All-school meetings are popular at our elementary school and a staple at most elementary schools in one form or another.

In schools employing Responsive Classroom approaches and strategies, indiviudal classrooms will often be in charge of running the All School Meeting on particular weeks, leading the pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence, leading songs, sharing work from the classroom, or a skit about a particular holiday or theme they have been studying.

Earlier this year, our 5th grade kids were eager to have a talent show at school and came to me as princial with the idea. They had grand plans. They formed a large committee and we met. There were sign up forms and posters and an initial flurry of activity. In keeping with our emphasis on “recognition without rewards,” I helped them think about how we would allow anyone who wanted to “showcase” their talent and that there wouldn’t be judges, prizes and all the trappings they see on tv these days.

Time passed and my time to meet with the committee regularly got harder. I asked the staff leadership team if they thought we could bring the concept of the “Talent Show” in “mini events” to each All School Meeting on Friday mornings? So far it’s worked like a charm. The staff has pitched in to help kids in their classes who were signed up originally for the show to rehearse when it’s their turn. We have one or two acts a week. We’ve had 3rd grade poets and jump ropers, 5th grade singers, and a pianist and we’re looking forward to more. The audience is appreciative and amazed at the bravery and energy of their schoolmates and we are proud of who we are as a school.