Session 1, Week 2

Critical components of a learner driven environment are the contracts and promises the heroes make to one another. Because there is not a teacher defining the boundaries and rules, the heroes must do it themselves. Creating contracts and promises is hard work. If you ask the heroes, it isn’t the most fun work they do. However, the contracts they create begin to define the incredible tribe they are striving to become.

In the Spark Studio we made and signed our promises this week. A few of the promises we made to one another are:

We promise to keep our school clean.

One hero saw a pile of garbage on the floor and immediately got out the vacuum to clean it up. As heroes are willing to help out, even if they didn’t make the mess, they are building up their community. 

We promise to be a good friend.

Heroes had so much fun with these magnifying pages. What I found interesting was when you hold the page up to yourself you can’t see your funny face. In fact, your vision is a bit blurry such that you can’t even see clearly in a mirror. To see your funny face it requires a kind friend to take your picture and laugh with you. We shared our laughs together as heroes asked friends to take a picture of their funny faces. 

We promise to be kind.

Some of our works include a green circle. This helps the heroes to visually see whose turn it is. As the hero ends their turn they pass the green circle to the next person. Heroes are practicing self-control by waiting their turn, and cooperation by working together toward a common goal.

We wrote and signed our promises the best way we knew how!

As the Spark heroes live their promises, beautiful experiences unfold.

Sometimes that looks like individuals trusting they are safe to focus on personal projects.

Sometimes that looks like the whole studio working together for a common goal.

While exploring native Chinese dances, we performed a Chinese dragon dance. This required the heroes to work together as a unit; anticipating the moves of the person in front of them .

In the afternoons the heroes often take turns and cooperate to put on a talent show.
We acted out the story of The Giant Turnip where every character worked together to harvest the turnip. 

Sometimes the beautiful experiences are with just a few heroes as they synergistically work and build off others’ ideas.

Or as they collaborate together.

…And the reward is pure joy!

Of course, there are also the times when we don’t keep our promises. And that is a whole different kind of beautiful learning. As one hero this week said, “We all make mistakes and that’s ok. We just try again.”

In the Fire Studio just two weeks into the new year, the heroes are already building a culture of helping, encouraging, and mentoring each other. Their contracts, systems and government are developing.

On one memorable morning, each fellow traveler signed their new and carefully crafted Rules of Engagement contract. The heroes have decided together the behavior required to participate in Socratic discussions, and have now promised to uphold those rules and help each other do so as well. What was on the top of the list in their Rules of Engagement? “Respect each others’ opinions, comments, and questions.”

The first council was chosen. The council is composed of seven heroes and is elected at the beginning of each session. Council is responsible for time keeping throughout the day, birthday celebrations, writing thank you notes, resolving Contract of Promises appeals, approving the playlist, leading Town Hall, checking off studio maintenance; essentially running the studio. The council is incredibly responsible, capable… and they have a lot of fun while doing it!

Heroes built their culture of growth mindset while sinking their teeth into a delicious Challenge Donut. Heroes strive to encourage each other to avoid spending too much learning time in their comfort zone or panic zone–at CHOICE we love the sweet spot of the challenge zone where we stretch our abilities and see what new things will come of it.

The Fire Studio also entered into another commitment with each other… they are now running partners. Running partners hold each other accountable, act as mentors and are also GYM buddies! In Writer’s Gym, that is. This week we jumped into our first exercises of what will be a daily habit of bulking up our writing and language muscles. Running partners check each other off each day after completing their Writer’s Gym.

In the afternoons, the heroes continued their Greek mythology quest. The daily myth, puppet show and reader’s theater continue to be most heroes’ favorites.

We also spent time each afternoon doing the hard work of finishing their Studio Maintenance contract and working through their Contract of Promises. The Contract of Promises is the rules that they agree will govern their studio. When and where is wrestling allowed? When are poke man cards allowed? What happens if a hero doesn’t want to go to a resolution room when they are invited by another hero? What are the options if a hero doesn’t want to participate in a studio activity? These are no small questions. Both of these momentous tasks should be completed and signed next week. This is an extraordinary feat that will continue to evolve throughout the whole year.

In the Middle School the work of contracts and promises went a lot faster after having written their vision statement last week. Interestingly, there wasn’t too much disagreement over what was allowed or not allowed in their studio and during discussions. The biggest disagreement was whether or not head locks were allowed if both people agreed to it : ) I suppose their hard work will come in setting their studio minimums and holding one another accountable.

The middle schoolers were anxious to finish their contracts and get back to their first exploratory works and team building challenges.

Another commitment made by the Middle Schoolers this week was that in order to participate in every Wednesday’s Civ challenge (this week’s challenge was to build your own mancala board) you need to be prepared for (have a written paragraph) and participate in (at least two times) Monday’s civ discussion. They all agree it is worth the preparation!

In the afternoon Middle schoolers investigated the amazing variety of cells in organisms by completing a cell scavenger hunt and preparing skits and diagrams which they shared with the Fire Studio. It turns out that all cells have a lot in common, but also have unique features which fit them to specific purposes.

We continued to hone and review math skills with more board slam and a high-level war card game.

Oh… and we got to play dragon too!

These young people are incredible. Not only are they reading, writing, and creating every day, but they are doing the hard work of forming a productive and unified society. Discussing, disagreeing, and making decisions together is difficult work. Making and keeping promises to each other and signing and living by contracts requires self-discipline and looking out for the welfare of others. These heroes don’t give up. They are willing to do it. They are willing to do the hard work in order to enjoy the benefits. Bob Dylan said “A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” Truly, these young people at CHOICE who enjoy so much freedom, are heroes in every sense of the word!