Valuing differences through Brain Buddy work
As a primary team, we have organized our intentions for the school year around the idea of the “We that I am.” One of our big questions within this frame is: What does it mean to belong to a community that recognizes and values differences? Recently, first grade math paused from the counting work we […]
Courageous and Collaborative Communities: A report from the workshop
Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness. Brené Brown Last week, we hosted the first of this year’s Opal School Visitation Days workshops. This one brought together 70 educators from diverse contexts – pre-k and elementary, rural and urban, public and private, multilingual and […]
Writing curriculum
A new post at Cadwell Collaborative responds to a familiar request: Will you write the curriculum for a new Reggio-inspired school? The post thoughtfully responds that the request cannot be fulfilled. We make that road through walking. While there are known guideposts to help orient that path and great tools to have in your kit, […]
Who did you collaborate with today?
Working with a partner is sometimes easier because you have lots of ideas, but it’s sometimes harder because you have to agree. Angelina, age 8 Angelina spoke these words recently as she and her classmates at Opal School were getting ready to launch their final writing project of the school year. These third graders were […]
Collaboration Castle
On Friday, April 25, Opal 4 participated in a Gift Ceremony. The gift ceremony is a tradition at Opal School. Every year, the children think about what gift they can give to their community, and then they ceremonially give it. By the time children are in fourth and fifth grade, many of them have been […]