As we began this unit, our goal was to use it as a tool to assist our students in learning, exploring, and delving into methods of self-expression. We understood that we could utilize the knowledge gained from the previous two units to establish a basis for sharing. Everything went as planned, and the success of the two shows presented by K1A was evidence of that.
Each production we created provided a platform for our students to express themselves. The questions, ideas, actions, and storyline were all carefully planned and executed to be inclusive.
We asked the students of K1A a series of questions: What can we do? What do you want to do? How do you want to show what you are learning? What emotion do you want to express? What methods do you want to use to express your feelings? What kind of animal do you want to be? What costumes do you want to wear on the day that support your role?
We approached our performance in this way because we wanted our students to be involved in every step, to have a voice in the process, to have plenty of choices, and to take ownership.
The performance was a testament to our collaborative efforts. We saw so many smiles and pride in the students' eyes. The joy from the students was evident in the performance. They took the risk to go on stage in front of so many parents, performed the roles they chose, said what they needed and wanted to say, and did all that with enthusiasm. The whole process was a learning experience for all of us because we worked together as a big group, and teachers used their big ideas to guide students in their ideas.
After every practice, we discussed our attitudes. We asked ourselves if we portrayed what we wanted, gave our best effort, and effectively followed the storyline and roles. We also looked at what we could do better next time and how to improve. Reflection and agency were the key elements that allowed teachers and students in K1A to present two performances that included a bit of everyone and everything.
Let's carry the positive and successful attitude from this event forward to K2, where we will again take the stage for our graduation. We look forward to another memorable and meaningful event filled with the same spirit of inclusivity, reflection, and agency that made our previous performances so successful. The success of our last event is a testament to the capabilities and potential of our students, and we are confident that our future events will be equally, if not more, successful.