Weekly Updates
Preschool / Spark Studio (PS) Update
Back to School!
The PS Eagles were super excited to be physically back in school. They got back into work and play mode very naturally, and they stayed in flow most of the time.
One example was clean-up, which used to be a challenge. This week, the Eagles came back strong and responsible and all clean-up was done in less than 15 minutes whether during rooftop play or Studio play! Awesome teamwork, PS Eagles!
Role Play
Through Role Play, Eagles see how others would do things like resolve conflict and play safely. Subsequently, they will emulate the role play when they find themselves in the same situation in real life, and that’s the power of role play. This week, the PS Eagles looked at Conflict Resolution and Safe Play.
Confliction Resolution
1. Owl was furious that someone had scribbled on his drawings. He announced it aloud, “I AM DISAPPOINTED and UPSET.” He was asked if he wanted to have a talk with the responsible Eagle, who was Bear, and he said yes.
2. Bear and Eagle were invited to sit face to face. Bear admitted that he was the one who had scribbled over Eagle’s drawings.
3. Owl expressed his feeling and Bear apologized.
4. When asked why he did it, Bear said he didn’t know why.
5. Owl expressed what he wished Bear would/wouldn’t do in the future.
6. Bear agreed and promised that he would do as Bear said by repeating it to Bear.
During Morning Circle on Tuesday, a Role Play was held to discuss how to play fight safely. The Eagles learn and retain better through Role Play as they see the situation unfurling in front of their own eyes, and they ‘go through’ the process.
Play!
Play continues to invigorate the PS Eagles. The younger girl Eagles took turns on the trampoline and the boys exercised their creativity and engineering skills with their fort and an obstacle course.
Problem solving also happened along the way as SOPs dictate that only a certain number of Eagles are allowed at any one station. How did the PS Eagles manage it so that everyone got to play? In the early days, there would have been crying, shouting, Ms WeiWen-ing, un-friending, and so on. Recently, the Eagles resolved the issue like adults without any Guide intervention. One or two Eagles voluntarily left the station to play somewhere else. They also came up with suggestions like, ‘Let’s use a timer,” and “We take turns!” Learning and growing together as a Tribe!
Introducing Luka!
Luka is a reading Owl, and he was introduced to the PS Eagles this week. Luka will accompany the Eagles in their independent reading and read Chinese books to them as the Guides step back out of the picture! The PS Eagles love and appreciate Luka a lot!
Socratic Discussions
The PS Eagles were introduced to Socratic Discussion this week. In a Socratic Discussion, a question is posed and the Eagles are challenged to choose sides based on the introduced information. After they have chosen sides, they are challenged to convince their peers to come over to their side with valid arguments. The PS Eagles proceeded to have their very first Socratic Discussion this week! The topic: McDonalds vs KFC – which one do you prefer?
Socratic Discussions allow Eagles to practice weighing options and making informed and decisive decisions. They also encourage them to examine their choices and the motivations behind them. Most of the PS Eagles chose McDonalds, but when the next question of a choice between McDonalds and pizza was posed, most of the Eagles moved over to the pizza side, with one Eagle indecisive in the middle. She was caught between going with the flow, and staying true to herself. She finally took the bold and courageous step of staying true to herself.
When the Eagles were asked why they chose pizza over McDonalds, they were encouraged to examine the why behind their decision:
Eagle A: Because it has pineapples!
Eagle B: Because it’s yummy!
Eagle C: It’s my favourite.
Eagle D: Because everyone else chose pizza too.
Guide: That is interesting! Eagle D, actually, which is your favourite?
Eagle D: McDonalds!
Guide: Would you like to remain at pizza or move back to McDonalds?
Eagle D thought about it and decided to take the courageous move to return to the McDonalds side.
Art & Craft
Shaving cream and food coloring … what beautiful mess came of it? The Eagles started with, “How do I spray this thing?”, but they figured it out for themselves and had so much fun spraying! 1 bottle of shaving cream vanished in 2 minutes!
Special Celebrations
S celebrated her official graduation from the PS Studio to the ES Studio with all her friends in a short and simple ceremony and the atmosphere was still loving, warm and encouraging, even though it was virtual. All the best on your new Hero’s Journey, S!
Weekly Elementary Studio (ES) Update
Writer’s Workshop
The ES Eagles worked on writing a hook and introduction for their Hero’ Biography this week. How do we engage readers right from line one?
Quest
For Quest, the ES Eagles worked on two Team Challenges, explored other Strategy, Analysis, and Measurement Tools, and attempted making decisions using the decision chain tool. Clear thinking and informed decision making are half the battle when it comes to succeeding.
Hero’s Sharing
In the middle of the week, we had Mr. Wilson Chin, a Hero from TikTok Global, join us online to share his journey and his role in the app that many Eagles are familiar with and love using.
The Eagles had lots of questions for Mr. Wilson. Here are some highlights:
Q: How do you check if the videos are appropriate?
A: We have a team, and we can view every video that is uploaded. We make sure that they comply with the policies and rules.
Q: How did the people at TikTok find you?
A: I was headhunted. Previously I was with Facebook.
Q: Are you a dog person or a car person?
A: I’m a dog person.
The ES Eagles also spent some time watching Lip Dub videos from Acton Academies around the world. They will be casting their votes next week!