I want to take some time here to attempt to express how much Jennifer Bennett means to me. I certainly would not have been able to manage this year without her. In the absence of many of my colleagues and friends in the AP Social Studies program this year, Mrs. Bennett has been my consistent supporter, friend, conspirator, and the soundingboard. Her love, support, understanding and passion have contributed, not only to my sanity, but also to my teaching. She has opened the door to new understanding of how we could blend our classes to give our students a more holistic learning experience. She is the kind of teacher I want my daughter to have. Every decision she makes is rooted in her passion for her students. Her students love her. Of course they do! How could they help themselves?
So, Mrs. Bennet and I worked to create a project that would reflect the incredible growth our students have experienced over the past two years of hard work. These two years have not been without tears, setbacks, drama, sickness, frustrations, anger, whining, fear or failure. The path through the freshman and sophomore years has proven to be rocky and sometimes treacherous. Endurance and persistence are key characteristics of students who learn to survive, and finally, to thrive. Mrs. Bennett and I wanted to really celebrate this entire process with our students. This project forced them to work for a few more weeks after the AP Exam, but it was well worth it.
Our students did more than produce incredibly cogent, analytical, professional products. They poured themselves into their work. The created projects that showed their growth and their passions. They articulated their processes and their thoughts to the many, many people who attended the exhitibition. They drew parents and teachers and administrators into their world. They took risks and exposed their thoughts and dreams, sometimes to people they did not know. I am still overwhelmed!
As a teacher, I have never been a part of something so powerful. The music, poetry, art touched my heart. I believe that these young men and women were transformed by this. They discovered new aspects of themselves as they worked on their individual work. They learned to rely on each other for support and direction. The library was alive yesterday and the students were the source of life there.
I could not have expected or imagined how much I learned from their projects. They have made me a better teacher. They have made me look at teaching and learning in a different way. Their work transformed my vision. I am humbled by the whole experience and I will never be the same.