How To Celebrate Learning
My first year implementing a knowledge based curriculum was overwhelming in many ways. Yes, it was overwhelming to teach with a different approach than I was used to and new texts and topics. As I got into my first month of implementation, I was also overwhelmed with how much the students were learning, and how quickly they were learning it. They also had a lot of student work to show for it.
We had been learning about the literal and figurative great heart, and after a month and a half of school, students had created labeled diagrams of the circulatory system, written a paragraph about the components of the great heart, and analyzed historical figures to determine how they showed characteristics of a figurative great heart. One afternoon, a parent came up to me at dismissal and said “I can’t believe how much my daughter knows about the heart and how well she can explain it.”
That comment and the wealth of knowledge that students were gaining got me thinking. The students should have an opportunity to show off that knowledge. Celebrate it. They were becoming the experts. Why not have them present everything they have learned with the school family? An End of Module Celebration of Learning.
Here’s how it worked:
Every student gets a manilla folder.
Throughout the module, students keep work that they are proud of: poems, essays, diagrams, pictures - anything that they felt could “show off” their knowledge.
I assign an independent reading project that students can also showcase at the celebration. Through the project, students read a book of their choice that is related to the module topic and create a project about the book.
Students work on these projects at home and in class when I am pulling small groups of students who needed extra assistance or scaffolding with module tasks.
At the end of the module, students invite students in other classes, school administrators, and central office staff members to our Celebration of Learning.
We set up tables in the gym and share all of our work with our school community.
Students are proud to show off their work and learning, and the school community was amazed by how much the students learn and know.
Check out some recent “Great Heart” projects below!
To date, we have had 11 Celebration of Learnings. Students have also used these projects to make connections and honor important people in their lives. I had a student do a project on their grandmother who showed a great heart through multiple heart surgeries. I had students plan and implement service projects for animal shelters and children’s hospitals. They have shared their poetry with Sharon Creech, who always writes back with love for the students. Others have written diary entries from the perspective of a character in the book. Some do extra research and writing about a relevant historical figure. I have seen presentations about the circulatory system, read beautiful poetry, and marveled at letters students have written to community members. These types of projects also remind me how knowledge building and SEL can work together.
Students sharing their great heart projects with the school community.
Celebrating student learning is vital. It shows students that their work is meaningful and something to be proud of. Knowing that their work will be on display motivates them. They love to be experts on topics and teach adults all that they have learned. These celebrations also help to maintain the important connection between the school and the community. Parents are able to see what their students are learning and talk to them about their new knowledge. They also love coming into school and seeing all the great work the students have produced.
I encourage any teacher using a knowledge-building curriculum to celebrate student learning in some capacity. If you are just starting out, you can invite people in to see the work students did in the module. Have students pick one writing task that they are particularly proud of to share with other students or parents. With time, you can add additional in school or class projects related to the module. Create a checklist of project ideas, and allow students to add to this list. Make sure the directions are clear and students have all the necessary materials. It is also helpful for students to keep all of the projects they would like to share in one location so that they can keep track of them. Allow students to make invitations and hand deliver them. Finally, leave blank index cards on a table so that community members can leave positive feedback for students. My students love reading these notes after the celebration is over.
Parents and community feedback to students after viewing their projects.