Author: JVnPaul

10/18-10/24 Just as going deeper into the ocean provides a fantastic adventure for deep sea divers, CHOICE heroes enjoyed another marvelous week of adventures going deeper into social, emotional and intellectual learning. In the Spark Studio…this week we enjoyed digging deeper into the oceans! We learned how a whale’s bladder keeps the whale warm while… Continue reading Going deeper

10/11-10/17 The start of a new session means the start of a new quest. As we swam into our new “Marine Science quest,” Tuesday morning, it was apparent we were all going to have blast exploring the underwater world as well as our session question “How does an environment influence an individual?”! In the Spark… Continue reading Under the Sea…

9/27-9/30 At CHOICE we look at the year, sessions, weeks and even activities in learning arcs. We begin the year/session/week/activity with a launch, then enjoy the learning and experiences, and then end each year/session/week/activity with a landing. A landing is a wrapping up of the learning, most often done through reflection. Reflection is an essential… Continue reading Landing

6/20-6/26 My aunt, an expert in the field of children’s music, always says that “a child’s brain needs repetition but craves spontaneity.” As we finish our fifth week at school we are starting to enjoy the daily routine and repetition that these young brains need. And yet, every week (if not every day) there is… Continue reading Spontaneous yet Routine

9/13-9/19 We are four weeks into the school year now. Can you believe it?! In a learner driven environment every day is filled with spontaneity and surprises. And yet, there are some routines and consistency that help the heroes form good habits. In the Spark Studio… this week we were busy fine tuning our procedures… Continue reading Habits

9/6-9/12 I talked to a few parents this week who commented that the only thing they know about school is that their child is playing and having fun! I love that school is fun! But sometimes I wish parents could see the richness of activities that their heroes are participating in each week… In the… Continue reading More than just “fun” …

8/31-9/6 Allies and helpers are an essential part of every Hero’s Journey. Sometimes an ally or helper may be your entire studio. Sometimes an ally or helper may be a designated “running partner” – someone to work with and hold you accountable. Whatever name(s) the studios are using, the habit of using and being allies… Continue reading Running partners running strong

And the journey has begun! What a fantastic beginning to our journey together! Witnessing each hero’s emerging personality, and watching the kindness and mentoring among the heroes were unanimously the guides’ highlights this week. The Spark Studio… had a blast playing games and getting to know one another. They were busy exploring the works throughout… Continue reading Crossing the threshold…

6/22-6/24 As we finish our first year at CHOICE, we end where we started; high energy, enthusiasm, and fun. But added to that were deep friendships and a year of personal growth. As they return to the “Ordinary World” for the summer, the Fire Studio reflected on their Hero’s Journey and how they changed this… Continue reading Return to the Ordinary World

6/15-6/21 From the Spark Studio From Miss Anna After a year together, our heroes have grown to be great friends! They find so much joy in spending time together. We are lucky to be in an environment where we tailor our schedule to the heroes interests. Our interest this week has been FUN!  Here’s just… Continue reading Reaching higher