4th grade project are truly about both. These kids have been working since December and January to wonder about something, learn about it and then teach us about it. It takes a long time. There are a lot of steps along the way. And, importantly, there is a lot of struggle along the way.
Each of the kids in the Herons hit a wall at some point in this process – often multiple points. There was frustration. There were tears. There was sometimes a sense of "done-ness" well before the work was actually done. It can be easy to forget this – or down play it – during this celebratory week.
But to forget about the struggle really minimizes the triumph of this week. It's special because each kid at some point thought they might not be able to make it. And they've proved themselves wrong. That's a story that can really stick with you.
How did they do it? The support of mentors and parents is crucial. That voice that says, "You've got this!" and that hand that quietly picks up a dropped ball and tosses it back into the mix. I watched a fifth grade mentor gracefully suggest, "Why don't you keep working on your captions…I'll go cut the frames for the pictures." Another told me excitedly, "Look how much [my mentee] improved in his presentation! I had to add a new box to the rubric by his last time through." The fourth grader in question was beaming – so different from the child I had seen worriedly clutching his "talking point cards" just a half hour before. Others cut out pieces for games or helped brainstorm for a "time filler" word search. Kids who were finished looked around for others they could help along to the finish line.
Another key to their success was the camaraderie of the process. They were all in it together and when things were hard, they could encourage each other and commiserate with each other. No one else was quitting…so they kept going, too.
Finally, I think that these kids know to expect some bumps. Learning isn't easy. It certainly isn't instant. It takes time and work. Armed with this knowledge, they know that they will make it eventually – and this week they proved that to themselves in a very big way. Each of them shared their expertise and their passion with the rest of us. They brought us to something we, perhaps, never thought to wonder about before. What a gift they've given us…and themselves.
The Rookery 
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