Today (Monday) was a great day – three Herons rocked their honors project presentations and the four fourth grade presenters more had such a good time presenting that one student told me, "I'm so sad that I'm finished!" But as fun as this day was and as neat as it is to see these students shine, I think that last week might actually be my favorite week of the entire project process.
Last week was a week of transformation. The majority of students started the week without a finished poster and fourth graders had not yet begun to plan their presentations. Four days later – everyone was finished with (almost) everything. We had hung a bell by our project planner checklist and every time a child completed a step, they'd ring the bell and we'd all clap. On Friday, it seemed the bell was ringing almost constantly. Students were bustling back and forth, everyone was on a mission.
When our work rises to this level, my importance actually recedes. I fetch things, I act as an audience…but students sense that their success is up to them. They don't have time to wait in line to get an answer about whether they should do option "a" or option "b"…so they have to choose themselves. Those who have finished act as "super helpers" for those still working; they share their (recently earned) expertise and often will sit down to glue pictures onto construction paper so another student can get to work on harder things.
We all get across the finish line because we're all working together (and that includes parents and mentors, too.) Simon was leading a tour for a potential new family through the busy-ess on Friday afternoon and I took the opportunity to see the scene through new eyes. Students were offering each other suggestions on oral presentations. Others were quizzing each other, trying to anticipate questions. Another set of students were laying out pictures on a poster, determining the best order. Others were trying out their "doing" projects, making sure they had thought out the logistics. It was impressive. Everyone was on task. Everyone was engaged in high order work. Everyone saw themselves as a teacher and not "just" a student.
It was an honor to be a part of it.
The Rookery 
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