Cooperatives @ UpperArmory start a 12Power program for Delacorte Campus

Through his Developmental Guardian Network, Rudy Bancroft had his stage one Listening Dinner. In advance,  he had developed his idea for middle school graduation requirement, the  Contribution of Great Merit!  His adult network called out all interested Upper Armory Cooperatives, network adults, and upper class representatives.

Rudy's sister is a member of the TwelvePowerGirls.  She wants her younger cousins -at Delacorte- to begin learning about the twelve powers sooner than she began.  She and Rudy (a Childhood Education Intern at Delacorte) began to explore how to begin the learning process sooner.

Rudy and Kaleena spent hours over the weekend scouring the 2Sisters LiteracyNow website -to get a clear sense of the speaking, reading, and writing levels for materials and pedagogy required to really reach a range of learners in the intermediate grades at Delacorte.

Time now for All Campus Feedback on our ideas so far:

• Design the Medicine Wheel in a circular "table top" graphic-type board game.  The size might even be like a large tablecloth.  The game will unfold like "seasons,"starting with Spring. This way, players can go at their own pace.  Spring may be the only season played in the first session; others may go onto Summer, Fall, Winter in the first session.
• SPRING:  We want the graphic's words and icons to be large enough that kids can sit around the table, and "play" with a spinner while reciting the following words (rhyme)...
• "Round the circle, I will go.  Where I stop goodness knows.  Love and insight follow me ... To the Power that I need."
• The spinner will land on one of the twelve powers.  That is the power the child will investigate, experience, and become familiar with during the week.  A large number of kids can play at once AND THEN BE PAIRED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER DURING THE NEXT ACTIVITY.
• Once all players have written down their practice power, they join a group of other players practicing the same power.  A large poster hovers above the group with the power listed and defined, along with a visual interpretation of the power (art poster contest among Middle and High Road art students can enter applications/drafts now on Rudy's website).  
• PAIRS HELP EACH OTHER USE THE MAKE SENSE STRATEGY.  THEY EACH MAKE SENSE OF THE POWER THEY SELECTED VIA THE SPINNER.  Each child's MAKE SENSE will go home to remind and reinforce their daily deepening of the power.
• SUMMER:  Kids review the guidelines for DIALOGUE, followed by each pair receiving the focus questions that help everyone to make personal connections to ways to how the power already shows up in their lives, through them and others at home, school, neighborhood, and in the world. 
• FALL: A dream journal will be started to record each players key learnings and goals. Each player will write three questions about the power and engage a virtual dreaming session for five to ten minutes (Guided Meditation).   Shared discussion will be lead in small groups, then larger groups noting how the questions helped each to pay attention to the power as it revealed itself in virtua dreaming.  This activity will be the model for actual dream journalling over the next few weeks. 
• WINTER:  Ideas and strategies that meet stylistic references and Multiple Intelligences will be identified and further discussed.  Project from these can be created and network communication systems using all levels of helpful technlogy will support the practice and deepening of the power selected. 
• When an individual has cycled through the four seasons with one power, some record of achievement will be secured and stored for goal setting in the future. 
• Next month the game begins again with a new power.
• All dialogues will be recorded, of course, so we can review, revisit, and recylce our thoughts and feelings into the future. Also plenty of support staff will circulate to help each pair in their efforts to understand, clarify, actively listen to each other, and summarize each key point made by either.