Grit

Yesterday, the Nesters and I watched a TEDtalk video by Angela Lee Duckworth on the topic of developing "grit" in kids. Ms. Duckworth proposes that "grit" is the best indicator of success in school and in life.  This lead to a great discussion with lots of thoughtful comments about the rewards of hard work and challenge. The Nesters and I agree... we want to be gritty!   

 http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit.html

On the Cusp of a New Year in the Nest

Get ready, get set, go! We are about to kick off another year in the Nest. It is hard to believe that this is the seventh year in the Nest. The first year of sixth grade Nesters are now...seniors! Over the years we have seen and done a lot. The Nesters projects have ranged far and wide. And I am sure this years' Nesters will prove to be just as creative and curious as the past students. I can't wait to see what ideas are incubated this year in the Nest. 

Wrapping Up

This spring has been a blur. A lot has been going on here in the Nest in the last few months. Our Open House showcased many of the terrific Falcon's Nest projects that were completed this year.  It is always great to see the wide array of work the kids produce during their time in the Nest.  HES has begun composting thanks to a FN student project.  We look forward to minimizing our cafeteria waste and creating some terrific soil for our gardens!  Another project that is reaching the school in a big way comes from a few budding scientists.  They will be sharing some fun science experiments with many of the classes during the next few weeks.  These experiments are hands-on, fun and messy!  The kids will love them! As the Nesters wrap up their projects I am faced with the part I like the least, saying goodbye to the sixth graders.  But as always, I feel privileged to have worked with them and confident that they will grow up to make the world a better place. 

Visitors Inspiring the Nesters

It finally feels like spring! The clocks have jumped ahead and so have our Nesters. They are furiously putting finishing touches on their projects. Over the last few months we have been fortunate to have some guests come in and talk with the Nesters about their careers. We enjoyed hearing about civil engineering from Ms. Simmons and nutrition from Ms. LaRock. Both speakers emphasized the importance of learning, in particular math and science skills. We also worked on a fundraiser for AMPED for Education www.ampedforeducation.org, a nonprofit organization that built a school for children in Nicaragua. AMPED was founded by Smith Academy teacher Jeff Pluta.  Mr. Pluta has brought groups of students with him to Nicaragua during school vacations to help work on the school.  He and some of the SA kids who went to Nicaragua came to share their amazing stories with us.  The Nesters were so inspired by the work of AMPED they wanted to help.  The Nesters organized a schoolwide penny drive that raised over $600 for AMPED!  Mr. Pluta is coming back to show the Nesters exactly how the money they raised will impact the lives of people in Nicaragua.  It is a great opportunity for the kids to see how they can make a difference in the lives of others.

Treasure Hunt

Wednesdays are often filled with group activities and games aimed at building community, practicing research and presentation skills, and encouraging creative thinking.  One day we did an internet research treasure hunt. The Nesters were asked to find the answers to questions like:

"How long it would take to drive from Hatfield to Chicago?"
"Who it the current governor of New Mexico?"
"Where is the statue of Paul Bunyon?"

Some of the things the Nesters discovered are that you need to check the dates on websites to make sure the information is accurate, that you can take a variety of routes to get to Chicago, and that there may be multiple answers/images to a single question. The kids got practice using new search engines, image finders, and mapping tools. This activity is a reminder to the kids that the internet is only a tool and that you must extrapolate the appropriate information, use your own knowledge base, skill sets and common sense in order to really understand and learn.

The kids are always eager to get the "right" answer but when they grasp the idea of multiple "right" answers and celebrate the complexity of learning it is truly inspiring to me. These Nesters inspire me every day.

Project Topics

We have a group of Nesters with a wide variety of interests!  Here are just some of the research topics the kids are working on.
Cacti, Paris, the Serengeti, Origami and Japanese art forms, The Pluto Debate; planet or not?, Mold, Paris, Ghost Towns of the US, Computer programming, Bats, Senegal, Wonders of the Ancient World, Gymnastics, Nepal, Leonardo daVinci, Composting, the Moon, Black holes and outer space! Whew, these are busy Nesters. 

Great Beginning

The Nest is off to a terrific start!  We have been doing some fun group activities to get to  know each other and I am so impressed with the engaged, enthusiastic and supportive team we are developing.  Now the kids are being asked to come up with an idea for an independent project.  Some Nesters know right away what they want to work on, while others need some time and support in finding a topic.  Ask your child what they are thinking about working on for Falcon's Nest.  If they are struggling to narrow down a topic, I suggest talking to them about things they do for fun outside of school.  How kids spend their free time often gives clues to their passions and interests that can be explored in Falcon's Nest. Reassure them that they have time to settle on a topic and to find something that is a good fit for them.  I will keep you updated on some of the terrific project ideas the Nesters are investigating as the year progresses.