by Mistral Dodson | Nov 22, 2024 | Leadership, Social Emotional Learning
As we prepare students for a dynamic and complex future, our commitment to cultivating essential life skills remains unwavering. Conflict resolution is one of the most pressing skills needed in the modern workplace, which, according to experts, is set to become more crucial than ever for leaders and teams alike.
The Growing Need for Conflict Resolution Skills An article from the Harvard Business Review titled 9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2024 and Beyond highlights that conflict resolution will be a must-have skill for managers. Due to various ongoing crises — including geopolitical tensions, labor strikes, climate change, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) challenges, and significant election cycles — workplace conflicts are at an all-time high.
When conflicts arise, they not only hinder individual performance but can also disrupt team dynamics, making it essential for workplaces to foster safe and collaborative environments. Conflict resolution is not inherently intuitive, and organizations that have avoided discussing contentious topics in the workplace may find themselves at a disadvantage.
On the other hand…
Empowering Future Leaders Our project-based learning model equips students with the skills they need to succeed, including effective communication and interpersonal problem-solving. By fostering open discussions, team projects, and leadership exercises, we ensure that students learn how to manage conflicts constructively. These experiences lay the foundation for them to become empathetic leaders capable of guiding teams through challenging situations with poise and insight.
A Proactive Approach Much like leading organizations that are investing in conflict-resolution training for their employees, we prioritize giving our students real-world experiences that teach them to recognize differing perspectives, engage in active listening, and build consensus. Through hands-on mentorships and collaborative learning, The Phoenix School readies students to navigate complex social dynamics—skills they will carry forward into their careers and communities.
As we look ahead to 2024 and beyond, the ability to address and manage conflict won’t just be an advantage; it will be essential. The Phoenix School’s commitment to developing confident, capable problem-solvers ensures that our students will thrive as the leaders of tomorrow.
by Mistral Dodson | Nov 6, 2024 | Uncategorized
Things MATH is not…
Math isn’t about completing endless worksheets or rote memorization – it’s about fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity.
When they just complete worksheets…what are they actually learning?
Math is a dynamic field that involves critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and exploration.
math is not just about rote memorization or completing endless worksheets.
Math problems often have multiple solution paths. Encouraging students to think critically about which approach to take and why helps develop analytical skills that are applicable across various disciplines.
Real-world problems rarely come neatly packaged in a worksheet format. By presenting students with open-ended problems, they learn to apply mathematical concepts to solve practical problems, preparing them for challenges they may face in their future careers.
Math offers opportunities for creativity and exploration. Allowing students to experiment, make conjectures, and explore different strategies fosters a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and promotes a sense of ownership over their learning.
Math is deeply intertwined with other subjects such as science, engineering, art, and even music. By engaging students in multidisciplinary activities, they see how math is relevant and applicable beyond the confines of the classroom.
Math isn’t just about numbers; it’s about conveying ideas and reasoning effectively. Providing space for students to write, draw, and explain their thinking helps them develop communication skills essential for success in both academic and real-world settings.
When students are merely completing worksheets, they may miss out on these crucial aspects of mathematical learning.
Phoenix has been incorporating hands-on activities, collaborative problem-solving tasks, real-world applications, and opportunities for creativity and exploration into our math curriculum.
Our approach not only makes math more engaging and meaningful for students but also better prepares them for the challenges they’ll encounter in their academic and professional lives.
After reading this post do you agree that math education should involve more than just completing worksheets?
by Mistral Dodson | Aug 8, 2024 | Uncategorized
At The Phoenix School, we hold a simple: reading is one of the keys to unlocking a child’s potential.
Reading is…
- The gateway to realizing the mind’s potential.
- Essential for economic independence and upward mobility.
- The bedrock of our constitutional democracy.
- A right we have allowed to become a privilege.
📚 Why focus on reading?
Reading is the foundation of all learning. It helps children expand their vocabulary, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and understand the world around them. Whether they’re decoding new words or diving into an imaginative story, reading builds the confidence they need to tackle new challenges.
At The Phoenix School, our students are encouraged to read a minimum of 7 books over the summer, with each child choosing books that capture their interest. This personalized approach is designed to cultivate a love of reading and a strong reading habit that will serve them well in all areas of their education.
But we don’t just focus on reading for reading’s sake. We strive to develop critical reading skills that allow our students to analyze and better understand the stories they read. We encourage them to do something creative and informative with the content they’ve read, which fosters a deeper connection to literature.
Reading is an integral part of every aspect of our curriculum. We individualize reading, ensuring that each student reads at their appropriate level, regardless of their grade. When our students return from their summer adventures, they’ll have the opportunity to present their book projects to the entire school and pitch their favorite reads to their classmates.
At The Phoenix School, we believe that fostering a love for reading is one of the most important things we can do for our students. It’s more than just a skill; it’s the foundation for lifelong learning and success.
by Mistral Dodson | Mar 20, 2024 | Blog, Leadership, TPS Travel Study Program
Our last day dawns with Phoenix travelers urging Mike and Dave to take us to Utah, which is only a stone’s throw away. We can see Utah from our picture window so it seems only fair to plant our feet in another state while we are here. Our destination is Big Water Visitor Center where we see dinosaur fossils and footprints, how dinosaurs evolved, and marvel that the arid Utah that we experience used to be a tropical environment housing sharks, dinosaurs, and small mammals at one time long, long ago. Luckily we have their footprints and fossilized remains to tell the story.
We are on our way to Phoenix Airport to begin the last leg of our journey home. On the drive from Page to Phoenix we travel through sunshine, into rain, then hail, then snow, and back to sunshine. Our lunch stop is cut short when rain brings the cold, so we climb back into our van and head to Phoenix where it is much warmer.
On our way to Page on our first day, we drove past hillsides covered with Saguaro cacti which made us want to get a closer look. A stop at Sonoran Preserve allows us to walk among the cacti, meeting the great saguaros up close, and seeing other varieties. Arlo identifies a fishhook cacti that the Navajo used for fishing, connecting Arlo to his pre-trip research. Noisy birds perch on tall cacti, yelling at us from above. Surely they are welcoming us to their territory instead of sending us on our way.
After a final dinner, and checking our bags, we gather together to write a goodbye to Glen Canyon and the Navajo Nation.
Gavin: My time in this land has been a series of highs, then one middle. The sites, arduous yet satisfying hikes, and impossibly deep canyons made my experience. The feat of engineering the Glen Canyon Dam which is essential in the lives of thousands in surrounding states, providing water and electricity, must have taken some of our country’s great minds to accomplish. Native peoples who lived here centuries ago are ingrained in the land. It’s impressive how they hold onto traditional practices, while not limiting themselves. The arid desert and this school taught me how to: interact more fluently with strangers, how to navigate an airport, and other skills useful in the outside world. Farewell Arizona, with your glorious lands and millions of years of history.
Arlo: There is just so much to learn about any given place. The Everglades, St. John, and now Glen Canyon were all packed full of history, culture, and of course, wildlife. Going into the trip blind, without any knowledge of this area, I was pleasantly surprised with how wrong I was. The history of Lees Ferry and Navajo sites, the geology of Horseshoe Bend and Glen Canyon, and the flora and fauna quite literally everywhere astounded me, to say the least. To sum everything up, no place is truly boring. You only have to dig a little deeper (or experience it) to realize it. Now, after this valuable lesson, I can proudly and confidently say that I have had the perfect end to my Phoenix travel adventures.
Paul: Goodbye Glen Canyon and Navajo Nation, the place I dreamt, the land from heaven, the magnificent place of beauty and rocks. I have to leave now. You helped me be with nature, and connected me to the land. My brain, my body, my mind has changed. I love you for helping me, for making me less anxious, helping me to be closer and understanding. That fiery gust is real, so is my dream.
Alfie: I will miss these days of outgoing activities. Time to say goodbye to many tribes that made us comfortable like the Navajo who showed us their ways. I will miss how the sun was just right and had a glossy reflection on the water. I will have to leave millions of years of history behind like the Antelope Canyon tour of winding very narrow turns that is never forgetful. Titanic Horseshoe Bend sits in shocking ways. Now I leave all of this behind.
Audrey: Although this adventure felt short, it will still be an experience that will never fully leave my mind. I expand my head with thoughts of the trip like hearing about the tragic past of the Navajo Nation and learning about a variety of new plants and animals. Many sights we have seen changed my attitude, but the sight of Horseshoe Bend will forever give me a positive lens on nature. Farewell Arizona, your culture, wildlife, and history are the foundation of my wonders.
Levi: Dear Arizona, I find the burden of 9 kids difficult. Thank you for allowing us to grace your soil with our journals’ touch. This land of beauty is unparalleled compared to any other state. From magnificent Horseshoe Bend to jaw-dropping Lees Ferry Antelope Canyon, though was my best experience by far. The geological were impeccable. From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you, goodbye, and good night.
Mira: I remember standing where I sit now, awaiting the start of our trip. I had just gotten off the plane and everyone was groggy from the flight and jittery with excitement. The very next night, I arrived at our Airbnb and was in awe over the gorgeous house. Over the week, we learned about native culture, the history of the canyon, and how to protect our parks. We saw extraordinary things including Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Glen Canyon Dam. Our week was full of adventure and surprises, and to put how I felt into words is almost impossible. All I’m really trying to say right now is, “Goodbye Arizona.”
Fiona: My mind is an interesting place. There are lush forests of intricate thoughts, seas of emotion, looming mountains of stress, and now, amber canyons barricading hungry shadows from reaching me, viridian waters weaving through each challenge and layers of processing. I stand upon the new part of me, a gentle breeze brushing against my cheek and soft sands against my soul. Winds are welcoming me to new changes and kissing me goodbye from the terrain, waters, and closeness. I left a piece of me to forever stay in Glen Canyon and Glen Canyon etched itself into my brain with lasting memories and gentle reminders.
Sattva: Goodbye canyon walls that towered over us all. That cool breeze in my hair, and looking at the amazing canyons that go on forever will stay in my mind. I will miss the comfortable warmth of the Navajo people, their friendly culture, and their pure smiles on all Navajo faces. I will miss walking on the canyon ground and the little pieces of rocks that get stuck in my shoes. Time flew by as every second seemed like a day and every day felt like a second. How wired time is. I will miss the comforting warmth of everything.
by Mistral Dodson | Mar 13, 2024 | Blog, Leadership, TPS Travel Study Program
Navajo National Monument is our destination today. Once off the main highway, we wind up the mesa over a sandy and gravel road, twisting and turning through juniper and piñon pine, snow showers, past wandering cattle, and over red mesa sand, sand, and more sand. We are off to meet with Caleo John, who introduces himself in the traditional Navajo way with his name and the name of each of his four clans. Caleo leads us along a trail through junipers, sagebrush, piñon pine, Indian rice grass, Mormon tea, yucca, quaking aspen, Douglas fir, and prickly pear, answering our questions and giving us insight into the environment around us. Across the canyon, we spy ancient cliff dwellings nestled in a natural arch in the canyon wall. It is mind-boggling to imagine the ancients living so high above the canyon floor.
We are intrigued with the Navajo hogan and sweat house constructed in the traditional way. Caleo shares his personal experience of going through the coming of age challenge of being in the sweat house with 10 other young men for a day, with intervals of running, and rolling in the sand before squeezing back into the sweat house. Our next challenge is to pick a museum specimen of a coiled pot and try making one just like it with the clay that Caleo provides. Speaking for all of us, Audrey remarks, “We have been so lucky to have had the best guides!”
Glen Canyon Dam is our last stop today. We peer over the precipice into the canyon far below, marveling at the massive structure. One side holds the Colorado River back, forming Lake Powell. On the other side, the river winds through a deep canyon as it continues downstream. The making of Glen Canyon Dam is explained in film and photos allowing us to understand the marvel that it truly is, and how important it is to water distribution in the southwest and Mexico.
After some journaling, sharing, brownies baked by Mike and Dave, and finally a dip in the hot tub, we retire.
