Finding Focus and Voice in a Self-Governing Studio (Nov 3–7)
Highlights
Learners once again chose to facilitate the weekly Town Hall meeting, guiding the discussions and managing studio decisions themselves, with minimal guidance from the guides.
Since starting the Studio Showdown game, heroes have stepped up to provide almost all reminders about sticking to studio promises and guardrails. The need for guide intervention has dropped dramatically—a clear sign of growing self-management and accountability.
Learners demonstrated incredible focus and perseverance during the IOWA Challenges, using the self-regulation tools they’ve been developing to take breaks, reset, and return to focused work.
During a Civilization Socratic discussion, nearly every participant changed their position by the end of the debate—showing growing comfort with listening deeply, thinking critically, and changing their mind when presented with strong evidence.
Heroes went on a field trip to a local shop featuring Canadian-made goods, observing how businesses highlight identity, craftsmanship, and storytelling through their branding.
The latest in educational technology for self-paced mastery in reading, writing, and math
Learners completed the IOWA Challenges online, giving them a baseline snapshot of their current reading, writing, and math skills.
As part of their E-ship Quest, they also:
Used Google Forms and email to exchange customer feedback surveys.
Were introduced to Canva as a design tool for creating their business logos—merging creativity with technology.
Hands-on, project-based Quests to master the tools and skills needed to solve problems in the real world
Most heroes have now arrived at Identity Island, the next phase of the E-Ship Quest, where they’re developing their business identities—logos, booth designs, and product presentation for the upcoming Almonte Children’s Business Fair.
To gather inspiration, they went on their second Meet a Hero field trip, this time to the Cheerfully Made Market, where they studied the branding, packaging, and presentation styles of Canadian makers. Afterwards, they gathered at the Mississippi Mills Public Library for a special Entrepreneurs Meet-Up—a chance to exchange ideas and build community with other young entrepreneurs who will soon share the market floor.
Written promises and covenants that form a tightly bound community of individuals learning to form authentic friendships and honestly resolve interpersonal problems
The learner-led Town Hall this week resulted in new promises being added to the studio covenant—another step in building a self-governing community.
Meanwhile, the Studio Showdown game continued but very few points are on the scoreboard for either side. Learners themselves are stepping in to uphold the standards and culture they’ve created together.
Deep Socratic discussions about heroes, history, and self-governance to hone critical thinking skills and the ability to powerfully think, write, and speak
In Civilization, the heroes learned about an ancient Sumerian servant who convinced the army to overthrow the king and crown him instead. This sparked a lively discussion: If you were a politician, would you rely on stories, logic, or credibility to win people over?
Every learner began choosing credibility—but by the end, all but one had changed their stance to logic. The debates are becoming more animated, thoughtful, and respectful as heroes grow more confident in their voices.
In preparation for the second half of the IOWA Challenges, learners anticipated potential difficulties in maintaining focus. They planned (and some were witnessed using) practical strategies: taking short breaks, breathing exercises, or having a small snack to reset.
At Town Hall, one learner raised the issue of people speaking over others during group discussions. After a round of ideas, the group decided to experiment with using a talking stick or ball in the coming days, planning to test both and vote on which system worked best.
Memorable quotes from learners this week
“I request that I lead Town Hall.”
“You’re not really taking a stand.” (during a Socratic discussion)
“I feel like we need some improvements.”
