Session 1, Week 2
With the start of schools all around us, questions from friends and acquaintances like “What school does your child go to?” and “What is it like?” are abundant. This has made me think about what it means to be part of the CHOICE tribe. If you had 30 seconds to describe to someone what it means to be a part of the CHOICE tribe, what would you say? As we are building and shaping our studios, the learners themselves are both deciding and discovering what it means to be a part of their tribe.
In the Spark Studio this week we saw many examples of the tribe they are creating. The Spark coined a phrase, “Sparks never give up.” All week they have been working on completing the Space Puzzle. They worked on it for over an hour each day and each day getting a little more completed before needing to clean it up. Each day there were words of frustration, even tears. “It’s too hard.” “This is so difficult.” One hero discovered there was a picture that could help them know what the completed puzzle should look like. On Thursday, after working for over an hour, the Sparks completed the Space Puzzle!
Right now, being part of the Spark tribe means pushing through the difficulties together. Problem solving together. Discovering together. And having fun along the way.
Being a hero in the Fire Studio is so much more than just “going to school.” In the second week of the school year, FS heroes are finding how encompassing a tribe culture is, and how much goes into forming that culture.
Without traditional schoolwork, tests, or grades, what does the CHOICE tribe learning model look like for the heroes? Without teacher lectures, adult-made rules, or even janitors, what kind of learning environment will emerge? Without grade-divided classrooms, how will a group of young people work together to form the Fire Studio into a favorable place for such a large range of ages and developmental phases? The Fire Studio heroes worked on answering these questions together this week as they were introduced to their Core Skills work,
started their Studio Maintenance contract,
finished their Rules of Engagement,
made good progress on their lip dubs,
and continued playing games together.
They discussed the role of allies and helpers on a hero’s journey and discovered their Running Partner, working together to accomplish the first of many challenges this session.
They also met the first monster they may encounter on their hero’s journey–Mr. Resistance–and took turns overcoming him with their growth mindset anti-venom.
Most days there are frustrations and tears interspersed with laughter, excitement, pride and accomplishment. A moment that epitomized this process occurred on Thursday afternoon. One hero accidentally did something to another hero which caused embarrassment. In his embarrassment, this hero lashed out at a third hero (who was innocently standing near by) in an unkind way. The third hero whose feelings were very hurt asked for a resolution room. I got to sit in on the resolution room and listen to 3 ten year olds (2 girls and a boy) talk through what happened and what they could all do differently next time. There were tears from each at some point, they were honest, vulnerable and merciful, and they all ended up laughing and walking out together even stronger friends than they were before. This is what it means to be part of the CHOICE tribe. To do hard, meaningful work with yourselves and others that builds life long skills. Though the work is far from complete, the Fire Studio made great strides this week in building their tribe.
In the DELTA Studio a big part of their tribe culture is going out of their comfort zones and trying new things – or being willing to try something that you think you may not like. Sometimes you still don’t love what you tried, but sometimes you may find a new passion! This week the game Kabatti epitomized this process. A hero introduced it to me and asked if we could play it. Many heroes were skeptical in the beginning, but all were willing to try it. By the end they were begging to play again and the girls set it up and played it on their own during the overnighter.
The Storytelling/Timp Cave adventure was another invitation that took many out of their comfort zones, or was at least a new experience. Everyone enjoyed it in different ways (I think we cleaned them out of all free ice cream and cup cakes), but everyone thought it was more fun than they thought it would be and through it we discovered some hidden writing talents amongst our group!
As always the Lip Dub is a crucial part to building the DS tribe. Decision making with so many people is frustrating! Heroes have split into different committees and with one week left are working hard. One committee decided that they needed to get up and film at 6am on Friday morning. This was extremely early after a LATE night and there was some complaining the day before. However, at 6am they were all there supporting one another. This is part of what it means to be part of the CHOICE DS tribe.
As the heroes are being introduced to all the different goal options for their year, we have had the opportunity to explore some amazing hero stories. After listening (via Youtube and Audible) to the story of a Lost Boy from Sudan, we asked ourselves “What we want our education at CHOICE to mean to us?” After listening in person to an amazing life story from a CHOICE parent, we asked ourselves “What habit is the very most important for me to develop right now?” Taking responsibility of your education and being purposeful in your learning choices is also what it means to be part of the CHOICE tribe.
In Quest, the heroes discovered that the car runs, but overheats quickly. The alternator works, but the battery does not hold a charge. Some are looking for the compartment air filter and an exhaust leak has been discovered.
While waiting to get on the car, some heroes discovered a motor driven linear actuator. A wheel chair was used to demonstrate the need for a rear differential (and to learn to do cool tricks). We have yet to see it used to discover pi. Many are still engaged in learning about the car, while waiting their turn. The other technologies are there when they have the time.
The definition of a tribe is “a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect.” We are families and a community linked by social ties. We definitely have our own dialect (when you join CHOICE you have to learn a whole new vernacular!). And we have a common culture that we are building upon every year. Being part of the CHOICE tribe means a lot. I love watching the heroes define their culture each year. Creating contracts and community is never easy, it is hard work. But it is meaningful work and creates a sense of belonging to each member of the tribe.