In mindfulness, students have been exploring their big goals and the mindset it takes to achieve them. They began by learning about growth mindset—the idea that our skills improve with practice and that mistakes help us learn. Through challenges like carrying an egg on a spoon across the room or building a house of cards, students practiced persistence and positive self-talk (for example, saying, “Mistakes are how I learn and grow!”). More recently, they’ve explored the importance of patience and self-discipline as they work toward their goals. Through storytelling, art, games, and discussion, students are reflecting on what they can do now to begin achieving their dreams for the future.
In computer science, students in K–2 began the year learning what makes a computer a computer and imagining apps they might create in the future. They practiced writing algorithms (instructions for a computer to follow) and explored the concepts of sequencing—putting steps in the correct order—and loops—repeating instructions efficiently. They first learned these foundational concepts through hands-on activities like coding a “human robot” (Ms. Christina!), creating secret handshakes, and following dance patterns that used loops to repeat steps. Then, they applied their learning on the computer by writing code to help characters navigate obstacles and solve problems.