Mind Full or Mindful?

In this article

Mind full or Mindful?
Sculpting the Gods
Would you rather be kind or right?
Slay the Dragon!
Martial Arts Teamwork!

Our 1st Year, Session 3, Week 3

What do you think is the greatest early indicator of how successful a person will be?The amount of time they put in?Family support, race, life circumstances?IQ?General positive/negative attitude?A specific quality?Some studies at Harvard say that the single greatest indicator for success is Self-Control.Mindfulness, the practice of taking time to pause and bring attention to the present, is proven to be a key factor in an individual’s success, but is the least taught or practiced.As guides we spend our time and energy equipping Eagles with tools, motivating and encouraging and almost ZERO time on academic instruction because they have access to the best teachers in the world available online and through guest instructors.The Eagles have been learning many different practice to remain mindful such as meditation, breathing techniques, and ways to control their emotional state!1. Change your physical state:Smile, stretch, take a short walk, eat, drink, exercise, etc..(They have the freedom to do these things while working at our school)2.Change your focus or belief:-Meditate to clear your mind-Ask “What do I need to believe in order to be able to do this?”-Focus on the good parts, or the reward3. Change your language! Ask yourself the right questions!-What can I learn from this?-What is great about this?AND what ELSE is great about it? What else? (stacking)-OK, what’s not perfect yet?-What am I willing to do to make it the way I want it?-What am I not willing to do to make this work?-How can I enjoy the process?The Eagles are constantly learning processes to handle life’s challenges!

Children and a guide sit in a circle on a rug during a classroom discussion

Children and a guide stretch in a classroom with a TV, shelves, and wood floors

Whiteboard on easel titled “3 Keys to Change Your Emotional State” with a list of questions about changing language

Stick figures face cluttered and calm thought bubbles under Mind Full or Mindful?

Sculpting the Gods

Older Eagles sculpted greek gods this week and are currently working on wax tablets and learning greek letters!A discussion was held and the Eagles were surprised to learn that modern day Greece (despite being the birthplace of western civilization and strong tourist attractions) struggles with debt and unemployment as a country.The Eagles debated whether Greece should remain in the European Union, and the discussed the reoccurring question of “why do certain civilizations rise and fall?”Little Eagles have been making salt dough maps of Greece together and learning about Geography!

A girl holds two salt dough figurines in a classroom during a Greece geography project

Two learners make small salt dough figures at a table with laptops during a geography lesson

Children work at a table with laptops and salt dough map pieces for geography

Children sit in a circle on a classroom rug during a discussion in a blue-walled learning space

Three children sit on the floor around a laptop and salt dough map pieces during geography work

Would you rather be kind or right?

This was the topic of our morning socratic discussion and the Eagles had plenty to say!Kindness is a skill and it takes practice!Eagles role-played and practiced giving feedback with the following guidelines:Be KindBe SpecificBe Helpful

Two learners huddle over a laptop at a white table while another works in the background

Two children lean over a laptop at a white table in the classroom

Two boys stand on grass by a chain-link fence, one with an arm around the other

Slay the Dragon!

Eagle’s have been discussing their “dragon”, which is their most challenging goal or task on their daily list and the one they tend to avoid or put off!They have learned about the power of “slaying the dragon” first!Every day Eagles spend 2-3 hours on reading, writing, and math in what we call “silent core skills” time and Eagles set their own goals.Eagle meet 3x per week to discuss their goals, progress, and to hold each other accountable!

Three heroes and a guide sit on a round rug, working on tablets and paper in a classroom

Two learners work at laptops at a table in a classroom with maps, shelves, and cubbies

Martial Arts Teamwork!

Several Eagle’s earned stripes this week for being “first time listeners” at home!Lot’s of physical challenges that involved partners and teamwork this week!Eagle’s lead portions of the class themselves at times to practice communicating confidently!