Session 7, Week 2
In the Fire Studio this week, heroes enjoyed watching a video of Zion Williamson practicing his vertical jump. They commented on his ability to get higher with each jump if he’s measuring his results. When he can see the outcome, he can tell what body movements are most effective and reach his highest jumps. Then, of course, they liked to go outside and measure their own vertical jump efforts. Using chalk lines helps heroes jump higher and know they are jumping higher.
Our CHOICE heroes have many chalk lines – many tools to measure their progress. While they don’t measure their progress with traditional grades and testing; they track their efforts using SMART goals, squad meetings, Running Partner meetings, 360 reviews, badges, moolahs, many forms of reflection and their programs which track mastery in math and reading. These measurement tools help them know what’s getting them closer (or not) to achieving their goals. Once a year however, heroes do use IOWA, a traditional test, as a tool to learn to tackle testing without fear or confusion. Heroes aren’t given their test scores generally, there is zero test prep and excelling at IOWA is not the goal. The main goal is to have a positive experience with testing each year as testing will be part of many of their future Hero’s Journeys. Perhaps a quest to explore specific test-taking skills would be interesting and beneficial for our oldest heroes. For now, IOWA is one of many data points for measuring academic progress, and is a good practice at a young age of completing standardized testing. One week of IOWA is enough for the heroes and we often hear a shout of celebration when they finish up testing for the day or week. We didn’t take many pictures this week as test taking is not very exciting to take pictures of!
Interspersed with the test taking were plenty of games and for both the Fire and DELTA Studios and some intense focus from the DELTA heroes to finish up their year goals!
Heroes spend lots of time reflecting during Session 7; remembering and recognizing dramatic (and small) changes in all areas of life. We explore facing challenges, growth, successes, failures, leadership, characteristic discovery, and friendships created over months. Research and experience supports that much of the learning happens during the reflection process as opposed to the actual experience. The FS heroes enjoyed one exercise this week where they had a chance to face one another and share specific characteristics of the Hero across from them while looking each other in the eye. It was a beautiful moment to see them really think of something genuine and kind to share.
There were a few Spark heroes who finished up testing this week, but most of them spent the week creating their own tests and asking their own questions:
Snails were a popular topic of discussion this week. What does a snail need to survive? How long does a snail live?
Rock candy that looks like geodes. How did you make that? What ingredients did you use? How long did it take? Why is it that color? What flavor is it? Why is it that shape? 
Sewing and knitting have been a huge interest. How do you make a design? What kind of string do you use? Why does it look different on the back? How can I use another color?
Making games with skip counting: How do you know what number comes next? Noticing the patterns between numbers. Counting 42, 44, 46, 48 … Discovering that forty ten is 50!
Measuring with all sorts of materials: Is this taller than me? Is this taller than you? Is it taller than everything? How do they stay stuck together? What else can I add to it?
Last week the Spark heroes made tie-dye shirts. This week the learners got to see their final product. They talked about the hero’s journey they went on in making the shirt. For many learners it proved to be quite the challenge to swirl the blank shirt and wrap it up with rubber bands, a skill many of us don’t think twice about.
Learners pointed out the swirls and circle logo on the shirt reminded them of the Hero’s Journey. They talked about how some of them had never made a shirt like that before (their “call to adventure”) and the road of trials they went on while making their shirt. The learners pointed out that their tie-dye shirt is like “returning home having changed.” When you go on a hero’s journey you return home having changed. Their shirt literally changed. One Spark said, “It should be returning to SCHOOL having changed. HAHAHA!”
The Spark heroes were speaking to the important chalk lines – the most important tools of measurement. What Hero’s Journeys have you been on? How have you changed throughout the school year? How are you different now than you were in August? I am grateful we have two more weeks beyond testing for the heroes to continue exploring these chalk lines.