Year 2. Session 4. Weeks 1 & 2.
The Discovery Eagles are back in action after a restful Winter Break!
Entries by ascentanactonacademy
Spark Insight Journal – Page 6 – Spark Play Flow – Part 1
Spark Play at Ascent is a loose parts-play model that consists of unprescribed parts such as wooden blocks, large tubes, barrels, tires, planks, tarps, scarves, milk crates, wooden stumps, sandpit tools, sandbags, and much more. Landscaping components such as the hills, tunnels, the A-frame, the gaga ball pit, sandpit, water tank, and pumps are used […]
Spark Insight Journal – Page 5 – The Beauty of Mixed Age Group
Observing our mix of kind helpers and keen observers on a daily is a heartwarming experience. Witnessing an older child (often a veteran) showing a younger one how to complete an activity, as the younger child is fascinated by watching his older friend accomplish what s/he can’t yet do. Older learners having a sense of […]
Spark Insight Journal – Page 4 – Mindfulness Area
Mindfulness definitely needs no introduction with it being such a buzzword this decade. So many of you were also intrigued by the ‘how and what’ of our Spark Mindfulness Area, so let’s jump straight into what mindfulness looks like for the Spark Learners. Mindfulness for us is to find our calm, reset our bodies, take […]
Year 2. Session 3. Week 1.
Does happiness make you grateful or does gratefulness make you happy?
As the Eagles return from break, the focus this short session shifts to gratitude! After doing some research on the impact of gratitude, the Eagles learned that there are four main impacts of gratitude:
Gratitude opens the door to more relationships.
Gratitude improves physical health.
Grateful people sleep better.
Gratitude improves self-esteem.
Throughout these next three weeks, the Eagles will reflect on various aspects of gratitude bringing positivity, energy and awareness to their lives inside and outside of the studio.
Spark Insight Journal – Page 3 – Circle Time Discussions
Circle time in the studio is a crucial time for our young learners to develop their listening skills, learn new vocabulary, practice language skills, practice following directions, build self-confidence, learn group and grace and courtesy lessons, and learn about being a member of a community, often indirectly through discussions, stories, play, and practice. This is […]
Spark Insight Journal – Page 2 – Spark Play Highlight – Sand Pit Area
With today’s post, we share a peek into our Spark Playtime of the day. Spark Play is an integral part of our learners’ time in their space. They choose from small loose parts play, large parts (think- large planks, blocks, ladders), sandpit area, other in-built structures like the stumps, swinging ropes, tunnels, hills, and the […]
Year 2. Session 2. Week 3.
“What is the most challenging thing you have ever done that you are proud of?”
Session Two continued on with a renewed focus on intentionality as the Eagles discussed various times when they found themselves working in their challenge zones while at school. This theme cropped up throughout the week to bring attention back to intentionality during Core Skills, Quest, Writers’ Workshop and Art.
Spark Insight Journal – Page 1 – Gratitude
Welcome to the Spark Insight Journal! This journal is our attempt to share the beauty and the magic, the highlights and the lowlights, our stories of successes and failures, moments of joy and peace and other big feelings; largely, a peek into our Spark world. What you can expect is a bi-weekly post to bring you into our world in small bites. We hope that these little posts of ours can fill your heart with amazement and joy.
Year 2. Session 2. Weeks 1 & 2.
The Eagles started this Session by welcoming three new heroes to their tribe. New squads were formed to equip each Eagle with a core group of Fellow Travelers to assist them on their journey throughout the session. The new squads began bonding by creating names for their group during Squad Game Time, resulting in: The Falcons, The Koalas, The Red Pandas, The Eagles and The Seahawks!