Session 6, Week 3
One day afterschool some Fire Studio heroes were trying to understand the difference between a guide and a teacher. Some didn’t even know what a lecture was. A teacher lecturing is like a parent spoon feeding a child. The parent decides what makes it to the child’s mouth and the child only decides to swallow or spit it out. A guide is more like a parent that provides food when a child feeds themselves. Not only does the child get to decide what makes it to their mouth, but they get better at feeding themselves. We love that these heroes are learning to feed themselves… even if it’s messy and especially because it is hard! CHOICE was not created to be a bubble that keeps out hard challenges and stress. To the contrary, CHOICE was created to provide an opportunity for really hard challenges and stresses. However, the goal is that the hard challenges and stresses are meaningful and are those that will help the heroes progress and grow on their Hero’s Journey and develop skills truly helpful for their life. We witness these unique stresses and the opportunities they provide every day!
In the Spark Studio from our oldest heroes all the way down to our youngest heroes, we love watching them set their own goals for their academic learning. For our older heroes that looks like a yearlong plan broken down to weekly goals. For our youngest heroes that looks like choosing an activity to work on at the moment that pushes them into their challenge zone. Setting your own goals and then holding yourself to them, can indeed be a real stress. However, what a beautiful opportunity to learn multiplication, telling time, or place value because you want to, not because someone is telling you to!
When two heroes have a disagreement that requires focus to work through, they pause what they are doing until the heroes involved have come to a resolution. Sometimes the heroes would prefer if the guide took the role of a judge; it can be easier that way! For example, one hero this week came to a guide with a dilemma and after being encouraged to work it out, the hero asked why the guide didn’t just solve the problem. Together they reflected how there isn’t always a grown up to solve problems, and because they have been practicing and developing these skills, the heroes have the maturity and ability to resolve their own disputes. And indeed they do. When a few heroes were arguing about how the play should go and one started raising her voice, the other hero stayed calm and stated, “I feel like you’re not listening to my idea.” The patience deescalated the situation, and the heroes quickly worked through their disagreement. It can be hard and stressful to solve your own controversy, but the patience, communication and problem-solving abilities that result from being able to do so, are skills they will use their whole lives!
This week we were able to walk to the park for lunch. It was fun to do something different and great for the heroes to work to transport the wagon there and back.
We had planned on practicing our play on the stage at the park, but after being so active in the sun, the heroes were just tired enough that there wasn’t the momentum we normally have. It started feeling more like a parent spoon feeding a baby instead of a child feeding themselves. After talking about our options with the heroes, they voted to go back to the school where they just wanted to relax. We are so lucky that we are able to evaluate how things are going and pivot to best fit our needs.
In the Fire Studio the number of decisions a hero makes each day can be a unique stress and a beautiful opportunity. Heroes decide every day how to spend their core skills and quest time. They choose to participate in lively discussions; this week about trees, bugs, finding their voice, studio policies, and about how to best encourage each other along their journey. They choose how to spend their lunch breaks. They choose how they will contribute to or distract from the hero led musical theater production. They choose how well they will keep their Contract of Promises. They choose how well they will help hold others accountable. And then the hope is that they feel the consequences that come from their decisions.
On Monday, the heroes participated in a challenge that asked them to think about their Freedom Levels and reflect on their integrity in keeping within the boundaries they earn.
This week some heroes felt the stress that comes from not using their core skills or quest time effectively. Some felt disappointment when they chose not to join a discussion, and then learned they would miss out on something fun. Some felt the heavier boundaries of lower freedom levels earned by missed goals or too many “Moolah” asks. Conversely, some felt the joy of goals accomplished through hard work and focus. Some were asked far fewer Moolahs this week and were able to celebrate keeping their promises!
During Quest we began our next passion project focused on insects. As before, a hero must be checked off by their squad before getting materials. One hero pitched an idea to their squad, and the squad members didn’t feel like their project could answer the question the hero had chosen to answer. The hero was frustrated, and angry. After some time calming down, the hero revised their project and re-pitched to their squad. This back-and forth happened two more times! Frustrating, yes. Stressful, yes. But, the hero persisted, and the squad members held them accountable. The joy that the hero felt in creating the wonderful project they believed in was palpable!
We continue to observe our insect habitats closely. Over the weekend the caterpillars formed chrysalises, which meant it was time for them to be put in the netted enclosure.
Our Butterfly Biosphere field trip was magical (and not very stressful). We held a cave cockroach, explored and learned about many insects, and spent most of our time watching butterflies fly – hoping that one would land on us! For more individual pictures, check out the weekly pictures.
Some of the Fire Studio heroes chose to take on the extra opportunity to participate in the Constitution Bowl. We had a fantastic and fun experience!
In the Middle School the apprenticeship experience is providing unique opportunities and stresses for the MS heroes. How many thirteen-year-olds do you know who have summoned the courage to approach an adult they don’t know and ask for a job? The ambiguity, the uncertainty, and the newness of it all has occasionally caused short bouts of resistance, but the MS heroes are forging ahead with their ideas and networks and will do so until they land an apprenticeship. The courage and confidence these heroes are demonstrating is admirable. Two professional writers met with the heroes this week to mentor them on the apprenticeship emails they are writing. Both of these outside mentors commented to guides afterward that the heroes were so friendly, confident, and amazing!
A stress that our CHOICE heroes encounter likely to a greater degree than their non-CHOICE peers is that of group decision-making. This was very apparent as the MS heroes revisited their plans for a trip they hoped to take this year. The process of pitching ideas, taking votes, making adjustments, re-pitching ideas, taking more votes, working within real-life deadlines, and rarely making everyone happy is one that sometimes feels tedious, cumbersome, and frustrating, but is so applicable to the rest of life. There are triumphs and disappointments as a community moves forward, but each one provides unique growth.
Sometimes after intense discussions, decision making or just the stress from good hard work, games are just what we need! Our Middle Schoolers play a lot!
Leadership opportunities are a continual stress and blessing in the lives of the Middle Schoolers. Jolliness this week was about empathy. The hero who led it this week felt like he improved drastically from the last time he led Jolliness. What a great opportunity to try something new, not do so well, and then try again and see the difference!
Leadership in the play is an incredibly unique stressor. The heroes went to the library for their one and only on-stage rehearsal this week. I am continually in awe by their set designs, choreography, directing, costumes and leading of 28 younger heroes.
As adults, a meaningful life is not easy all the time. A beautiful life is not easy all the time. A fun life is not easy all the time. CHOICE is striving to follow that same pattern. A meaningful, beautiful, fun learning experience full of the challenges and stresses that provide the opportunities to grow that our children need now and in their future. While sometimes it is more convenient, efficient and clean to spoon feed a child, we all know that letting them eat on their own is better for all of us in the end. We love watching your heroes struggle and find joy in “eating on their own!”