Where next!

Today was brilliant.  Eden, James, Will, Jacob & Chris all worked hard all day to bring together some amazing pieces of work.  Quest 1 joined us half way into the day, and things went badly pearshaped. I think it was my mistake. I should have said more clearly it was a full day. But they knew the plan was to have a celebration. Instead, there was misbehaving and afterwards I think it was because of jealousy, or competition, or something.  Quest 2 had been working all day, with each lad on a different digital storytelling programme. I thought my head would explode!  I just expected Quest 1 to come in after their day of working at Create and Radio Swindon and carry on with the same magnificient spirit. Some did, others didn't.  Stop them, cried the other lads, they are ruining it for us!  Perhaps I did something wrong, maybe should not have expected to cram so much into the last in school day?

I was so proud of all those who were prepared to come up to the challenge of in one day, responding, documenting, editing and presenting back their individual stories.  There was a fleet of iMacs which some of them had never used which were flickering with potential.  Will, when waiting for me to view his never made one before film, made a complete diary account, said I was a famous artist. Andrew told a story of rabbit enough to make me want to cry. James did not flip his lid when I said his poster was not right and he spent all day working it.  Jacob, did the film, then a painting and Charlie and Ali brought the brilliant music and made it come alive with images. Kieran did finish his story.  James talked about hanging on for dear life on the edge of the white horse monument.  Eden worked solidly from 9-5 on a digital iPhoto book.

This was all the quest.  For me the ultimate moment, was when Chris did an amazing scribble map of the journey we had taken.  There was teasing of this, which was sad.  He had told me up on the White Horse Hill how different it was to be out of class, working as a team, accepted for who he was.   I think his scribble map is the most beautiful drawing, and I think I might have to go and have a cry with happiness.

Its been a learning journey for us all, especially when my eyes were bulging with fury at the odd moments when the space for them to direct themselves was too much to inhabit.  I just wanted the very best for the lads.

At the end of the day, Eden & James ran off to fetch the flowers I had bought for Mrs L and Bev. Someone had nicked them.  B.....x.x.xhdjeiu1u±±Xu!!!

Then at the end of the day, I heard that Ali's mum had written a fantastic email to the school saying how much she thought of the project. Phew, she didn't mind us raiding her house and having Rabbit peek in her fridge after all.

I am sad it is finishing at this phase. There will be a debriefing, perhaps the students won't give me ten out of ten, who knows.  I am sad, I shall miss them.  I don't know about anyone else but I have loved every minute.  Are you coming back, Jill, asked James.

Phew.