So recently I have had the absolute privilege and pleasure of watching our students showcase their learning in many different ways, and in many different forms. To watch kids put their talents, their hard work, their passions, and their learning on display is easily my favourite thing to do as an educator, and it always brings me back to the paramount importance of finding ways for all our students to make their learning visible for themselves and for others.

        It’s essential in my opinion for schools to set up opportunities for students to creatively show what they know, and to design performance tasks and performance assessments which will allow for all students to bring their passions and their learning to life. Here’s just a small sample of the kinds of things that I’ve watched over the past several weeks…

Spring Music Concerts

PYP Exhibition of Learning (Grade 5)

Middle School Poetry Slam

Middle School Social Studies Mock Trials

PYP Attributes of a Learner Assembly (Reflection)

Middle School Science Project Showcase

Student Council Elections

Design Thinking Unit Showcase

Middle School Student Math Games Fair

Project Based Learning Unit Culminations

Drama Performance of The Witches

School Wide and Local Community Student Art Displays

Soccer and Basketball Championship Games

International Festival Cultural Performances

After School Activities End of Season Jamborees

Student Inspiration Projects

        These performance opportunities not only allow students to profoundly learn for themselves, but to profoundly learn from each other as well. They engage in real world problems, they demonstrate a process, and they actively engage in their learning. By allowing for alternate assessment opportunities like these, students get the chance to showcase their learning in so many different ways, and in many different real life situations. These often push students out of their comfort zones, and encourage risk taking and reflection, which are exactly the types of learning experiences that schools should be promoting throughout the learning environment.

        I’ve loved the last several weeks here at our school, and I’m proud of our teachers for giving our kids these rich, performance-based opportunities. I’ve seen so much growth in so many areas from our kids over the past few months, which I wouldn’t have seen if they didn’t get the chance to publicly showcase their learning. If anything, I’m left wondering how we can create even more opportunities like these for our kids, and not necessarily wait for the end of quarter or the end of the semester or for the end of the year. Let’s all think of ways that we can make the learning of our kids visible throughout all of next year, and to create a culture where active learning and performance learning is at the absolute forefront of what we do. Have a wonderful week everyone and remember to be great for our kids and good to each other.