1/18/22- 1/23/22
As we reached the half way point of the school year this week, I found myself asking “Are we half way there?” The question that followed quickly after was “What does ‘there’ mean?” Gratefully “there” looks different for each studio and each hero; and isn’t defined simply by a set of badges. What we noticed this week was a tremendous number of highs that indicated progress. Here are just a few…
In the Spark Studio…We are seeing an increase in perseverance. Perseverance to stick with something, even when it is hard. Perseverance to stick with something important, even when it isn’t fun. Perseverance to not be distracted by outside or internal triggers. Perseverance to see a task through to the end.
Heroes had an opportunity to practice decision making during a tribe time this week. Heroes were given a large marshmallow. They were told they could eat the marshmallow now or wait until after morning tribe time (about 20 minutes). If they waited, heroes were told they would receive a second marshmallow. Ask your hero what they chose to do and why?
The heroes ability to resolve conflict is improving drastically. I watched one hero drop the Studios’ place mats all over the floor and leave them. I was about to intervene, but gratefully I waited a moment. Another hero came along and said, “_______ I don’t like how you left the place mats all on the floor. How would you feel if I did this to you? I’ll help you clean them up.” I braced myself for the response from the other hero. His response “OK” and they cleaned them up together. Below are many other pictures of heroes at the peace table together – usually by choice.
This session heroes have been challenged in many ways to think outside the box. They are doing it! An entertaining example of this occurred on a particularly cold day this week. Many of the heroes did not bring gloves. We watched as a few heroes took their shoes off, took their socks off, put their shoes back on, and put their socks on their hands. All by themselves they had found a solution to their dilemma.
In the Fire Studio… Core Skills is transformed. “Quiet” is absolutely not always an indication of learning, however, it is quiet because heroes are engaged in real focus and flow – that is learning. Core Skills on Tuesday and Wednesday were just that. It is so fun to watch the individual heroes’ abilities to overcome Mrs. Distraction increase, and then to watch what that does to the studio at large. Pictures don’t do justice to the level of concentration and flow the heroes are choosing to engage in.
The Heroes abilities to collaborate in a productive way has increased. Heroes voted for Math Power Hour on Thursday and during that time, they truly collaborated with one another as opposed to distracted one another.
Socratic discussions are improving. The heroes’ ability to bring in insights from previous discussions and their ability to express themselves is evolving. I particularly enjoyed listening to them discuss which gift of Martin Luther King Jr. they would take away (if they had to take one away) and when it would be hardest to avoid a victim mentality if they were Mike Pisciotta: while in jail, or after he was released?
While there isn’t a simple definition of what “there” means for each hero and each studio, we are seeing such beautiful progress of both studios and each individual hero. I am grateful we don’t have to define “there” and can instead focus on and celebrate the progress!