Session 7, Week 3
The DELTA Studio’s theme right now is “Finish Strong.” As you walk around CHOICE it appears that is most every hero’s personal motto. There is meaningful and focused work happening everywhere you look. And as every hero is preparing their Hero Board for our final Hero Celebration next week, there has also been an abundance of thoughtful reflection. It is inspiring to hear heroes’ self analysis and a privilege to witness the transformation that has occurred over the year.
Meaningful and focused work doesn’t always look like plowing through a language drawer in the Spark Studio (although sometimes it does). Meaningful and focused work can look like Spark heroes completely engrossed in knitting, sewing and crocheting. Not only are they practicing fine motor skills, learning a useful craft and exercising focus, but they are also developing their social/emotional awareness. They are teaching each other and helping each other when they get stuck on a step. One learner wanted to bring out his own yarn, but was concerned about other heroes using it. After thinking and thinking of how he could do that, another learner chimed in with, “You just have to set the boundary for how other people can play with it.”
An outing to Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum is always a fun way to finish the year. Our field trip started off in a beautiful way as one hero brought enough pennies for every other hero to try the “penny spiral thingy.” He made sure no one was left out.
There are so many areas to explore and imagine in the museum. Heroes loved exploring all over for a while. Then, despite all the options, a large group of our heroes became fixated on the challenge of digging a “bone” out of the cement. There was nothing more meaningful to them, nor could they have been any more focused than they were digging in that cement for more than 30 minutes. They only stopped because we had to leave!
As the Spark heroes reflected on their Heroes’ Journeys this week, they easily identified their small wins throughout the year. More challenging for them was to recognize the transformations that those small wins have created. Sometimes it is easier for the observers to recognize.
For example, after playing a game, one learner said, “That was really challenging for my brain. I think I could carry that over to language.” This week we have heard over and over again that challenging things are fun. Do the heroes recognize the transformation they have made in how they view challenges with a Growth Mindset?
At the beginning of the year, our youngest hero came in melting our hearts with his innocence. Now he is a leader, eager to help anyone who visits the Spark Studio for a shadow day. This week, he confidently led a visitor around telling her all about the studio and introducing her to other heroes and guides. Does he recognize his transformation in confidence?
In the beginning of the year, some heroes came in without knowing anyone, while some started with a few tight friendships. Most heroes kept close to those they were more comfortable with and some kept to themselves. Now, as we watch, it is easy to see the shared bond between all of them. Heroes who used to have a lot of contention between one another have figured out how to work together and play together. One discussion question this week was “Would you rather play with friends that are very similar to you or very different from you?” Surprisingly, the majority of the responses supported the position that playing with friends that are very different is better. Some of the reasons included: They can help you discover new things, you can help teach them things, and they can share their talents with you. Do they recognize their transformation in becoming a tribe?
In the Fire Studio Heroes were bustling throughout the penultimate week of school. Some had goals they were finishing up in math, Writer’s Gym, Heroic Habits, or reading. Others had finished their goals but wanted to submit their work for badges (which is a multi-step process) and then make the badges they earned. Several heroes commented on how they earned more badges this year as compared to previous years. Other comments we overheard: “It feels SO good!” “It feels like an accomplishment.” “I am glad I won’t have to do as much math this summer now.” “I worked hard for this!”
While many heroes were engaged full time in their goals, others found they had time at the end to compete in the Session 7 Chess Tournament, and to participate in the final dissection exploratory work of the year.
Finishing strong also looked like engaging in lots of teamwork activities, focus games, and Socratic discussions as heroes began wrapping up and reflecting on their year’s journey. Heroes also spent every day this week introducing visiting heroes or guides to the CHOICE culture and the Fire Studio way. Heroes are so quick to invite new friends in or to answer visitors’ questions. Each of the visiting young people mentioned afterwards that their favorite part of the Shadow Day was their new friends. What an incredible (maybe even rare) group of young people that consistently envelope visitors into the tribe from day 1. The wisdom, leadership, independence, kindness, and teamwork in this environment is a gift to witness.
Quest time included powerful reflection. As heroes continued to work on their hero boards, one hero who commented on Day 1 that “We don’t need this much time to make Hero Boards!” this week commented, “Look how big my trial mountain is compared to myself and I defeated it!”.
Heroes focused this week on the difference between a trial and the dragon faced during the trial, and what characteristics allow the Hero to overcome? It was mind blowing to hear their reflective answers while whacking a big tire:
- Trial was facing Moolahs for the first time; dragon was believing Moolahs were something sharp, pokey, and something to avoid; friends helped bring understanding and peace overcoming the dragon.
- Trial was facing Math; dragon was believing there was no point to even try because understanding would never come; the desire to complete the badge overcame the dragon.
- Trial was speaking up in discussions; dragon was afraid of embarrassment if the wrong words were said; starting small with 1-2 words built confidence over time overcoming the dragon.
- Trial was being overwhelmed with too much; dragon was a belief there was too much to take on so do nothing, making a list and doing one task at a time overcame the dragon.
- Trial was working with other people; dragon was believing it will never work; what overcame this dragon? The Hero said the dragon has not been overcome yet…working on it still.
Part of moving into the DS is to plan and execute a Day Quest. Two FS heroes did their Day Quest this week. It was so fun to watch them share their passions as they planned, prepared, entered challenges into Journey Tracker, prepared Socratic discussions, planned needed materials, and taught the FS many skills on the field.
When the DELTA Studio chose to hold themselves to the standard of finishing their year goals, before the year was over, I don’t know that they realized the full impact of their decision. Heroes are achieving deadlines and goals that they have never reached before. It is energizing to watch them crank out and finish goals; inspiring to celebrate their accomplishments; and entertaining to watch the games and challenges during brain breaks.
Some heroes are spending far more time than the badge “requires” on Hero Boards, Sketch Comedy and Ex Works because they are loving what they are doing – that is fun to watch – true passion driven learning.
I often hear from friends in other education places, that the last few weeks of school are a waste of time. I can say with full certainty that this is not the case for our heroes. As we watch them work so hard, accomplish so much, and have so much fun, it is easy to say that they are Finishing Strong!!!!