CHOICE is a place that preserves childhood, allowing children to enjoy the joys of childhood into their teenage years. CHOICE is a place that gives children the opportunity to develop mature life skills, that our adult society could benefit from! It is a beautiful paradox!
This paradox was demonstrated so clearly in the Fire Studio multiple times this week.
One moment they were performing interpretive dances demonstrating the life cycle of a plant (what a gift that they feel safe to do so!)
The next moment they are conducting botany experiments on their own and working through group dynamics.
One moment they are creating and sharing silly and creative seed dispersal mechanisms
The next moment they are participating in Town Hall discussions with thoughtfulness and respect. (no pictures as I didn’t want to spoil the moment). I listen to a hero propose an idea that is clearly important to her. I watch her listen to all the arguments for and against her idea – there is passion on both sides, but the ideas are also shared with respect. “I understand why that would be good, but I…..” . I listen to a vote being called; her idea does not get a majority vote. She (& others) are clearly disappointed, and yet they accept the loss with grace. Their maturity is magnificent to observe.
In one moment a Fire hero was acting extra silly, seeking the attention of a Delta hero he admires, who was visiting the studio to mentor in math. And yet, in the next moment, that same silly Fire hero was over in the Spark Studio, maturely and kindly guiding a Spark hero through reading aloud. And in just a few years, that Fire hero will be the Delta hero visiting Fire Studio to help with math.
Another day this week, a couple of heroes went from sharing feedback during studio maintenance to hurt feelings and tears in a blink of an eye. They quickly moved out of the room and a few minutes later, the guide found them calmly holding a resolution room together with a mediator they chose. Both heroes felt like a solution was reached and were happy to celebrate their resolution room by sharing a favorite Studio C clip at Landing. This back and forth swing of age-appropriate silliness or volatility and beyond-their-years maturity is a constant and delightful phenomenon to witness.
Spark heroes enjoy this same paradox. They can be wise beyond their years…
During a launch one morning they discussed the effects of rewards versus punishments. After playing games with certain rewards and punishments they talked about whether the reward or punishment motivated you more. We then observed the Sparks choosing to work hard in Montessori work cycle with no reward or punishment. That intrinsic motivation is beautiful.
And then fully enjoy their childhood…
during outside time, the pretend game that was played all week was literally crying babies while others were the parents. What a wonderful, noisy childhood game!
Sparks have been hard at work this week building structures from their blueprints. They are watching their plans turn into reality. Several of the Sparks have really gotten into the role of builder while others give feedback as an overseer. Creating and building is part of childhood. Giving and receiving warm and cool feedback is an incredibly mature skill.
A unique and fun part of childhood is losing teeth! Every day a different Spark hero is excited about a new loose tooth. This week we captured this precious moment of one learner coaching another learner who was nervous about pulling out his loose tooth.
Perhaps the paradox is seen most clearly in the DELTA Studio.
Our DELTA heroes get to enjoy playing games and being silly together at school where so many their age don’t get to do so.
My favorite moment of the week which demonstrated this, I chose not to get on camera. The DELTA heroes did “interpretive dance” following prompts out of a book during Performance Time. It was amazing to watch them!! But I snapped a few pictures of other moments…
Guide led games during launches:
Hero led games during lunch
Hero led game with the Fire Studio when the guide was late arriving:
And yet, the maturity of the DELTA Studio heroes when guiding their own learning, expressing their emotions and choosing self-discipline is growing by the day. Paul stopped by CHOICE last week during Silent Core Skills when I was not even in the studio. Take a look at what he found:
Your heroes exhibit such a full range of talent, skills, interests, and abilities, all while being kind and insightful in their conversations (or working through it when they are not), resourceful and creative with partners and groups, listening and leading out in discussions, and having fun and showing joy along the way. I am so grateful children can laugh and cry, be silly and creative, pretend and play, while developing and practicing life skills that will help them become even more incredible humans! I love the paradox I see at CHOICE each day!