Our first big culminating event, the Mercado, was fantastic. Props to all of the hard work that Amy did to get the kids ready -- she single handedly managed a project that it took three of us to wrangle last year. During the last few minutes of the day we did a "whip share" in which each student shares a thought or two quickly. Students were tired but content. Their hard work had paid off.
These types of events are among my favorite moments at Prairie Creek. There is no question in the students' mind that they own the work they are doing. They also know that, without their classmates, there is no way they would be successful. The authenticity of the experience, so important in progressive education, arises from the problem solving and decision making each group inevitably does. If you ran out of change in the midst of the Mercado, it was your problem and you had to solve it. You could go to the group next to yours, you could ask your customers to make a donation, or you could hunt down one of our many adult helpers to get change. The children have real agency in events like this and it is key to their learning.
It takes a while to learn to function and flourish in the more open, intense environment of a culminating event. We certainly couldn't do one the first week of school. Students have to learn to trust one another and they have to internalize the expectations of the classroom. In the exciting lead up to the event, students have to learn how to create and prioritize their "to do" list. Nobody is doing exactly the same thing so we take time to create systems and charts that help students determine "what's next." Our goal is to help every child feel comfortable directing his or her own work.
I sometimes liken teaching during these projects to being an invisible juggler. It's our job as adults to see the ball that is about to fall and lightly toss it back up into the air. Thanks to all of you who helped us juggle this past week!
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