Parent Expectations
Setting the Stage for Success
Parents should expect to see some masterpieces, some failures and everything in between. Creating your own project based on a new topic with materials you've never used before within a limited time frame can sometimes be a challenge! We always focus on the process of thinking through these design challenges - not the end product. We measure success by level of interest, ability to communicate ideas, overcoming challenges and displaying perseverance.
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The main thing for parents to know is that we are
focused on the process of design and creativity -
not making beautiful objects. We don’t need to
preference “process over product” as we firmly
believe they should coexist. However, sometimes
your student will come home with an amazing
work; other times – well, maybe not.
This is part of the underlying design thinking curriculum to teach resilience and prototyping and letting our kids experience design - sometimes it's successful, other times it's not. We set our student's expectation on moving through the process, not striving for perfection or closure by the end of class. Our teachers act as guides and cheerleaders to help everyone over any tough spots they may encounter.
What's the big deal?
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We want to be clear on expectations because we've noticed that when parents expect masterpieces each week, many kids shut down. Some kids cry, become disruptive, interrupt other's work or they opt out of challenging themselves so that they can "be done" by the end of class. We’ve seen kiddos become very stressed; worried that they will disappoint. Ironically - this stress sometimes even creates a "brain block" that literally results in the very thing the learner feared in the first place - a less-than-awesome creation that not only was "not fun" - but planted the seed that will more than likely set them up for increased worry next week.
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We'd rather see kids work diligently on a really hard connection or spatial challenge and come home with something half-baked than rush for an easy answer because they're worried about what their family will say. Invention and innovation takes time. We’re proud to provide a time, place and purpose for design thinking to happen.
What does that look like?
See Us in Action
