This year I have truly enjoyed taking part in this Collegial Research Group. This topic of Play is one that I often find myself talking about as something I miss in schools. In today's classroom it is so easy to feel overwhelmed by the content that needs to be covered, and forget about the value is giving children the chance the play! There are just as many, if not more, opportunities to learn this way.

This year it has been incredible to watch children choose the studios that are the best for them. Students who love to express themselves through art chose posters, 3D modeling, and graphic novels as their various studio options this year. Other students who prefer digital means of representation choice to create slideshows, flyers, or digital books as their studios! 

It has been an extra special experience to learn about these studios in an ICT classroom because Jaime and I have been able to create small groups and stations to support each of our studios. We learned a lot about student preferences and how to best guide them through their work, while allowing them the opportunities to learn from their failures and try again! One of the most valuable learning experiences has been supporting our students through the peer feedback process. It is amazing to watch children provide clear and specific feedback to their friends in a polite way. Students have helped one other to improve their 3D models, provided guidance with writing their own children's books, and helped to take their projects to the next level. 

I have truly enjoyed taking the opportunity to offer 4 different choice studios to our students this year, and can't wait to continue using them in the years ahead. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with my colleagues to try new studio options. I am already planning to learn how to use a podcast or recorded interview with my students next year! It has been such an enlightening experience to watch our students embrace and enjoy the choices that we have been to offer them this year. In addition to their amazing projects and creations, we even had a student write an essay persuading teachers to offer more student choice, because of how much she has loved our studio work this year!!