“I feel so accomplished, Sy.”

“You should. You’ve worked hard. I am proud of you, kiddo.”

I suppose, generally speaking, this is nothing remarkable. This should be how kids feel in every class, every day. Should be.

And though my remarks that follow will not alone make it so, I do find Jill’s experience worthy of remark; I do find it…well, remarkable.

And though there are many things I could point to: the time, the effort, the final products, etc., there is one thing in particular that I’d like to put my finger on. There have been no points. Heck, there have been no “numbers” exchanged at all. Only feedback. Well, and her response to that feedback. Her response to that feedback.

It’s been all Jill. I simply set the stage with the project. I gave the opportunity, and I provided the support, but she has done the work, she has done the learning: without grades. Oh that is not to say that the project has no impact on her final, required transcript mark. It does, for it will be at the center of our select-and-support conference in the coming days, but she already knows what that will be, for in my class she has a great deal of control over her “end,” her story. She wrote it. And she will tell it. She will show me how she responded to feedback. She will show me the “redo’s” she has amassed in her drive to create a quality product for herself. She will show me what she has accomplished. And she will do so with pride.

But what about the other kids? Jill is likely a kid that does well, regardless the approach, but what about the other kids? Are they working as hard?

Fair enough. In a word, yes. Oh, I am not suggesting we have arrived at some magical place in 206 where kids all work, all the time. But I am suggesting that all kids are working towards an end, in their own way, in their own time.

Jack is on the other side. He is not…well, hasn’t been the diligent, driven student that Jill is. Not even close. But this spring, with this project, things have been different. He’s done. A week early. In the past, done “rarely” occurred, and “early,” never. Of course his story is distinctly different from Jill’s in terms of getting there, but I have come to the accept the notion that it has to be. Jill is not Jack. And Jack is not Jill. But they both climbed the hill. On their own. And to me, that is remarkable.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…climbing the hill.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Friday, all. Have a great weekend.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.