Learning Community Monthly Update July 2025

“HARD WORK, CONSISTENCY, CREATIVITY AND SELF-DETERMINATION creates the magic”.

When we were stepping into July, students got comfortable with the routine. Every day, they looked forward to Circle time, planning and self-work. This was a great achievement when I see it from a facilitator’s perspective.

Yet, the challenge was to find the right work and right questions. While one of them was very much comfortable in finding the work, the others struggled as the initial josh of things they want to is now peeled off. The topmost layer of fancy ideas is now getting over, what to do next is sometimes clueless.

While 2 of them were in the same boat, I can see each had taken different paths. One of them chose work, he/she did the first work which led to the magic that during end of the term. While the other student was clueless and started to perform everything, he/she knew. Every day came with a magic show which the student struggled the most due to lack of preparation. Yet, many new ideas came in the process. Student created different kinds of tickets every-day.

Circle time

This month the circle times focus was breathing. In the first part, we tried different breathing counts each day and finally found the one that suited all of us. We continued with the same English and Tamil verse. In the tamil verse we included another paragraph and standing postures. From sitting and doing the verse we are now added new movements where the flow goes from sitting, standing and again sitting.

The second part finding Tamil vocabulary exercise using the circle material continues this month as well. We are now on the journey to reach 100 words.

The 3^rd part has announcements about presentations, story sessions or any sharing of knowledge by students where we need other members presence. Then finally we all do the day planning using the planning sheet.

Planning and Reflection

Planning was very well settled in a months’ time. Each one of them enjoyed planning. Reflection is somehow not working out using the Rose, thorn, Bud exercise. So, this month I decided to change the pattern to a new format – 5-minute reflection.

This format was helping the students to express themselves better. I could see each one of them are able to connect to certain parts of new reflection process. Fingers crossed, let us see where it takes us.

Work

Work was getting intense as we were nearing the end of first study cycle for Adolescence. For other students, their exploration is just starting. Students started using materials and getting used to presentations.

The farm work was spectacular this month as we explored plumbing, electric wiring, nursery preparation as part of the weekly works. This months’ organic market was very enriching with new set of products from each one of them.

Art and Music

Coconut shell Bird Feeder

This months' open-ended exploration was Coconut shell crafts but in a different way. We tried to break it as wish and try to make an art using the broken pieces.

We made a coconut shell bird feeder and an free art work using broken shells.

This way I felt it would give them an opportunity to use their physical energy.

This months’ inclusion was Singing. We tried to sing few songs during the online sessions.  

Farm work

Farm Maintenance

Every week we are doing 1 hour of maintenance work in the farm with all age groups. This month, students participated in watering the food forest, cleaning the pathways, fixing the broken handles in the cupboards, fixing lights/electrical connection for hut and bathroom and organizing the resources.

Study Cycle

Each student completed their first topic and started their 2^nd topic in the study cycle. There was some lazy moments, failures in the beginning of the month as things did not go well as they wish. It took a few days to get back to their work. So, the first few days went with lots of alone times, catching butterflies and spiders. Things went back to topics in the second week. The lst few weeks was intense as everyone tried to create a presentation based on their work. This time presentations were very simple, yet the amount of work and information was huge.