The Meticulous, Careful, Well-Planned Craftmanship Of Our Youngest Writers. It Is Something Miraculous.

Yesterday, a day without teachers, I meandered between several Young Adult Literacy Labs to see how they were putting forth final efforts of their week-long writing and preparing for their promenade - their end-of-the-week performance to share with parents, guardians and families. I came across Wyatt who was meticulously cutting out boxes and gluing together a comic strip he created to meet the challenge of what it means to have a Superpower of Hope. He was thorough, intent and 100% focused, so much so that he didn't want to look up from his creation so that he'd be finished for the afternoon festivities.

The 3rd - 5th grade Little Lab for Big Imaginations sparked creativity, inquiry, curiosity, and motivation to complete a writing project to showcase the week's activities.

This is why I love Fridays. The youth, this week (3rd-10th grade) were 100% on task, intent, and ready to celebrate all that their fabulous instructors offered them throughout the week.

I couldn't help but overhear the incredible, collaborative script they co-created after attending a script-writing workshop with me, or the professional attitude they held to make it the best experience for their audiences. They had much to communicate and in the genres they chose, they were more than ready to have their hard work applauded.

It is Saturday and I have two days to unravel a week that just was only to prepare for the week still to come. I've said all week that I felt like the principal of my own little school greeting parents everyday, hearing their feedback, fielding their concerns, and prepping them for the bonanza that is Friday. Wyatt's work and determination sealed the deal for me. He, and a young woman from another school district, were high-fiving one another as they met their individual goals.

I am happy to say that 100% of our kids left after a week seeing themselves as a writer. They talked like writers, they presented as writers, and they bowed with a sense of tremendous accomplishment.
This is what school should  always be about.

I will reflect on all of this as I catch up on some sleep.