Sunday, September 23, 2018

Learning Through Service Learning


Personal Challenge Day

In preparation for Camp Orkila, we headed to the woods with our Synergo ropes-course facilitators and engaged in a high elements challenge, the Cat Walk. The element is a log suspended about 40 feet in the air and requires you to climb a ladder, giant tree staples, to scramble onto the log and potentially walk across it where you are lowered back to the ground. This challenge requires 10 people to assist you with belaying and 1 person to direct the belayers. Our 5th graders loved it! Each classmate made their own personal goal that was the appropriate level of challenge; some to complete the entire task, others to touch the log, and some to make up the ladder and to the staples.

The following day we watched video footage of themselves and their interactions. In reflecting on themselves, they created some class goals for the learning community. These include:

  • Trust each other; be trustworthy
  • Value silence; it welcomes quieter voices and offers time to think deeply about what is said
  • Listen to understand, not just hear
  • Honor each others' needs for success



Creating A BUZZ About Books


Friday, September 7, 2018

Ringing in 5th Grade

When asked for a moment that you knew 5th grade would be a great year, many students claimed this right-of-passage moment on the first day. Indeed, it will be a great year!


The Heart of New Beginnings

And we are off...