Session 1: Week 4

Heroes at The Village School have great freedoms. They set their own academic goals. They eat when they are hungry and take brain breaks as needed. At Free Time, they can run around outside or stay inside and read a book. 

“With great freedom comes great responsibility.” Trust is built on this foundation.

In Session 2, we begin Freedom Levels. This system is designed to give greater freedom to the Heroes who are ready for greater responsibility. There are 3 Freedom levels: Nesting, Flying, and Soaring.

For example, Heroes in Soaring can work in the studio or courtyard, listen to classical music or white noise to focus, and earn 15 minutes of extra free time on Fridays. 

The process to earn this Freedom Level starts now. The Heroes have already been working on Core Skills: their Core Skills work equates to points that they track in Journey Tracker. Last week, Heroes gave and received their first 360 Feedback. They heard feedback from their peers on how well they focus, clean up, and demonstrate honesty and grit. Then they set a Personal Growth Goal based on the feedback and will track their progress throughout the session. At the end of the Session, they’ll give and receive 360 Feedback again.

To earn Soaring, a Hero must receive a high average (4.0-5.0) on the Full Circle Feedback and show a record of 3+ times that he/she worked on the Personal Growth Goal over the session. Next, Heroes will rate themselves honestly and must earn 4.0-5.0 average on the self-rating as well. Finally, a Hero must demonstrate that he/she is consistently working hard by earning an average of 150 points a week. These are not easy things to achieve; it is a great responsibility.

Every Hero is up to the task. Some may struggle initially and that is okay. The three tiers of Freedom Levels support each Hero where they are in their journey. The process is a journey to accepting greater freedom and responsibility for their education and themselves.

A pebble is dropped into the water and the nine heroes watch, in quiet reverence as ripples emanate to the outside of the bowl. How is an act of kindness like a pebble? Can its effects spread? Our mornings start with a launch that inspires our learners for the challenges ahead. They navigate social situations with kindness in mind. They take turns giving each other a push down the hill in the truck, they grab forgotten water bottles from the courtyard and they cheer each other on in collaborative games like Stone Soup.

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They next morning’s launch features a video clip of a baby at different stages of learning to walk. How did the baby achieve his goal of getting around on his own? What are your goals at school? What work can you choose this morning to help you achieve that goal?Heroes excitedly share what they are most interested in and set off to work creating structures using magnetic tiles, matching flags to our puzzle maps, writing stories about creatures and filling out the hundreds board!

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Afternoon projects this week allowed heroes to explore feelings that they and others might encounter. They made acorns, puppets and a wheel of feelings, each leading to discussions of when those emotions effected them. Afternoon reflection included naming moments from the day where heroes felt happiest. The most popular by far was when they independently organized a roll down the hill. See for yourself!

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1-y02t3KtUltB8g6VTq-yhjhDXsoerdb2

Session 1: Week 3

The Heroes have been hard at work this week. They have been learning in Core Skills, earning and recording points on Journey Tracker. They wrote Free Verse and Odes in Writer’s Workshop. Here’s one such poem:

True, it is sometimes very quiet (and other times not so much!) Quest is particularly full of collaboration. Squads explored the Hero’s Journey and tie-dying t-shirts was a particularly fun activity this week.

I leave you with one reflection. This week, one Hero said, “I think every time that you go on a Hero’s Journey you change as a person. The circle gets bigger and bigger and you get bigger as a person but it also gets more complicated because you learn more about the world.”

By Lauren Quinn, Co-Founder & Head of School

Our Mission at The Village School is to guide each child to discover the world around them and the talents within them so that they can find a calling and change the world.

We believe strongly in this mission for two reasons:

1. We know that having a calling in life (a purpose larger than oneself) leads to a life rich with meaning.
2. We believe that the world needs to change. Whether it’s more love, more peace, more freedom, more beauty- we believe that each of us has a role in making the world a better place.

This mission is big. So where do we start? In our Spark Studio, we start with kindness, empathy, and learning how to use our words to solve problems. In our Elementary Studio, we start with the same but add in a culture of respect, freedom, and- the most important thread of all- responsibility. We know that before we can ask our learners to be responsible for changing the world, they must first be responsible for themselves.

Starting in our Elementary Studios, our heroes are responsible for:

• Their work: Setting goals, finding focus, minimizing distractions
• Their time: Knowing what time it is, being on time, managing their time
• Their choices: Owning choices, being honest, not placing blame or making excuses

Seeing a young person take responsibility for themselves in ways big and small is the first step of a long and fruitful journey of self-directed learning. It’s also a critical step in a Hero’s Journey.

As Parents, we can help by consistently framing our child’s experiences as a series of choices. Here are some examples:

Hero: “I met all of my goals this week!” You: “What choices did you make to reach your goals?” (Practiced daily, sat at my desk, etc.)

Hero: “I didn’t get anything done. Everyone kept distracting me.” You: “What choices did you have? What choices could you make to find more focus?” (Move to another place in the room, wear headphones, tell the person to stop the distracting behavior, etc.)

Hero: “I was late to afternoon discussion because _________.” You: “What choices could you have made to be on time? Moving forward, what choices could you make to make sure you are on time?” (Wear a watch, bring a timer, check the schedule, etc.)

We know these heroes are destined to change the world, even if they don’t know it yet. However, every time I see a learner take responsibility for their work, their time, or their individual choices, I know we are one step closer to our mission.

Spark Studio Spotlight

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How does a hero use their voice in a community?

This is the question heroes will answer in our first session. Margaret J. Wheatley said that “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” Spark Heroes are coming together and deciding what is important to them. Discussions honed in on what it means to listen actively, how they want our space to function and perhaps most importantly, what it means to be a friend. They decided that knowing someone’s name is important and played matching games with hero photos. Compromise is necessary in being a good friend so they acted out scenarios of people wanting the swings at once or reaching for the same book to read.

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In our community everyone has a voice. In the book “Say Something”, heroes heard that their voices can be used to stand up for someone being treated unfairly, to share an idea or to be there for one another. Of course, using your voice looks differently to everyone. This week I saw heroes find their voice as they beat out a rhythm using the sticks in music class or using expressive marks in a bold art piece. Heroes spotted injustices as they told stories at lunch time claiming, “Hey, she hasn’t had a turn to talk yet.”

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Heroes use their voice in each of their interactions where they advocate for themselves. Stating clearly that they can do it on their own or that they prefer things a certain way. They use their voice to help one another with zippers and containers and when they happen to be an expert on just how big a blue whale is. They also feel empowered to ask a fellow traveler for help because they are still learning and, in our community, that is encouraged. They world needs the voice of each of these heroes and they will each have opportunities to say something this year.

Elementary Studio Spotlight

Recently, I’ve been thinking about this famous London tube reminder because it is relevant to these first weeks of building a strong community.

I know that the Heroes are capable of fantastic things. Directing their own learning, upholding community covenants, finding passions, and ultimately changing the world- to name a few. However, at the beginning of the year, the Heroes tend to underestimate their own potential: hence “the gap”.

They have their doubts and that is perfectly normal. For anything new, it takes experience to test your mettle and as a result, build up trust… in yourself.

Already in Week 2, there are moments that map the road ahead. The quiet Hero who embraced the leadership of a Squad. The Hero who finished a badge that was previously thought to be impossible, demonstrating to himself that hard work pays. The Hero who showed ultimate focus during Core Skills and has already earned a reading badge. The multiple Heroes holding hands and watching out for their buddies during our trip to the pond. 

We know that our Heroes are more than capable of great challenges.  And by building on each of these moments, our Heroes believe it more and live it each day.

Spark Studio Spotlight

Our school year has begun in a flurry of excitement and Spark Studio was filled with more heroes than ever before! In a discussion, heroes shared they felt both nervous and excited about what was in store this year. When asked what they are most looking forward to, they answered, making new friends and trying new things. As they agreed upon our studio guardrails one hero noted that that being kind encompasses all our other rules, so it is ultimately most important. In true Village School School fashion, guides got to observe all of these elements in action in one location,the playground tree.

We watched as heroes carefully scaled the tree exhibiting bravery and dexterity. Once someone was on top of a branch, gleefully shouting down to the others it became a common goal. They used teamwork to coach and help one another navigate the tree and even cheered each other on, forming quick friendships with fellow climbers. When a knee was scraped against the bark of the tree, it provided a chance for a returning hero to show leadership and empathy as she rushed to get a band- aid and comforted her new fellow traveler.

A hero who struggled and doubted his abilities one afternoon, returned to the challenge with new determination. He was able to persevere and make it to the top branch, waving proudly from a place he couldn’t quite make it to the day before.

Elementary Studio Spotlight

What would you do with a chance? The first week was exciting at The Village School: new Heroes were bursting with energy (a joyful mixture of nerves and anticipation) and returning Heroes made a graceful transition from comfortable norms to embracing change. 

The Lip Dub Challenge is always a big hit with the Heroes. The published version will be available in the Parent Drive soon! In addition to being a lot of fun, the Heroes practiced collaboration as they negotiated lyrics and dance moves. They gave each other specific feedback and improved the video over 5 drafts! Both of these skills will be essential at The Village School.

The Heroes started their first quest, The Prediction Tools Quest, which explores the question, “Can you determine your future? What actions will increase your success?” This Quest introduces the Heroes to the many tools available to them in their self-directed learning environment, including Freedom Levels, safe usage of Technology, and Town Meeting for community problem-solving.

Part of this Quest includes Core Skills. Core Skills are the foundation that every Hero will need for their calling (think math, reading, writing, etc.) This week, the Heroes reviewed math material and started reading. Lots of reading!

A time for community gathering- we have been eating lunch together each day.

We will end our week with Character Call-outs, a time for Heroes to celebrate outstanding character traits. I’ll share some of my own CCs- I saw a Hero put away several stools after discussion showing care for the studio. Another Hero offered encouragement and advice when a fellow traveler was upset- I’d call that empathy. There are so many instances to share, but I’ll end with one last snippet: on the very first part of the Lip Dub Challenge, the Heroes were asked to memorize the song lyrics. I saw a Hero struggle at first, overwhelmed by the newness of the studio and the great task ahead. The Hero started with the first line and after a couple of fits and starts, had memorized most of the song. The Hero demonstrated courage to begin and perseverance to see the task through to the end. It reminded me that you never know how far you’ll get until you start. Or in other words…

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

By Lauren Quinn, Co-Founder & Head of School

On Thursday, we celebrated the beginning of a brand new school year at The Village School. No, it was not our first day of school- it was our second annual launch party, in which families and heroes are invited to tour the studios, meet their Guides, and connect with other families over lunch. In addition, this event serves as an opportunity to announce our overarching question of the year and our seven planned quests (projects) heroes will participate in.

There is one other reason we hold this event each year. It is to explicitly bring attention to the beginning of a new adventure. We call this the “call to adventure”, as we recognize that each family joining us each year has answered this call by choosing an Acton Academy education.

We mark the event symbolically, with a short ceremony, in which our heroes are asked if they accept the call to embark on a Hero’s Journey and then are invited to “cross the threshold” before entering the school. The act of jumping (or stepping) over some type of physical threshold symbolizes the start of something new and serves as the milestone marking the first step of their journeys at The Village school.

This year, the enthusiasm was palatable, and after a loud and resounding “YES!” from most of our heroes, they jumped over a bright green ribbon and swiftly made their way towards their designated studio.

And yet, as expected, not all of our Heroes strode forward with excitement and confidence. For some, particularly our youngest learners, an extended hand of an older Hero or a parent was the reassurance needed to cross the threshold. For a few others, they chose to hang back, entering the building when the crowd had cleared while proceeding with evident caution.

Change is hard. While many individuals embrace change with open arms, it is far more common to resist or avoid change. At some point this year, even our most confident heroes will choose resistance or avoidance when faced with something new or hard. This is part of the journey.

As parents, it’s important to know this is completely normal. Whether it’s the start of a new school year, a new learning challenge, or a new sports team, our children will display the very natural human tendency to resist the change.

When this happens, our job is simple: Validate, Support, Empower.

1. Validate and normalize: “It’s normal to feel overwhelmed or scared of trying something new.”
2. Support and share: “I am here for you. Can I tell you about a time I felt the same way?”
3. Empower: Express your belief in them and their ability to handle change- over and over. “You are going to do great! I can’t wait to hear all about your day.”

Before you know it- the storm will have passed and a new and changed hero stands before you, all the more confident in their ability to handle the next and inevitable challenge that comes their way. And when they are cautiously standing in front of the next threshold, you now have a story of triumph to pull from your back pocket to remind your hero in the making just how capable they really are.

By Lauren Quinn, Co-Founder & Head of School

One of our five core beliefs at The Village School is our belief in the importance of a closely connected community of lifelong learners.

Because of this, our model supports a learning community as small as 10 and as large as 150-which, according to anthropologist Robin Dunbar, asserts that humans cannot comfortably maintain stable social relationships with more than 150 people. Beyond this, there have been numerous studies that have shown the importance of close and trusting relationships for positive learning outcomes and overall well-being.

There are other magic ingredients too- multi-age environments, peer-to-peer learning, a trusted guide, and a framework for making sense of the inevitable challenges and struggles we all face. Size is important, but it’s only one small part of what makes our learning model work. True community in an Acton Academy, is formed with these key ingredients. With them, deep friendships can be forged, challenges can be embraced, and dragons can by fought and beaten.

Recently, we held our first annual “Celebration of Heroes”, in which a few of our Elementary Learners gave speeches highlighting their experiences from the year and various lessons learned. From these speeches, one theme emerged- community, connection, and friendship. Of all the things they had learned and mastered- from creating a business, planting a garden, designing a playground, to writing a pitch or a fictional story, it seemed the most important thing they had learned was that true learning and transformation is found in relationship with others- in a “closely connected community of lifelong learners.”

Below, is an excerpt from a speech given by one of our Level 5 learners.

“Before I came here I went to a public school, where I wasn’t the most loud outgoing person. I didn’t talk much, and I never really talked to anyone out of my friend group or spoke up when I had an issue. I know for a fact I definitely wouldn’t be giving a speech like this this, not because I had nothing to say, but because I didn’t have the courage to say it. And I know everyone, has definitely felt that way before. So as you could imagine, coming to a totally new school was nerve wracking, but now I can say with certainty that I don’t regret coming here one bit. 

One of my favorite quotes is “Fairy tales are more than true: Not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.”  I have faced some dragons, and I know there will be more to come. So the thing is, how can we prepare for these dragons? The answer is simple- you can’t. Even if it was possible to prepare for everything you wouldn’t want to. Without the dragons, you wouldn’t learn. 

So what’s the next best thing you can do? Make true friends. A true friend will help you through your hard times, and congratulate you on your good. In coming to The Village School, I’ve made many of these true friends, and I wouldn’t be where I am today, if it weren’t for them. Sure, I didn’t talk for the whole first week at school, but these friends showed me that there was no reason for that. I was so afraid of being judged, I didn’t even see how nice they were and didn’t give it a shot at first. But guess what happened when I did? I found the courage to face this dragon and I learned that you should spend less of your life worrying and more of it going for it. I know it may seem like the end of the world at the time, but when you get through it, you can look back at the view and see what it really was all for. Because after all it’s not as hard as you think, especially when you have friends with you on the journey. “