Over the last couple of weeks of Acton from Home, Acton Elementary has had a tradition of scavenger hunts following discussions throughout the day or after close. These scavenger hunts initially began with guides asking all learners to find objects meeting certain criteria, for example, “blue and round.” However, learners quickly took the reins of the scavenger hunts, making more and more complex criteria for items, such as “multi-colored and oval-shaped” or “purple and from nature.”

Over time, we began to see that learners were taking this scavenger hunt framework and turning it into an opportunity to share pieces of their lives with the group. When one learner asked everyone to find a metal disk, another learner quickly pulled out a coin from Romania, wanting to tell the group about the currency and her connection to that country. Another learner challenged the group to find and share a favorite t-shirt, resulting in each learner (and guide!) explaining the favorite shirt’s significance.

Then the challenges became even more specific and geared toward sharing objects of significance or connected to passions. One learner challenged the group to find something three feet long and carved out of wood, and since no other learner had an item that fit the description, that learner took the group on a virtual tour of his workshop, culminating in a view of his brand new longboard that he carved and put together himself. Another used the scavenger hunt opportunity to take the group through his home and outside to share the stash of walking sticks that he plans to turn into a booth for the business fair. 

Self-care is a phrase we often hear, especially now as individuals and families navigate a new set of routines and expectations. Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Effective and consistent self-care is key to a positive mood and mindset in both individuals as well as groups of people such as families. It can also improve relationships with oneself and with others.

In the Montessori studio at Acton Academy, the learners practice self-care in a variety of ways. Many of the practical life activities that take place in the studio fall into the category of “care of self” and are generally aimed at meeting the physical needs of the children. Examples include handwashing, food prep (such as tea making and apple slicing), independent dressing (putting articles of clothing such as shoes, gloves, and coats on and taking them off), and physical movement activities, such as yoga, that address the child’s physical as well as mental and emotional health. 

The learners also practice mental and emotional self-care in the studio. This occurs through singing, dancing, arts and crafts projects, reading, and breathing exercises (such as “the candle and the flower” demonstrated here). The learners also have opportunities for self-reflection. The studio’s library is the perfect location for this as it is designed to welcome one child at a time. 

Here are some self-care activities that your child can do at home:

This week the studio reconvened after a relaxing and rejuvenating break, jumping back in with a tough question: what is the difference between effort and motivation? Learners agreed there was a difference, but that effort and motivation often feed into one another. One learner posited that effort involves more of a constant push toward a goal, while motivation centers around passion and excitement for an activity. Another learner added to this idea with an example from sports, saying that effort is important during practice and matches, but that the motivation changes and ramps up when you are facing an opponent and the stakes are higher.

Learners then turned to the question of whether effort or motivation is more important in life. Though most agreed a combination of effort and motivation is necessary to achieve goals, when asked to take a stand and pick the more important of the two, learners were split. Some argued that motivation is more important because it can make you want to put in more effort, while others responded that it’s more important to focus on effort because motivation is sometimes difficult to find for certain activities.

Throughout Quest and Writer’s Workshop this week, learners faced challenges that required consistent effort while also leaving room to find deeper motivation. For instance, on Tuesday learners were tasked with adding to their world cartography factbook as they ventured to Europe. While learners were tasked with researching coordinates, major cities, languages, and political leaders, the country within Europe that they conducted this research about was entirely up to them. Further, if they chose, learners were challenged to dive deeper and research border disputes between their chosen nation and its neighbors. One learner found an article about border disputes having to do with native reindeer populations.

While verbal communication and the use of kind and respectful spoken messages are modeled and encouraged in the Montessori studio at Acton Academy, the learners and guides also convey messages to one another nonverbally through various modes of silent communication. These methods can be useful and beneficial in a variety of situations at home as well as in the school setting. For instance, these tools can be used when working with a pre-verbal or nonverbal child, communicating with a child who speaks another language, encouraging children to preserve the silence and peace around them, and promoting ways to get an adult’s or another child’s attention without interrupting.

Reading to and with your children starting from infancy can have a profound effect on their development. Studies strongly suggest that early reading with children is directly linked to language and vocabulary acquisition, social-emotional development, preparation for academic success, improved focus and concentration, increased creativity and imagination, and the child’s bond with their caretakers.

On Wednesday, in the midst of our fourth week of Acton from Home, our studio launched the day with a discussion on motivation. The guide started off by putting the learners in the shoes of a track runner finishing off the last leg of a 400-meter dash:

This week, the elementary studio entered uncharted territory: beginning a whole new session remotely. And although there’s no replacement for being in the studio together to embark on a new adventure, guides and learners worked together to use technology to get creative.

Keeping Them Moving

Movement is an important aspect of young children’s life and should be a part of their daily living. Gross motor movements involve the use and control of the large muscles in the body. Practicing these skills help children gain strength and confidence in their bodies. Exercise and physical activity are also an important part of any healthy lifestyle. Developing these skills at a young age prepares children for more complex activities in the future, such as playing an organized sport as a part of a team.

Follow the Learners

Entering week two of Acton from Home, learners were faced with a big question: how can we hold an exhibition while at home? Without a studio, we have no space to decorate and welcome parents to. Without being physically together, how can we celebrate another successful session as a group? And without having physical pieces of work, how can we exhibit what we’ve done?

So, the guides posed the question directly to the learners. What would be the best way to hold our Session 5 exhibition?

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