September 13-17

Harry Potter, James and the Giant Peach, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Alice in Wonderland.  These titles have all provided inspiration for our fantasy stories.  Eagles are currently in the process of engaging their readers through exciting hooks and descriptive details.  We have Eagles writing stories about sophisticated foxes with magical top hats, chip-shooting machine guns, and missing people at sea.  So excited to hear their published pieces! 

  

This week, Eagles began setting goals to guide their work in Core Skills.  We are practing making sure our goals are SMART- specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and tough.  Eagles have learned a lot about themselves and the programs they are using by creating their own goals.  We've heard "yesterday's goal was too easy because I chose not to work hard" and "I surprised myself by exceeding my goal by 7 units, now I know I can make tougher goals!" 

 

At tables, Eagles are paired up with a Squad- a group of 3 Eagles who help each other make challenging, achievable goals and reflect on their completion.  At Acton, we are continually working to remove the Guide and move the tough job of mentoring, pushing, and holding one another accountable to the Eagles. 

 

One thing that makes Acton different is no adult cleans our studio, instead the learners are tasked with keeping their work and play areas in prestine condition.  The first week of school they created a list of all the tasks to be completed each day.  Eagles work together with their Squads to assure their daily area is up to the Acton standard of Excellence. 

Friday was our first Town Hall of the year.  This is a time for Eagles to bring ideas, problems, solutions, and celebrations to their peers.  This week, Eagles chose to implement a 'studio supply request form' to relay needed supplies to the owners.  We also have a new weekly tradition of Show and Tell on Wednesday afternoons! The Eagles are already planning what they're bringing!