The Power of Celebration

The landscape across our country is in a state of uncertainty, and educators at all levels are acutely feeling an overwhelming sense of the unknown.  What will it mean if the Department of Education no longer exists? What do new funding bills and reduced property taxes mean for how we provide for the needs of our learners?  How will the national and local dialogue around educational savings accounts impact this vocation of public education to which so many of us have dedicated our lives?  For so many of our nation's educators, our jobs are so much more.  They are a calling, a vocation, a promise to ALL students that you are seen, heard, and valued.  That your voice and experience matter.  That all have the opportunity and right to the most precious gift of knowledge and the power to make their lives and the world better through it.  The unsung heroes in our nation's schools believe this and strive each day to make the classroom of their imagination a reality for their learners.   This is our story, the narrative we want our communities and country to hear.  How might we better elevate and celebrate all that happens in our schools, beyond what is easy to see on the surface?  This is the power of storytelling and Celebrations of Learning.  

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines celebration as:

“to honor (an occasion, such as a holiday) especially by solemn ceremonies or by refraining from ordinary business

to mark (something, such as an anniversary) by festivities or other deviation from routine”

These definitions imply that celebration is not the normal state of being, that it must be a “deviation from routine.” When most of us think of celebrations, we likely think of joyful memories, an award, a milestone for a loved one, or a culminating event… but when was the last time you paused to celebrate learning? Not just a milestone like graduation, but the actual productive struggle of learning, and what might it mean to our educators and learners if celebration was a normal part of the learning experience? Celebrations of Learning are a powerful learner-centered structure that support learners of all ages in sharing their learning journey, and the impact it is having on themselves and others, in an authentic way that builds self-efficacy, encourages authentic perseverance and vulnerability,  honors the struggle, and elevates the possible in a way that permeates community and culture.  

In Cody Wyoming, a group of elementary teachers came together in Livingston Elementary School's cafeteria on an early school day morning.  The buzz in the air was equal parts curiosity, nervousness, and excitement.  Stories of educators collaborating and rethinking their instruction in new ways filled the space with excited chatter and whispers of “I could do that!”  For these educators, it isn’t about discarding their curriculum or lessons, but rather taking a brave leap to rethink the learner experience through a new lens of empowerment, choice, agency, and community partnership. 

What started in 2023 with just a small handful of educators grew through the power of celebrating the journey and courageous leadership to encompass the entire school community.  When these teachers bravely shared their own journey of growth, what worked, what didn’t, and challenges they faced along the way, the narrative shifted from perfection to progress, from teacher-centered to student-centered, from we can’t to let’s try together.  

In Powell, Wyoming, Middle and Elementary educators gather to listen and learn as the 7th grade team shares their learning over the past 5 months.  With an authentic vulnerability, they shared that they really weren’t sure what they were supposed to be doing and that once they realized they had agency to rethink the student experience, specifically around collaboration, the ideas, innovation, and educator collaboration flourished.  The 7th grade team aligned their language, opportunities to explicitly teach, and for students to reflect on the Wyoming Profile of a Graduate competency of collaboration.  Increase in student engagement and a decrease in behaviors, authentic dialogue and problem solving between students were just some of the impacts they shared of their work. 

But even more than what they did, educators shared the challenges they faced and how their mindsets needed to change to embrace this work.  One educator remarked that they could stand up and tell the class the information related to the standard, but instead made a conscious choice to allow students to collaboratively learn and uncover.  Letting go of the need for a perceived pace and “coverage” of the standards, led to deeper and more meaningful learning for students.  This was one of many aha moments vocalized throughout the afternoon. What was scheduled to be a brief Q&A after, engaged the audience of educators with curious questions, and discussions of how might we.

At Kemmerer Junior Senior High School, learners took center stage during their Celebration of Learning.  Rather than listening to the adults, participants, including Governor Gordon, had the opportunity to celebrate student voice and experience directly from the learners.  This wasn’t a final exam or the conclusion of another summative project, but rather an opportunity for learners to celebrate the learning of their teachers as they created meaningful, authentic performance assessments.  Learners shared that their learning was so much more than content, but perhaps made more meaningful in developing their skills of collaboration, communication, and problem solving.  The celebration allowed learners to explain their learning, not just what they did, but to reflect on their own learning journey, insights into themselves, and their desires for future learning. 

Physics students shared their experience designing and building catapults to demonstrate their understanding of physics concepts, but what stood out even more significantly was their discussion of how they needed to use critical thinking, collaboration, and communication to overcome different challenges they encountered along the way. We so often celebrate the end accomplishment of our learners… but what if we created space to elevate their voices and experiences along the way? 

At the Guernsey Sunrise Schools, educators embraced the theme of  “Under Construction” when they celebrated their learning journey with all 4-12 grade learners and educators. Five teachers and their students shared their learning under construction to highlight the steps they’ve taken and are building to make learning more meaningful and where students have greater agency.  From elevating student voice, to engaging learners in shaping their learning journey, to credit-bearing internships that anchor learning to students’ interests and next steps, students and educators alike celebrate the work underway and excitement for what is yet to come. 

When the students have the space to celebrate their learning- the why and how, not just the what- what emerged was a call to action.  What emerged was evidence of meaning and relevancy, of motivation and challenge… What emerged by taking this moment to celebrate the work in progress was what is possible when students feel their ideas are heard, nurtured, and elevated, and the joy it brought to their school day/experience.

In a world where we value the final product, a Celebration of Learning offers the opportunity to honor and elevate the process.  It is said that the most valuable thing learners today need to learn is how to learn.  The profound mindset and learning shifts that result from the process of learning are worthy of celebration.   This is the narrative of our students, educators, schools, and districts that needs to be shared.   School is so much more than memorization and even the application of facts and knowledge.  The story we need to tell is that our schools and classrooms are places of vibrant discovery, productive struggle, and authentic application.  So let’s not wait to share these stories and reserve celebrations for the end of the year, for graduations, and the next step.  While all those are worthy of celebration, let’s not reserve it just for those summative moments.  Let’s celebrate the learning journey, with all its twists and bumps along the way, because that journey is what transforms each and every one of us. Celebrations of Learning are a moment to honor just that.