We have all been part of a sports team, a work group, or perhaps our own familys in a state of cooperation. In these situations, there is a shared goal and each individual plays a role. Together, a seemingly invisible system of rules, organization, and communication exists alongside an air of comradery. The “work” feels lighter, perhaps…fun. And the success -- a goal earned on the soccer field, meeting the project deadline, or making it through a family road trip -- is shared by all.   

John Hattie, an educational researcher, defines cohesive classrooms as environments where every member embraces a sense of belonging. The teacher and the students work together towards positive learning goals, creating a system of organization that supports these learning goals, and the students themselves tutor one another. This is the level of belonging and cooperation we aim for in our classrooms. 

So, how do we get there? Through meaningful shared experiences.

Students need to laugh, play, and engage in challenges that make them a little uncomfortable. This is the learning zone; the place where one stretches their abilities, experiments, and gains new skills. In contrast, the comfort zone is 'comfy' because you are only doing things in which you are already confident in your abilities. The process of being vulnerable yet needed by your peers and teachers taps into an inner strength that weaves the group together. 

I do not know of a better or faster way to transform a group of individual students and teachers into a cohesive team than outdoor education trips. These shared experiences, whether it’s brainstorming a strategy to more effectively paddle on a lake in headwinds, being on the pancake making breakfast crew, feeling around in the dark to find a friend’s headlamp, or singing the same song well beyond its welcome point, these are the experiences that create belonging and ignite cooperation.

When you walk into our classrooms in a few short weeks, please look for evidence of belonging and cooperation. You will see it.

 

Honoring Our Veterans

by Casey White

On Wednesday, November 6th, Aspen Community School celebrated Veterans Day in a room full of thoughtful students, teachers, parents and three fine Veterans. Our crowd put aside feelings associated with the Presidential election to pay our respects to those who have served our country. It was an honor to hear stories of military service marked by sacrifice, comradery, and a belief in the common good. Students presented what they cherish about our country, what serving the common good means to them, and what we can do to perpetuate peace through understanding.

This marked our 12th Veterans Day celebration at Aspen Community School. Traditions are a bit like spade work. Spade work is likened to working the soil when preparing to plant something. We worked the soil today by creating space to listen to one another. Students listened, questioned, and recognized the commonalities between themselves and the brave individuals in front of them. Veterans heard the curiosity, awe, and everyday kindness of children. Despite differences in age and experience, an understanding was planted: We need to care for one another, we need to seek to understand one another, to say thank you- often, and to put one foot in front of the other even when things are not going our way. 

The celebration closed with Caty Dalton and Max Hanks playing a piece composed by Reinhold Glière, a wartime composer, who even under a time of censorship brought beauty to the people through his music. Thank you to everyone that attended and a special thank you to our guests and friends: Brian Porter, Dwayne Romero, Jim Korpela, and Don Stuber. Aspen Community School students are not in session today in honor of Veterans Day. Students have homework- reach out to a veteran and thank them for their service.

 

 

 

 

I am someone who really looks forward to welcoming all the students to school at my post near the front doors. I love seeing how the kids have grown, their new haircuts, fresh outfits, backpacks, and the overall feeling of being “nervouscited” on your first day of school. This year was unique for me. I was not at the front of the school but on an outdoor education river trip with Caty and our seventh grade students. Through the process of paddling just over 36 miles in four days with this group, we weathered epic storms, were covered in sand, and figured out how to work as a team. I missed my front door post yet am so grateful to start the year with this perspective. I witnessed protective social middle school shields melt away as our students paddled through rapids, commiserated about how wet their sleeping bags were each morning and ultimately shared the pride of self organizing a fireline on the final day. 

This past week was my first week of school in our building. Every classroom is alive with learning new routines, content, and ways to work with one another. While setting expectations at All School Meeting, one seventh grade student volunteered these words: “To listen with your heart is to listen to an opinion you may not agree with and still be kind.” 

Aspen Community School is experiencing yet another fantastic start to the school year. We look forward to continued inspiration as we learning alongside your children. *Please log into the parent portal for important Back to School night and Family BBQ dates. 

“We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.” John Dewey

Adults are living increasingly hurried lives, speeding from one obligation to the next. The events seem to be unrelated happenings- certainly not opportunities for learning. We need to keep moving. We don’t have time to pause. Right? 

Thankfully, life at school is different.

We have made pausing to reflect an academic and social habit. 

We pause and think back on our experiences, relationships, and academic learning in order to construct meaning. Reflection is the practice of giving careful thought and consideration. Fun Statistic: Seventy-two percent of adults claim their best ideas happen in the shower! While we have not installed showers in every classroom, we have created space, protected time, and honed our skills to support students in the practice of reflecting.

Reflection is a developmental process. Our youngest students reflect by noting their observations. They begin to analyze and make connections between experiences. Older students can evaluate or make evidence-supported judgements about their learning. They make recommendations to themselves on how to move their own learning forward. (Also called goal setting.) In the end, students learn how to apply what they know to contexts beyond the original situation. Reflection is a core practice of the ACS experience. It is what smart people do.

Reflection in Action

Student-Led Conferences: What an incredible opportunity for students to share their reflections on what is truly meaningful to them, their personal growth, and the areas they seek to improve. When students move into the driver's seat of their own learning, informing their parents and teachers of their learning goals, a powerful three way partnership is formed. That sounds pretty smart!

All School Meetings: (Every Wednesday from 8:20-9:00 a.m. All are welcome.) The best venue in town to view student learning! Eighth grade students take their turn sharing reflections on the entirety of their experience at Aspen Community School.

8th Grade Panel Presentation and Graduation: (June 5th) Attendance is open to all, required for rising 8th graders and their families. This is a beautiful gathering celebrating accomplishments, sharing gratitude, and looking towards the future.

The concept of the Hard Easy is simple, infectious, and powerful. The Hard Easy is doing the crucial tasks throughout your day that will make your life exponentially easier. Things like tightening down your ski boots before taking a difficult run, critter-proofing your campsite even though you are tired, or carrying a little extra weight so that you will be prepared for weather changes are examples of the Hard Easy.

This school year, teachers chose a Hard Easy commitment that would lift the level of student learning. These commitments range from keeping a clean classroom, improving lesson closure by using exit tickets, recording student data everyday, to proactive parent communication to name a few. At back to school night, parents committed to their Hard Easy; packing lunches the night before or blocking out time to read or play math games made the list. 

While the concept is simple, the impact is grand. A person who understands the Hard Easy is the type of person you want on your team: personally dialed, not creating disasters, and available to others. As a bonus, this person carries the quiet self respect that comes when you live with daily integrity. 

As we move into the new year, consider recommitting to your Hard Easy. When teachers and parents share a commitment to lift the level of learning by doing the critical tasks that make life exponentially easier, we become the people students want and need on their team.