Reflection upon the recent Grade 4 ‘Stay and Share’
On Friday 3rd November I had the pleasure and privilege of joining the Grade 4 children, their parents and their teachers in celebrating their recent work on innovation and inventions during their Stay and Share experience.
As I walked into the classroom, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and anticipation. Parents and children were sharing dialogue about their inventions which resulted in wonderfully positive reflection and celebration upon their experiences and challenges in creating their chosen designs.
It was immediately evident to me that this was not just any ordinary day; it was a special occasion where parents were invited to share and celebrate their children's considerable achievements. The sense of pride and accomplishment was palpable, both among the students and their parents (and their teachers).
One of my most pleasurable observations was the genuine enthusiasm displayed by the students towards sharing their learning with their parents. They each eagerly talked to their parents through their detailed Google Slides presentation, explaining their project, their continuously updated hypotheses and their numerous design updates. It was heartwarming to witness the pride in their voices and the sparkle in their eyes as they narrated the stories behind their creations. Most interesting for me was their enthusiasm to talk about what they found difficult, their keenness to reflect on their own thinking in order to justify next steps in the design. This process, often referred to as metacognition in education, is something that we value so highly here at ISA as not only are children gain from meaningful learning experiences, they are increasing their likelihood of remembering and building upon their new knowledge through acts of applying, analysing, evaluating and ultimately through a new creation of their own meaningful comprehension (Bloom’s Taxonomy).
The teachers played such a pivotal role in orchestrating this event. Their contagious enthusiasm for meaningful (often messy) learning experiences is a joy to witness. The classrooms (of which the adjoining doors are always open) became, for that truly wonderful morning, the workshops of the inventors of the future. Within these inventor workshops children explained to their parents how their machines can help with the walking and washing of their dogs, how their innovative new toothbrush design will ensure gum protection for years to come, how their carbon capture aircrafts can assist with our climate change challenges and my personal favourite how technology, and GPS in particular, can be used to prevent all future road accidents. Our next step is to share some of these wonderful ideas with our local MP, Mr Stephen Flynn, of whom the children will meet during their focus on Government and Democracy later in the year.
The teachers, Mrs McMahon and Mrs Cooper, possess such an impressive blend of deep care for the children and a commitment to challenge and high expectation. Their skillful approach to facilitating meaningful interactions between the parents and their children, and their ability to subtly ask probing questions that encouraged deeper reflection and understanding were inspirational to witness.
What struck me most was the sense of community that permeated the open classrooms. Parents actively engaged with their children's work, asked questions, offered praise, and provided constructive feedback which oozed pride in their children’s knowledge and understanding. I witnessed that this collaborative experience not only strengthened the already impressive bond between parents and children but also fostered a genuine sense of shared responsibility for the students' learning journey. Both Mr Kajiawara and I will often discuss the importance and strength of the triangulation between child, home and school; maintaining and further strengthening the bonds in this triangle is possibly the most important factor in our children’s future success.
Additionally, this celebration of the children’s innovative designs provided a platform for students to showcase a wide range of skills beyond their conventional academic achievements. It was evident that the success criteria of the teachers was designed to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. The variety of inventions on display highlighted such a wonderfully diverse range of talents and interests of the Grade 4 students. I, for one, gained significantly from the expert knowledge of many of the children in Grade 4 that morning!
This short but hugely memorable event encouraged a growth mindset among both students and parents. The ‘power of not yet’ (please click on the link to watch Carol Dweck’s video) was so evident and so positively encouraged. Mistakes, made by the Grade 4 children, were not viewed as failures, but rather as opportunities for learning and improvement. This perspective was actively reinforced by both Mrs McMahon and Mrs Cooper, who celebrated each child's effort and emphasised the importance of perseverance.
This invention workshop experience has reinforced my profound appreciation for the power of collaborative learning experiences and environments. It demonstrated how involving parents in their children's education can have a transformative impact on our student's sense of self-worth, motivation, and academic growth. It also truly demonstrated to me the powerful privilege and considerable responsibility that teachers and parents have in creating a nurturing and inclusive space where students feel valued and supported.
As I reflect on Grade 4’s Stay and Share, I am further inspired to incorporate similar practices in my own educational endeavours and to encourage all staff and parents to become even more actively involved in this process. I am reminded of the immense potential that lies within each student and the importance of continuing to foster a sense of community within our classrooms. My time in Grade 4 last Friday morning serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of our triangle and that education is not solely the responsibility of Mrs McMahon and Mrs Cooper in Grade 4, but a collective effort that involves students, parents, and our school in working together to cultivate a love for learning and a foundation for lifelong success.
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