Pickle Problem Pathways
Pickle Problem Pathways, say that 5 times fast! Sometimes life gives us pickles, sour moments that at times are hard to bite and give us strong feelings. In these moments it is imperative that we and our joyous learners know the pathway to pickle problem solving.
In the beginning of the school year we had a lot of cucumber learners. Learners were crisp, just flowered, and needed help to climb the trellis. These learners asked Guides lots of questions, looked for instant problem solving, and overly shared reports of the studio without thinking critically on how they could help themselves. Throughout the year learners grew in their ability to use their resources, develop an action plan, and most of all their hands on a Guide to ask questions migrated towards purpose. We noticed less hands and more honoring of 3B4G (3 resources or attempts before asking a Guide).
Growing a cucumber plant and supporting growing learners is rather similar. Growth doesn’t always work as you expect. A few weeks ago we noticed that although there were less hands there wasn’t always solutions. Some learners were giving up, some were staying in the loop of being stuck, and some learners complained and gave a problem a lot of air time rather than gaining help. A cucumber that sits in vinegar for a long time becomes a sour pickle.
Last session and last week there were some thorny pickles that learners encountered that never reached a Guide, pickles that 100% needed Guide support. This showed our Guide team and I that learners hadn’t found their middle and were taking the concept of 3B4G too far. Enter the magical material of a PICKLE PROBLEM PATHWAY LIST, a tool for learners in the studio to help themselves and fellow cucumbers when they are feeling a pickling. Do learners help themselves, do they reach out to peers and learner mentors, or do they connect with Guides? Most of all, when are the times that 3B4G is overruled? This list has it all, take a look here or find it in your child’s studio!
Over these past four years I’ve noticed that what happens in the learner studios happens in our Parent Studio. Recently some families have encountered pickles, marinated in vinegar for too long, and only reached out to me in the extremes. When do you explore resources on your own, connect with an Acton parent, or reach out to me as your Guide? Here are some tips to Parent Pickle Problem Pathways.
If you have safety concerns or your learner shares concerning information from school reach out to me and the Guide team. We can’t know everything and we need your help so we can fill in the gaps, investigate, and support.
If your learner is navigating friend relationships and are having a tough time, engage your learner.
If you explored the Family Portal and are struggling to understand and aren’t sure how to support your learner’s journey, reach out to Acton parents (not first years and if you need a list ask!)
If you’ve talked with multiple parents (not first years) and still are having a tough time reach out to me, your Guide!
Ask yourself, is this a problem I need to fix? Ask yourself, is this a problem that is the responsibility of Acton or the responsibility of parenting?
To be clear, I believe pickles we eat and pickle metaphors are delicious! Pickles delight us with opportunities to problem solve. As a child and young adult I disliked pickles yet something changed during my pregnancy and suddenly pickles went with everything. The hard moments are the best moments, I encourage you to relish every bite!