Sea turtle life cycle – by Linda Färberová (year 4)
When a self-proclaimed shy girl asks to make a presentation in front of the class, you know something important is happening…
Take note: this nine-year-old was never asked to do a presentation. She was never told to research turtles. She had just learned how to use Canva. But let’s not get sidetracked by the surface details—what truly matters are the skills she is building, skills she will carry into many life situations.
Taking risks.
She considers herself shy. When asked to present or demonstrate in class, she is more than capable—but you can tell this stretches her comfort zone. Choosing to step into it anyway matters.
Self-management skills.
She suggested her own timeline and stuck to it. She set priorities, managed her time, and kept me updated on her progress without prompting.
Self-advocacy using the right channels of communication.
She found me during a quiet moment to propose her idea, then asked thoughtful questions about whether it was realistic—right down to the technical side of things.
Preparation.
She took charge of preparing the room and setting the atmosphere for her presentation. Her classmates were busy working on another project, and she approached this patiently. Her audience wasn’t ready immediately, yet she waited with kindness and respect.
Communication skills.
Although her slides were prepared, she didn’t read from them. She made eye contact, improvised, asked questions, and shared useful little bits of information that weren’t on the screen.
Her work was met with applause. Her audience was impressed. They asked questions. She answered confidently—and when she didn’t know something, she simply said so.
And what did this lead to?
Peer motivation. That very same day, two other students approached me to ask if they could do something similar. She was clearly proud of herself. She saw that her hard work paid off—and that feeling came from within.
Watch this space. I’m quite sure I won’t be the only teacher writing about her work in the years to come.
Sea Turtle Life Cycle. by: Linda Färberová
