School : a place to learn through several ways
School is not only a place where children have to seat for hours listening, reading and writing. No. School is MUCH MORE than this !
School prepare children to become adults. Great adults with a good education. Then obviously they'll have to go through years of listening, reading and writing. But to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming a blooming person and a good adult, their education at school must go further...
But how ?
Making school projects involving pupils
Have you ever thought about making projects at school led by children ? In my opinion, it's really important for children's self-esteem and development to involve them in creative projects.
Emotionally, you give them importance, you prove them they are able and that you can rely on them. Besides, if they lead a project which is significant for them, they'll feel even more concerned and they'll probably do their best to carry this out.
On a less personnal approach, they'll get a new way to learn things and they'll get many new skills like leading, organizing, planning or reflecting skills. It'll help them for their future studies or professionnal life. Yes because your role, teachers, is to prepare them for the future !
Eventually, changement is great. I mean, making concrete projects change them from their usual notebooks ! They'll be able to work together and to explore new things, as much interesting as what they learn from their school books.
Some examples of projects...
To give you a helping hand, I referenced here some examples of what you can do with your pupils at school :
Create a « school newspaper » :
For the little budding journalists... Create a school newspaper could be a good idea for many reasons :
First, it could help pupils to improve their writing, the way they organize their toughts : each week you, teacher, could give them a theme or a subject to write an article on. They'll have to do some researchs on the topic. Then they'll learn new things easily.
A school newspaper could also be a good idea to make know more your school and its projects. You could try to make it publish in your town/city.
Let children find ways to collect money on their own to go on vacation with school :
You are dreaming about bringing your adorable pupils on school vacation ? A week where they could relax, have another atmosphere than the one from school. But also a week where they'll be able to learn things in a different way.
But obviously it has a cost ! And you'll have to find ingenious ways to earn money to make out this project. So why not entrust this task to your pupils ?
They'll have food for thoughts ! Indeed, they'll have to find original ways to collect money for a project they really want to be achieved ! They'll be involved in it for sure.
Let children organize the end of year show :
Purpose them a theme or let them choose it by themselves and let them reflect about the construction of a show, their show for the end of the school year !
Of course, once again, you'll always be there to help them to achieve their project. Give them a time slot once a week and organize them into groups to discuss about the project together. Give them also dead lines for each step they have to accomplish before the d-day.
Give them tips and advices, they must not forget anything ! They'll have to give roles for everyone, to choose songs, choreographies, plays, etc, to build up the show.
They'll also have to book the place where they want the show to take place, they'll have to communicate on it (social networks, flyers, etc) and maybe organize something during the intermission like a snack stand.
For more examples, refer to this great article.
Emila Gilly