A day in the life of a forest school learner
by Mary Laughlin
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the Learner Experience Journey
It is Monday morning, and eight year old Aliyah can’t wait to get to school. She says goodbye to her mom and dad, walks down her driveway, crosses the street, and makes her way down the gravel road to school. After she gives a round of high fives to her Guides, she walks in to the school and sees one of her friends, Claire, in the Studio. A grin surfaces across Aliyah’s face as she realizes they have both arrived at school in their sloth pajamas and fuzzy socks. The girls put their things away in their cubbies and walk over to the launch rug to join other learners for Launch. After launch, Aliyah checks the board for the day’s schedule, grabs her Chromebook, and finds Demetrius, her Running Partner, to set their goals for the day. She works steadily on her Core Skills using e-learning platforms for the next hour and a half, taking a few short breaks when she needs them.
Aliyah checks the board again and notices it’s almost time for recess! She sees other learners start to shift in their seats, so she begins to clean up her area at the table, and then heads outside to play four square.
After recess, it’s time for P.E.. Aliyah works on her agility and strength with a trainer from a local gym. She is glad lunch is next because she is getting hungry!
She has lunch in her Studio and plays Tic-Tac-Toe with Claire when they are finished eating. Another learner announces that it’s time for Studio Maintenance, and Aliyah picks up the game and grabs the broom. After she cleans, her entire Studio meets on the Launch rug for Read Aloud. Her Guide reads Doctor Doolittle and then describes the Storytelling Challenge for the afternoon, a persuasive letter. Aliyah decides to write a persuasive letter to her parents...she wants to convince them that she is ready to be a dog owner! She is finished early with her Storytelling Challenge, so she decides to pull out her Chromebook and see if she can get a little further with her Core Skills.
It’s now 2:30 and time for the final Studio Maintenance of the day. Everyone pitches in to get their jobs completed quickly so they can go back outside!
At 3:00 Aliyah heads back to the Launch rug for Shout-Outs. She definitely wants to give a Shout Out to Demetrius for encouraging her with her goals.
At the end of the day, Aliyah walks home. She can’t wait to hand deliver her persuasive letter!
Schedule and Routines- Elementary Studio
8:00 – 8:30 am – Children arrive
8:30 am – Launch begins promptly
8:45 am – 9:00 am Running Partners
9:00 – 10:30 am – Core Skills (Grammar/Math/Writers Workshop)
10:30 – 10:40 am – Studio Maintenance
10:40-11:15 - Recess
11:15 – 12:00 pm – DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) / Specials
12:00 pm – 12:40 pm – Lunch and Board Games
12: 45 - 1:00 pm - Afternoon Launch (Quest/Civilization)
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Quest and/or Civilization
2:30 pm – 2:40 pm – Studio Maintenance
2:40 - 3:00 pm - Recess
3:00 pm – Shout Out’s & Reflection
3:15 pm - Dismissal
the Family Experience Journey
When a family joins our school, they are welcomed into a community that desires to learn from one another and walk with each other on Hero’s Journey’s. In addition, parents are also modeling what it looks like to be on a Hero’s Journey to their child. Learners are from families that see the value of self-direction and learning from failure.
Parents are invited to attend our monthly Parent Coffee’s to gather and discuss relevant topics, as well as get to know one another.
Parents are also encouraged to check in with their child as often as needed to set goals and monitor progress. Families are invited to every Public Exhibition to see their learner’s Quest work.
the Guide (ie, teacher) Experience Journey
The Guide role at The Forest School is truly unique. While traditional educators are bound by a set curriculum and testing. Guides curate content to develop signature learning experiences that are both relevant and rigorous. They play the role of facilitator rather than teacher, asking questions rather than answering them. They help learners think deeply about their decisions, work, and habits. In addition, they ‘lean in’ to the learners interests and passions, helping them to discover their passion and purpose.
The Guide also models and communicates what it looks like to be on a Hero’s Journey. She/He accomplishes this through:
Storytelling and sharing their own Journey, including challenges
Showcasing real world heroes
Bringing in subject-matter experts
How does a day at The Forest School sound to you? We welcome your feedback!