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National Exhibition Month:
How to Participate

The following participation guide offers suggestions for how your school might participate this year. National Exhibition Month is an annual campaign, so if this is your first time, we encourage you to start modestly this year, then think about how to plan for more extensive participation next year.

We identify four phases of implementation with regard to exhibitions and suggest a number of public activities that correspond to each phase.

Phase 1: Beginning Implementation - Student learning is regularly assessed at the school, but exhibitions as an authentic assessment strategy are not currently being used. The school has plans to begin or has shown interest in developing structures.

Suggestion for Phase 1: Participate only as an observer this year. Monitor National Exhibition Month 2008 and make plans for next year.

Phase 2: Partial Implementation - Exhibitions are implemented by a select number of faculty as an authentic assessment strategy in some grades and disciplines. Exhibitions are completed by some students; some structures are in place.

Suggestions for Phase 2: Select some or all of Activities 1-3 below.

Phase 3: Demonstrating Implementation - Exhibitions are implemented by a majority of the faculty in most grades and disciplines as an authentic assessment strategy. Exhibitions are completed by many students; a majority of structures are in place.

Suggestions for Phase 3: Select some or all of Activities 1-6 below.

Phase 4: Systemic Implementation - Exhibitions are an integral part of the program school-wide using authentic assessment strategies in all grades and disciplines. Exhibitions are completed by all students; the school has developed the capacity to be self-sustaining and continuously improving.

Suggestions for Phase 4: Select some or all of Activities 1-9 below.

Public Activities to Celebrate National Exhibition Month

1. Document exhibition practices and achievements and send reports to CES National to disseminate via the CES website and its print newsletter (send summaries to Ramon Calhoun, rcalhoun@essentialschools.org).
2. Document exhibition practices and achievements and send pictures and stories to local news organizations or community audiences after exhibitions have occurred.
3. Hold a school-wide or public event to recognize the exhibitions that have occurred and celebrate student achievements with community members.
4. Post a summary of exhibition activities during the national campaign on the school's website or in newsletters, blogs, or reports to community audiences
5. Write a letter to the editor or submit an Op/Ed piece to the local newspaper prior to any actual exhibitions (after you've held exhibitions if you're in Phase 2).
6. Invite neighboring educators, community leaders, parents, legislators, city officials, reporters and other thought leaders to observe one or more exhibitions.
7. Invite and prepare neighboring educators, community leaders, parents, legislators, city officials, or other thought leaders to sit on juries to evaluate exhibitions.
8. Issue a local press release describing participation in the national campaign
9. Invite local media to cover an exhibition, interview students and staff, and write/produce a story