ES Week 2: Session 5

If you are a Elementary Hero, the answer is both!

This week, the heroes began a 4-week course to becoming masters of math. This course is a series of launches and activities that emphasize important character traits for a hero (and for learning math). Character traits like…

1. Growth mindset: I’m not good at this yet…
2. “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” or persistence and perseverance are more important than being ‘smart’. 
3. Insight & Reflection: what tools work best for you? 

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The ES Heroes also show their creativity this week as they began Artistic Expression. This set of badges invites heroes to explore art, music, and theater. As a microschool, we are not an arts academy, but we can offer heroes an opportunity to cultivate their passions. This session, they can create an art portfolio, direct and perform in a play, or teach themselves piano.

Both programs compliment our character-based education. In a rapidly developing society, it is difficult to predict what knowledge and skills will be useful in the future. That’s why the best tool to develop for the future is yourself!

Our Heroes have been working on their Detective Quest. Part of that Quest is solving and then writing their own 2 minute mysteries. Can you figure out this one?

Part one: detective Wayne Kane drove through the city to the Microsoft headquarters. Earlier in the day, he received a very important call from Steve Ballmer, (the owner of Microsoft) that someone stole the plans for the first mass produced super computer. When he drove into the parking lot he saw someone waiting at the front door. He got out of his car and met the man at the door. He shook his hand and said, “Hello, I am detective Wayne Kane. I got your call.” “Hello Wayne. You can follow me into the room where it happened.” said the man waiting at the door. He led Wayne into the room. There was an open drawer that had a broken lock on the floor. There was also a computer on the desk. Other than that, there was a jar of paper clips on the desk, and a mini fridge on the right side. There was also some scattered papers on the floor. But oddly enough there were no keys.“What happened in here!?” said Wayne. “I wish I knew.” responded the man, “All I know is today I walked into my office, which is this one, and all this was on the floor.” “Was anyone else in here with you?” asked Wayne. “Not in here, but there were others in different rooms. “Did anyone act suspicious at all?” “Not really…” “There’s obviously something your not telling me. What is it.”

Session 5: Week One

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What is the general feeling after coming back from a week long break in our studio? Heroes return eager and excited. They notice a few new materials and furniture shifts in the studio. They see a new cactus plant on the shelf and rush to measure it- thrilled to discover it is taller than our other cactus but shorter than the philodendron.

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Session 5 brings a new topic for exploration during project time. Heroes will delve into an inquiry about the human body. This week they made models of a cell and enjoyed acting out the important jobs of the organelles. Some favorites being the nucleus and the cell membrane, protecting the rest of the cell parts from bacteria! They also talked about how DNA makes us who we are are. Heroes gave examples of similarities they share with family members and the traits that make them unique!

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A new writing center included cards, envelopes and new pencils and has already sparked creativity in letter writing and diagrams of other parts of the studio. A math station was centered around addition and in a launch heroes came up with their own equations such as “me plus water equals swimming” and “guide plus studio plus learners equals school. “

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Let the discovery of a new Session in the Spark studio begin!

Session 5: Week 1

What a busy week in Elementary Studio!

Heroes assumed Detectives-in-Training status and began solving their first crime. They searched the scene and documented the evidence. 

They discovered fingerprints left on folders and learned how to lift off the prints. (They also enjoyed taking and identifying their own fingerprints!)

As always, Quest Badge requirements can be found on Journey Tracker. This Quest Badge is due by the end of Session 6.

In Writer’s Workshop, the Heroes will practice their technical writing this session. They will create 3 sets of instructions to be published in the TVS “Big Book of Instructions”. This will be a tool to help future generations of heroes!

On Tuesday, the Heroes crafted and baked by following instructions. They discovered that some instructions are much easier to follow than others!

On Thursday, they brainstormed the main steps of their instructions. They will write their 1st drafts next week.

The requirements for this Writer’s Workshop Badge can be found on Journey Tracker. This badge is due by the end of Session 5.

With the beginning of a new session, the heroes updated their badge plans. You can see their updated plans on Journey Tracker and feel free to ask your hero questions!

When you think of the word laboratory what do you see? A chemist in a windowless room, a group of scientists conducting experiments surrounded by white space, or perhaps, like me, your ill-equipped and uninspiring high school science “lab” comes to mind.

According to Merriam-Webster’s definition, a laboratory is defined as “a place providing opportunity for experimentation, observation, or practice in a field of study.”

It is in this broader sense, that we see our community at The Village School as a laboratory. Our field of study is learning.

Our school isn’t a school in the usual sense of the word. It grows as a child grows. It grows and develops out of a learning “laboratory”- out of the experiences of our learners, their parents, and our guides here at TVS- and of those in our affiliate communities across the globe.

While every Acton community is different, we each share the goal of creating the best learner-driven environment we can while guiding each of our learners to discover a calling that will change the world. Put in other words, this means we have hundreds of learning “laboratories” all over the world providing opportunities for experimentation, observation and practice in the field of self-directed and collaborative learning.

At The Village School, we utilize this network of learning “labs” to help us constantly improve in three key areas:

Content: This includes content in the form of integrated real-world projects /quests and core skills learning in the areas of math, reading, and writing.

Structure: This includes studio systems to enhance both independent and collaborative learning as well as social/emotional skills and studio culture.

Application: This includes support from an active online forum for Acton Guides and Owners to troubleshoot, share, and learn from each other in real time, a monthly video conference call with adopted “running partners” (close colleagues/owners/guides in the network), and an annual Owners conference.

In a laboratory things are never stagnant. The next experiment, revealing observation, or field-tested practice in human learning and motivation is right around the corner.

Just like a child- or a scientist on the verge of something big, we live in anticipation of all of the new discoveries that await.

Session 4: Week 5

Travel is synonymous with flexibility. Heroes practiced it a lot on Friday when morning rain turned our schedule upside down.

We toured the Museum of Natural History and the heroes explored their passions. Geology (And the magnetic rock) was a particular favorite!

Post-lunch, the heroes went on an architectural tour of DC. They learned a lot about the buildings surrounding them and other things too… like navigating the complicated grid system of DC. Experiencing the natural consequences of jumping into a puddle (cold, wet feet) or forgetting your note cards (having to wing your presentation!) They came away with the old travelers’ adage: keep yourself warm, dry, and full of snacks.

These field trip days are special. If you had navigated cities as an elementary learner, what kind of traveler would you be today?

Guest post by Vijay Shah, Co-Founder & Director of The Humanist Academy

It is such an incredible and indescribable feeling. Every parent can attest to it. When your newborn baby has just entered the world, and you are holding him in your arms for the first time. It seems like the entire world has just stopped for a few seconds. The moment has somehow frozen in time. You lose yourself in him and forget about everything leading up to that point: the months of anticipation, the hours of agony, the intensity, the struggle, the exhaustion… everything vanishes. 

Just a few months ago, we were blessed with a baby boy. I can remember holding him for the first time like it was yesterday. It doesn’t matter whether it is your first child or your third, it never gets old. I vividly remember being so incredibly engrossed in that moment; in my hands, I held this tiny human being, a bundle of joy, hope, and infinite potential. Why was it so breathtaking? It’s difficult to pinpoint, but I’m guessing it had something to do with the tremendous power of human connection, the power of family, and the power of love. 

For some reason though, as my mind obsessed over his arrival, doubt started to creep in. He had just entered the world, but what kind of world was awaiting him? Was it hopeful or dreadful? I started to worry. As the first few days passed by, pessimism started to take over. The sea levels are rising, I thought. Major cities across the world are facing water shortages. Millions of tons of plastic are being dumped into the ocean each year. Human consumption and wastes are outrageously imbalanced and disproportionate in nature. Mass shootings have become all too common. News and media outlets are not only extremely negative and appeal to the worst of our human instincts, but they also have become so incredibly polarized that it has become almost impossible to distinguish the truth from biased agendas and opinions. Schools and hospitals are just massive factories where human beings equate to quantifiable commodities. Role models, heroes who embody virtues, stand for principles, and live for higher ideals have become harder and harder to find… Is this the kind of world that awaits my newborn baby?

But when I thought all hope might be lost, as I deeply worried about my son’s future, I entered the magical studio of THA. What did I see? I saw the entire studio enter pin-drop silence during core skills and then grow loud and rambunctious during Quest and Free Time. I saw all fifty-four of our Heroes engaging in meaningful work. I saw a curiosity and a zest for learning, unlike anything I’ve ever seen before in my 15+ years working in schools as a teacher, professor, and administrator. I saw older Warriors taking out time to build relationships with younger Warriors, and younger Warriors being grateful for it. I saw them journey inwards during morning meditation, and reflect deeply upon their day during closing group. I saw thought-provoking Socratic discussions that put our Heroes in real-world situations and force them to think critically about their choices, “Imagine you were Marie Curie, would you risk your life working with hazardous materials in the pursuit of world-changing scientific discovery, or would you play it safe?” 

I heard insights from young Heroes that would astonish any adult willing to listen, “Mr. Vijay, I don’t think I deserve the full points for this challenge because it was pretty easy for me, so I’ll just submit it for half the points.”  I saw brave heroes who held their peers accountable and rejected victimhood. I saw laughter, tears, joy, and struggle. I saw mistakes, accompanied by the courage to accept those mistakes and the resilience to overcome. I saw tremendous growth, holistic growth. I saw integrity, focus, curiosity, courage, appreciation, persistence, rigor, diligence, warmth, compassion, and love all come together in one place. I saw at THA, a world I thought only existed in a dream. I saw hope. In a world plagued with problems, I saw a solution. 

I thought again about my son and the type of world that awaits him. He gets to be a part of this world.

How incredibly fortunate he is. 

Recently, one of our founding parents reflected back on her daughter’s experience transitioning from a traditional school to our learner driven environment.

She shared with us, after the first month of school last year her daughter came home and exclaimed, “I don’t want to make all of the rules. I just want someone else to do it and tell us what to do!”

In response, this heroic parent said calmly and matter-of-factly, “And that’s exactly why you’re here.”

Fast forward to today. This young lady is now our resident “sheepdog” at TVS. Sheepdog status is a special role given to our student leaders in the community, who work diligently and thoughtfully to guard and protect the learning environment. There is a sheepdog at every Acton campus and these young heroes are connected to each other through a global “sheepdog” forum, where they can help each other brainstorm and problem solve studio issues. It’s a new initiative within the network, but I can already see the potential of connecting and empowering campus leaders at a global level. I mean, how cool is that?

Recently, there had been an eruption of unkind and derogatory comments in the studio. A few of the learners were quick to point out the specific contract promises those participating were breaking and the offenders were quick to diminish the importance of their words.

Our young sheepdog, in turn, saw this as her call to action. She rallied a few others in the studio and crafted an email to the Sheepdog Forum. The group cheered in excitement when they received a response email from the resident sheepdog, and launchpad (high school) hero, at Acton main. Fueled with new insights and a clear path forward, she and another hero crafted a launch on language and why words matter. Following the discussion, a contract was created and signed by all heroes, penning their commitment to preserve and honor a sacred, respectful space, through the use of kind and inclusive language. The consequences of one’s choices clear as day: future offenders would be warned and stop (including apologizing) or receive an Honor Code violation for breaking their promises to each other.

In watching this play out, I am reminded of how capable our children are. This was accomplished with zero adult intervention- aside from providing the tools and setting up the learning environment. Our heroes saw a problem and immediately stepped in to solve it, calling the community to a higher standard of excellence and imprinting something lasting on each of their young hearts. Words matter.

Would this have had the same impact coming from an adult? I ponder the outcomes of a different course of action, of one that didn’t involve an empowered young person at the helm, and I know the answer.

Certainly, it would have been easier- for us, the adults. But what a missed learning opportunity had we done so. These tensions and reparations become the very essence of who we are as a community, a school. As if each time, we are saying- this is who we are and this is how we do things here.

When ugliness erupts or thoughtless language finds its way back in to the studio, I am confident that our heroes, with the support and guidance of our sheepdogs, will rise to the occasion.

Because, truly- That’s exactly why we’re here.

This week was all about putting the finishing touches on the heroes’ 3D models of their Acton Academies. They livened up the outsides with ball pits, basketball courts, and trees made out of pipe cleaners, while decorating the insides with Lego pieces and windows made of aluminum foil.

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And for a very special hero talk, the famous architect Ben Mickus joined us via Skype to talk about his career. We learned all about his biggest accomplishments, including a building he designed on rollers to safeguard it from earthquakes, as well as a renowned concert hall in New York City that took six years to complete.

Recently, I had a conversation with a gentleman who knew very little about our school. In seeking to understand more about our program, he asked me a series of questions. He was a very nice man, but rather than bring us closer together, each exchange seemed to make the connection even fuzzier- as if I was standing in front of a map at the precise spot where it says “You are here” and this person can not seem to find their way to the same spot. The service is bad. The connection was never good. We may meet at the same spot eventually, but certainly not today.

“Do they play in this fenced playground area?”

Me: “Yes, but also in the large field over there and in the woods over here.”

“They climb trees?”

Me: “Oh, yes!”

“What if they fall?

Me: “They do.”

“There are no whistles or bells? How do they know when it’s time to come in or move to the next thing?”

Me: “They tell each other. They know the schedule.”

“What if they just decide to stay outside and play football all day?”

Me: “That would be interesting if they made that choice.”

Of course, I followed up by explaining this would be an “unsafe choice” and violation of our school’s Honor Code. Our learners know this because they helped create the rules and attached consequences for abusing any of their freedoms. Aside from this, I state, “Learning is fun here. They want to come inside. They want to work.”

While I want to keep talking about the freedoms and responsibilities of our learners, and how children want to learn, I can tell this is just causing the connection to get fuzzier.

So, I give up on that and share the responsibilities of our team, the adults- to ensure a safe learning environment for the young people in our care.

Satisfied, this nice gentleman and I bring our conversation to a pleasant end, no closer to each other than when we began. I find that quiet resolve inside to accept this fact.

This man is doing the best he can with what he knows. In our conversation, he asks a series of “What if” questions that contain assumptions that children are incapable, fragile, irresponsible, manipulative, and disengaged. Of course, somewhere in our conversation he reveals to me how much he hated school. No surprise there. When he thinks about school, his imagination can go no further than his own experience. This saddens me. He is there.

And we- well, we are not there, thankfully.

We are here. In a place where children are capable, strong, responsible, compassionate, and filled with wonder. In a place where asking “What if…” is focused on all of the magical possibilities and untapped potential in each of us. In a place where children are free to spread their wings and fly.

I remember this, and just like that- my heart is filled with joy.