At first, it may look like they're taking part in a graduation ceremony, but the students who march across the stage at Maine's Falmouth Audubon Society to shake hands with their principal and teachers aren't walking away with diplomas. They're walking away with tangible results of their learning.
In this particular case, the eighty-five seventh graders from King Middle School in Portland each received a copy of "Fading Footprints," a CD-ROM they produced about Maine's endangered species. During the ceremony, which included thank-yous to teachers and experts who had helped on the project, some students explained the process. "I made sure all the links worked." Others talked a little about what they learned. "You can ask me anything about the harlequin duck." Then they all repaired to a courtyard for cake and punch.
She was hesitant to invade the students' "personal" spaces, space that they were sharing in public. She didn't want to intrude.
Intrude.
I don't believe that we have the luxury of ignoring our students when they share in public. I don't believe that we should duck away from engaging them for fear of finding ourselves in awkward situations.