Heartfelt Answer

There is a practice of one way students answer a question at ESA that I'd like to share, a practice that works with intelligence, compassion and confidence simultaneously.  It goes like this:

A teacher asks the class a question, and tells  the students to place a "thumbs up" next to their hearts when they know the answer.   The students are given a period of time to work on the problem silently, and when the teacher sees a certain number of students holding the answer- and sometimes this number is everyone- the teacher then calls on one of them.

This method of responding accomplishes a number of things different from the more traditional "raise your hand and I'll call on the first one" approach.  First of all, placing a thumb up over your heart area feels different than shooting your hand up.... try it!  Also, waiting to respond allows for the answer to sink more deeply into your experience.  And by giving others the chance to come up with the answer is an expression of the  group journey and not just about getting it right yourself.  Sometimes the teacher will write another more difficult problem on the board for the first responders to chew on while waiting for the others, but sometimes just being in the space while others are working it out is a practice of patience, generosity, and self-reflection.

I was having dinner with a friend the other night and he re-counted how in a social gathering he has to work hard on listening to others in a group and letting them reach their own conclusions instead of trying to "seal the deal" for them.  We can give our children a wonderful gift by having them learn the joy, beauty, and power of waiting, waiting in the spirit of allowing others to find their own truths.

My blog is going to take its own holiday break and will be back on December 1st.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  

Steven

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Fourth Grade Poetry Recital

This morning I had the opportunity to attend part of the Fourth Grade Poetry Recital.  I was very taken by the composure, clarity, and fun these students displayed in reciting their poetry.  I was also touched- as I'm sure were the students- by the number of parents and relatives who came out for this event.  Ms. Dodd told me afterwards that the students are very excited about going further with their poetry writing and performances, so stay tune for more in December!

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Overheard at Pick-up Time

 Norah's newsletters always include a section where she relates what she overhears her students say throughout the week.  So I thought I would share a few things I heard this afternoon at pick-up time:

From one fourth grader to another: "You should really read the cliffhanger at the end of the chapter, it's, it's.....no I won't tell you!"

From a first grader to me: "Ms. Murray told me I could help the kindergartners at pick-up time.  Can I?   They really need my help!"

From one third grader to another: "Wouldn't it be cool if you could pick your nose with your ear?"

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Meeting with a Student

Yesterday a fourth grader came into my office requesting "a time to meet with me."  So we sat down today and she took out her list!   I offered her some tea which she gladly accepted.

She had a lot of ideas for how to work with "boy energy" which included opening the basketball court a couple of days per week and starting a competitive soccer team, which led to a discussion of a school team mascot and school colors.  This student also had ideas surrounding "some ideas for girls",  which had mostly to do with dance and theatre.  I took careful notes and told her I would consider these good ideas and she could help me by considering a school mascot and school colors.  We agreed to meet again.  

I thanked her for coming in and informed her that while lots of students visit me in my office,  she was the first student who had actually the forethought to make an appointment.   I encouraged her to let her friends  know of this opportunity to meet with me.

I loved that this student took the initiative to affect change in her surroundings.  Certainly feeling empowered in your world is an essential part of our school.  And the other half of this is being empowered in our ability to work with whatever arises in our experience, and this is  where contemplative practice comes in.  It is summed up beautifully in a slogan that returns to me time and time again:

"Engage in virtuous activity as much as you can, and rest naturally in whatever arises."

Steven

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B r e a t h e

By now everyone should have received the first issue of the all-school newsletter, the B r e a t h e.  We would certainly welcome any feedback you have regarding its content, as we are trying to communicate aspects of the school that are of interest to the entire ESA community.  If you have something you would like to offer to our next edition, please let Karina or myself know.  The deadline for submission is December 8 as the next B r e a t h e is due out on December 12.

Have a good weekend,

Steven

Steven Sachs

Head of School

Eastern Sun Academy

6717 South Boulder Rd.

Boulder, CO   80303

303.443.3302

steven@easternsunacademy.org

www.EasternSunAcademy.org 

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Tomorrow's Party

I hope you'll be able to join us for tomorrow night's celebration, honoring these first years of Eastern Sun Academy and all that's been accomplished so far.   It will be nice to be together in our new home for such a festivity.

Steven

Steven Sachs

Head of School

Eastern Sun Academy

6717 South Boulder Rd.

Boulder, CO   80303

303.443.3302

steven@easternsunacademy.org

www.EasternSunAcademy.org 

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Go; Math and Science Club

I have been privileged to participate in the first two sessions of our new Math and Science Club, which is being wonderfully and very generously coordinated by Shawna Reininger.  The first two times were spent with Paul Barchilon of the Boulder Go Club (http://bcn.boulder.co.us/recreation/go/bgcresources.shtml ), who taught us the ancient game of Go.  The level of engagement was quite high on both afternoons, and I myself quickly took a liking to it.  It's a beautiful game, full of twists and turns, simple to learn, difficult to master, and we were grateful that Walker was around to help Paul help the rest of us!

We will be moving onto other math and science activities, but I hope we can keep going with Go.  It feels like a great game for our school!  If any student would like to play, I'll have a board in my office and we can schedule a time.  The Math and Science Club is for third and fourth graders, but I know there are some first and second graders (and maybe even kindergartners!) who know how to play Go, or who are interested in learning.  If that's your son or daughter, let's set up a time to play!

There's also a wonderful interactive web-site that takes you step-by-step through the game:

http://www.playgo.to/interactive/index.html

I know Shawna could use a hand with the Math and Science Club.  If you have any ideas, people resources, or can help out one Thursday, please see her or send her an e-mail (shawnareininger@indra.com).  If each of us helps as much as we can, the total help will be "exponential"!

Thanks,

Steven

Steven Sachs

Head of School

Eastern Sun Academy

6717 South Boulder Rd.

Boulder, CO   80303

303.443.3302

steven@easternsunacademy.org

www.EasternSunAcademy.org 

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Welcome!

Dear Friends,

Welcome to my blog!  The intention of this forum is to have an ongoing opportunity for me to share what's coming across my desk, inspirations, ideas, questions, or challenges of Eastern Sun Academy, and to dialogue with all interested parties about such things.  I aim to post to this blog each school day, even if it's only a passing sentence or two. 

Feel free to subscribe to this blog using the links indicated here, which will forward my entries  directly to your e-mail inbox each day.

Today Marti is sick and so I will be filling in for her in the first-second grade class.  I enjoy this opportunity to connect with the class and particularly to explore and deepen the link between the classes and contemplative practice (More about contemplative practice in the days ahead!).   

However...  something has to give today and it will be the first issue of the B r e a t h e, our all-school newsletter.  This will now go out on Wednesday (remember, no school tomorrow on account of Veteran's Day).

One important item in the B r e a t h e will be a parent volunteer survey, which was inspired by our last parent community night.  Julia Hellerman, our volunteer coordinator, has put this together and will start matching people of particular interests and/ or skills with the richness of opportunities that exist for parents to connect here.  Please take a moment to fill it out and return it to Karina's box in the front office by Friday.  Thanks!

Steven

Steven Sachs

Head of School

Eastern Sun Academy

6717 South Boulder Rd.

Boulder, CO   80303

303.443.3302

steven@easternsunacademy.org

www.EasternSunAcademy.org 

Read more...