The format for these opportunities may be local events held during in and/or outside of school , statewide or national events that schools may consider supporting individuals and/or team representation. Examples of showcase opportunities may include but are limited to the following types of events:

• Student Competitions are individual or team competitions where the outcome of skill-based performances typically determine the winners. The format for these competitions may consist of individual and/or student teams locally, statewide and/or nationally.
• Subject Area Fairs are generally competitions where students present their subject area projects (e.g. Science, Math, Art, etc.) using various type of display formats (e.g. poster board, digital video presentations, etc.)
• School Family Nights are events where student’s families are invited to participate in activities hosted at schools, typically coordinated by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), or the school staff.
• Showcases are events where students have an opportunity to present their work and interact with the public.
• Learning Center Products are student work outcomes from the learning centers that provide learning resources for students.

In addition, participating in these types of events provide social emotional learning opportunities in a holistic environment where students learn to share, collaborate and support team members with varied backgrounds who listen to and respect each other. Communicating (verbally and visually) processes and solutions to a broader audience are some best practices that cross all content areas. These principles can be applied in a variety of pre-K to secondary classrooms environments.

The Why

Showcasing student work is a rewarding experience to highlight the hard work of students to a wider audience. Research has shown that when students have a voice and choice in their learning, they feel they are being heard, valued and respected. This gives them a sense of purpose, feelings of self-worth and increases engagement in school. Some of the benefits of showcasing student work include:

• Accountability - Measuring Our Impact
• Community Learning - Teaching Our Friends and Family
• Increased Student Effort - Making It Real, Making It Important
• Public Dialogue – Talking About Schools
• Celebration of Youth – Giving Them the Spotlight

The How