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Waiting for the potluck

What We Learn at a Potluck Lunch

When I was planning spirit week with the middle schoolers, I divided them up into pairs and told each pair to brainstorm about a theme, constumes and activities for spirit week. Half of the teams proposed potluck for the activity on their day! Before Covid-19, potlucks were a more regular occurrence in our school community.…

Two friends wearing school t-shirts sitting next to each other, one with his arm around the other

Learning to be Responsible Peace-Makers

Peacemaking, for young children, does not start with large societal or nation-level conflicts. It often starts with simple things, like an argument about what the rules of a game should be, being hurt by a chance comment, or deciding who gets to use the pink fairy first. Luckily, serious transgressions like bullying involving young children…

Diagram on a whiteboard illustrating the bob cycle

Big Bob

During a social-emotional learning lesson on revenge recently, I asked students to think about a time when they felt very upset and wanted to get back at someone. I asked them to think about what feelings they had in the situation. I called on one student who said that it felt like “Big Bob.” It…

Children playing soccer on a large field

Trust, Leadership and a Soccer Game

A week ago, at the behest of student government, I walked over to the athletic fields of a nearby high school with a group of 4th -8th graders so they could organize a soccer game on a real field during their recess time. Before going, I was asked if I was going to ref the…

Student hands forming a circle

Reflecting on Equality in an Unequal World

This month, we are reflecting on the values of Equality and Equity as a school. Equality and equity, like integrity, are easier for children to grasp in their absence than their presence. Throughout years of school-wide reflection, I’ve heard many stories of inequality — among siblings, among friends, in the classroom and at home. It…

Students and a teacher hanging from the ceiling and standing on the walls in illusion room

Illusions Through Mirrors and Lenses

This past Friday, the school went on a field trip to the Museum of Illusions. I had the great pleasure of organizing this trip, which goes hand in hand with this school year’s theme, “Mirror & Lenses,” making this museum a great location to visit and learn about seeing things from different perspectives. The Museum…