Welcome

Last year's trip to Costa Rica showed us that education can, and should, be a life-altering experience. This year, a largely new group of students, have decided to learn about and travel to Puerto Rico. With this new topic and destination in mind, we have developed a year-long interdisciplinary class that is based on the same three core principles:

1) Travel to expand students' horizons
2) An explicit connection between the classroom and real world
3) The use of sweat equity for students to see that their efforts can make a difference

During the early fall, the curriculum was largely focused on developing the 21st Century Skills of problem solving, critical thinking, decision-making, and collaboration. This was initially done using group challenges in the classroom, but then became vitally important once we started raking lawns. In addition to being our major fundraiser, this hard work put students in positions that required group problem solving, as well as perseverance and responsibility – traits that we all know are central to changing the trajectory of their lives.

During the winter and spring, each student will be developing an independent research project on a chosen aspect of Puerto Rico. We hope that you will keep checking back as we share our learning, growth and adventures.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Robert reflection

I am a freshmen. When I first started at this school, I never asked for help. I didn’t want people to think I couldn't do the work so this is why I didn’t ask for help. I was trying to find a way to fit in. When I didn't ask for help I would feel mad and I would start to become fidgety. This annoyed people and made it hard for me too. The raking was hard, real tough, but it was good because it gave me a chance to do good. I like being outside. I don’t get how raking and team building go together, but Bryan said if we all worked together while raking it would not be as hard. He wasn’t lying when he said this. I was part of the raking team because I participated, a lot. It was easier for me because I helped and people were not annoyed. I got a real good grade this quarter. Better than last time.


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1 comment:

  1. Ellen GJanuary 10, 2012 at 1:29 PM

    Robert,

    For a freshman you have done pretty well in this class. I hope you are proud of yourself.

    ReplyDelete

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