Build Weeks at Long-View are a chance to expand our academic studies or try out new skills; they typically focus on one, rich challenge, involve experts from the larger community, and call for higher levels of reasoning and discourse. Our first Build Week of the year just concluded and was again a huge success! Ultimately, the children followed in the path of countries around the world by writing a constitution, and they did much of their research utilizing a cool platform called Constitute Project, which offers a way to read and compare all the world’s currently in-force constitutions.

Build Week 20 positioned our whole community in a deep simulation immersed in the society of a utopian island called Jadelkembaca, also known as the Isle of Jade. A history of the island and a review of the map of the island launched us into our first day, as well as each child being assigned a character with a complex identity and allegiance to a particular “sector” on the island and geographical location.

Soon a series of conflicts complexified the situation—the teachers read aloud a series of twelve conflicts, which sparked discussions and ultimately produced chaos. Conflict situations related to regulation of commerce, to acquisition of land, to public vs private resources and more. It became crystal clear, as Maddie said, that we needed a “stable government” and laws to live in peace and rectify today’s (as well as future) conflicts.

History Club Provides Opportunity for Authentic Investment

“What’s the difference between ideology and belief?” Eva asks. It’s 8:30 on a Wednesday morning, and thirty learners have arrived at Long-View an hour before the start of their first block to engage in civic discourse about civics. Welcome to History Club. Invigorated by the return to in-person meetings this fall, the cohort of historically minded fourth through eighth graders has grown and elected to tackle some pretty complex subject matter: the evolution of political thought and government structures. During this meeting, the second of the year, learners examine an extensive list of governmental forms and consider the sources, ideologies, and organizing principles of political power….

Igniting Ideas at Campfire

At Long-View, our days begin not with the ringing of a school bell, but with the resonant hum of a singing bowl. Teachers, learners, and visitors gather around an (unignited) campfire log, and as the sound of the singing bowl fades slowly to silence, we settle ourselves in for a rich day of learning.

This ritual, which we call “Campfire,” is not just circle time or show-and-tell, but an intellectually rigorous start to every day. We begin by greeting each member of the community with the Zulu word Sawubona, which means “I see you.” Each person responds, “Sikhona,” meaning “I am here.” But don’t be mistaken--this is not just a silly way of taking attendance. When our learners say they are here, they mean it in every sense of the phrase. Not only are they physically and intellectually present, but they are here for each other as a community of thinkers and problem-solvers….

Blog