Child Led Independent Creative Learning

Wednesday Work was an initiative I introduced with my Year 5/6 Class following a seminar at the Global Leadership Summit led by Patrick Lencioni. He taught a session based on businesses who had increased productivity by allowing their employees 20% of their working week to follow their own lines of enquiry and plan their own time.
These goals had to be in line with the companies aims but gave employees ownership of their time and their direction. This had a significant impact on both employee retention, and productivity.
In school, we identified 2 hours a week with Years 5 and 6 and within the theme of that half term’s work, gave the children the opportunity to decide what they would like to learn, do or make.
The rules were as follows:

1. A full plan had to be submitted showing aims, outline plans, resources, predicted timescales and intended outcomes.
2. This had to be discussed with a member of staff and resources had to have been either collected in school or brought in from home before work could begin.
3. Each child was accountable for working to a high standard and for their progress in each lesson.
4. Once completed, the results had to be shared with the rest of the class.

The outcomes were amazing! Children who usually couldn’t wait for break time were asking to stay in to complete their work! The children displayed a variety of skills and talents and their general confidence grew as a result. Children who struggled with academic learning became experts in their own strength zones and were looked up to by the other children.
The highlight of these sessions was a termly open afternoon where the children displayed their work and we invited parents into school for the children to present their work. These afternoons were great confidence builders and really showcased the children’s talents.
Give it a try – you won’t regret it!