Session 2, Week 2
What came first, the chicken or the egg? An age-old question which can be argued on either side. Similarly, our school’s question of the year can be argued on either side: What has a greater influence on your Hero’s Journey: Your mindset or your habits? Part of exploring this question, means we have a strong focus on building purposeful habits this year.
In the Spark Studio we focused on a new habit this week. During the Montessori work cycle, heroes worked on writing down and completing challenging goals. For some, that means working on telling time.
For others, that means working on reading.
Some heroes have been challenging themselves in math.
As our CHOICE work cycle is designed to be open ended, it allows for the development of different habits. We are developing the habit of being respectful during the launch and discussion.
When heroes accept collaborative group challenges, they are developing habits of cooperation and communication.
Heroes are strengthening the important habit of being creative and working independently.
To help the Sparks develop the habit of reading instructions, we often read the daily challenges together. Sometimes however, materials are discovered. In one case the trick to tell the difference between “dessert” and “desert” spread from one hero to another as they simply came over to decorate the words.
Sometimes heroes are developing the habit of planning as they “plan” their creations before building.
Throughout the day, as these heroes build the habit of challenging themselves they discover that it really is fun to do hard things.
In the Fire Studio, we began our Heroic Habits game. During Session 1 heroes learned about nine wonderful habits, and now they are ready to develop and strengthen these habits in a game format. Most heroes have chosen their first Heroic Habit to focus on for the next 30 school days. Each time they work on that habit, they are a day closer to a Heroic Habits badge, and a day closer to owning a great habit that will impact the rest of their lives.
For example, this week I glimpsed some heroes gazing out the window or around the studio for a few minutes, then noting a question they thought of while they let their mind wander and be CURIOUS. I witnessed other heroes being intentionally KIND to a fellow traveler. Another hero couldn’t wait to begin the MENTOR habit which includes daily reading with the Spark heroes. Many heroes dove into their first LIFELONG READER book–this badge has no time limit and encourages heroes to read a wide variety of genres throughout the year. If your hero hasn’t started the Heroic Habits Game yet, they can choose to begin any time.
Other habits are appearing through daily school life. After their weekly reflection squad meeting, one squad cleaned up after themselves without any prompting and then requested that we “add cleaning up after ourselves” to each squad meeting! (May that behavior become a habit and carry on to our homes!!!)
The habit of daily goal setting is sinking in for many heroes. Most heroes don’t even have to think about the routine anymore; they automatically choose and complete a Writer’s Gym and then set and focus on their daily goal. It is fun to see the different goals heroes choose each day.
Completing the weekly Civ reading has become a habit for many heroes. Not only do they enjoy the comics, but Jeanette provides such engaging weekly Civ challenges most heroes want to participate every week! This week they were spies deciphering codes!
Most heroes have formed the habit of shedding inhibition during our weekly global dance and thus enjoy deep engagement.
And finally, through participating in daily launches, and creating and leading their own launches, the Fire Studio heroes have developed the habit of asking great questions. When we had our visitor from Lebanon with us this week, they were full of good questions to ask him.
In the Middle School the heroes are also working on their Heroic habits game. If Middle School heroes miss one habit on a school day, they have to start over again on Day 1. We are learning it is challenging to form a habit, but the practice of doing so is so good for us!
An incredible habit forming in the Middle School is that of running their own studio without adults present. Last week the Middle School ran a full day by themselves: they led Town Hall, set their goals for Core Skills, gathered to check in on those goals, moved into art where they are working on their own goals, launched quest, completed studio maintenance and closed their day. Some heroes are developing the habit of keeping good track of the time. Some heroes are developing the habit of leading discussions. Together they created the habit of taking initiative, not “waiting” around for the adults, and taking charge of their learning.
For quest, the middle school plans to take a 100% hero-planned trip on November 10 (and possibly 11th). This week they planned local trip possibilities that will be pitched to their fellow-heroes and voted on next week. There was a lot of noise and activity during quest this week as heroes shared ideas about their possible trips. It was inspiring to see the habit of focus some of the heroes are developing.
We are creatures of habit. Some of the habits I have accidentally created in my life, I wish I hadn’t! I am inspired by the intentional habits CHOICE studios and heroes are developing. Jack Canfield says that “Your habits will determine your future.” If this statement is true, the future is bright for our heroes and for the world they will be leading!