Observations at home and on the road: Year 5 - Week 11 In Review
Charting our own courses through play, finances, and life!
Check out this week’s updates below…
spark studio
The Spark studio is filled with teeny tiny intricate details. Think of it as a seed. We wonder, what does each seed need to grow? Remember no two are alike.
Let’s observe. Why do we observe? How do we observe? Observing children in their environment is a valued practice, both for guides and for parents. Observation is an essential tool, used by us to follow the child. The goal of observation is to discover each learner’s interests, needs, and abilities and then to adjust the environment accordingly. This takes time and patience.
We challenge you to give it a try: sit quietly for 10 minutes and observe your child/children. No distractions, no interruptions, no talking, no interaction at all. Simply observe. If you like, write down only what you see and hear. It’s interesting and intriguing to us. We wonder what it will be like for you?
Thanks go out to Miss Maria and her beautiful family for hosting the best fall gathering ever! We went on a nature walk, gathered acorns to make pig soup, and even got to feed Olivia & Pearl! We painted cool pumpkins, and, best of all, we broke the ice and had so much fun! We are so very thankful to share life with Miss Maria and her family. Thanks to all of you for helping to create this beautiful tribe. It takes a village.
elementary studio
“What do I want to be when I grow up?” Every child asks this question at one time or another. This week for Quest we opened with a career fair where our heroes had a chance to interview a radio journalist, a member of the national guard, and a reptile scientist/welder. But what if you don't want to be any of those things? No problem! We also explored our skills, struggles, interests, and dreams to think of another career we might find a calling in. We worked on recognizing different coins and bills and learned how to make a budget.
In Storytelling we continued our school newspaper project. Now that we know what a newspaper is and how they're put together, our heroes decided on a name for our paper and started our first story: the history of The Forest School. Some of the learners have been here from the beginning, so they were excellent primary sources for the heroes to study.
In Civilization we are learning about Asia, and this week we made a map of the continent. Rather than labeling cities and geography, we labeled where ideas and inventions came from. This way we can see culture and the landscape all at once, and see how they connect together.
middle school studio
Imagine if you knew how to do your taxes at the age of 11, write a check, or even how to set up a bank account. How would your future had been different? In this session Financial Literacy is the focus, but first let’s take a dive into each hero’s interests!
Knowing your life purpose is the first step toward living a truly conscious life. A life purpose provides us with a clear goal, a set finish line that we truly want to reach. This week heroes dug a little deeper into what their future could potentially look like by completing a purpose match assessment, outlining their interests and passions.
So far the challenges have prepared learners to look deeper into their future as college students. In Story Arts, heroes are learning how to cite and write college essays. The focus of Civilization this week was Columbus’ trail. Heroes were able to dissect his trip from start to finish.
Conferences started this week. These sessions will give all parents a deeper dive into new and returning heroes’ work ethic and progress on their Badge Plans.
On another note, heroes are planning a Halloween Party for Monday. Please ask your hero about this and if they have been assigned by their peers to bring anything. Every learner has a job to make the party a success. With this session off to a great start, let’s continue to thrive and stay motivated! Remember, progress is in the heroes’ control.
high school studio
Pack it on, pack it on! Monday and Tuesday were very light days. Twenty-four heroes were missing from the studio with great reason. These heroes participated in the Boston trip where they visited Harvard, The Freedom Trail, and the Isabella Gardner Museum. From what the heroes have shared with me, it sounded like a wonderful, life changing trip!
With the four heros that remained, we took the time to get to know each other. On Monday for lunch we had a picnic, ordered pizza, and held several sharing circles. It was enlightening and refreshing. When the other heroes returned, we packed on the workload! Basically 2-3 Quest challenges a day, in addition to time allotted for core skills, Storytelling and Civ. They did not miss a beat! While some of the heros grew overwhelmed, it is still commendable how they were able to push through the nerves and get it all done. They never cease to amaze me.
Something new this session: We have two Storytelling badges happening. One badge requires heroes to document their Boston trip via video, and the creation process of those has been enjoyable to watch. The other provides a learning experience which includes a student-facing mini-series of videos. The curriculum is designed for students in grades five through graduate school and will serve as a powerful way to bring industry professionals and world-class storytelling standards to add to the hero's repertoire.
We closed the school week with an explosive Civ. and are looking forward to an equally explosive evening. We can’t wait for Spirit Night at Trilith for The Forest School! There will be games, food, and good vibes!