These days, the air in the Studio feels different. Some Pumas will soon continue their journey in a new Studio, with new adventures, challenges, and opportunities to grow. For those who remain, something big is also happening. They will become the older ones in the tribe, the ones others look up to, the ones who set the tone for what Discovery feels like, as younger Pumas from the lower studio, Spark, will also join, ready to discover what it means to be part of this Studio.
From Silent Treatment to Honest Talk
One afternoon during flow time, the girls from Ascend (middle school) came into the studio, talking with concern. They had seen a younger girl in Discovery (elementary) trip another, who almost fell. It wasn’t the first time, they said. They had also seen her hair being pulled and heard teasing. And the girl took it as a joke, but laugh uncomfortably. “It didn’t sound real,” they noted. “She looked uneasy, like she didn’t know how to set limits.” From here on, a powerful collective learning process developed.
Marine Science with Spark
This session, the Studio Spark has been diving into the world of Marine Science. Through this quest, the Pumas are exploring coral reefs, marine life, and the big environmental challenges that impact these amazing habitats.
Today, I want to share some of the reflections and hypotheses that have emerged over these weeks: thoughts about the sea, marine life, and how we can take care of our oceans.
Walking together
At Tinkuy, families soon discover it’s not just their children who are on a Hero’s Journey. Mapaches, too, are invited to grow: to question, to listen deeply, and to hold space for each other. It isn’t always easy… at times it’s even frustrating, but over time it becomes a gift. Parents realize they are not alone, that others have lived the same doubts and fears, and that the community itself is a place to keep learning, to commit, and to reach new horizons alongside their Pumas.
From Learners to Guides: Growing by Serving Others
A Family Journal: More Than Memories, a Treasure That Brings Us Together
Courage to Speak, Courage to Care
A few weeks ago, a Puma found the courage to share with me: “sometimes playing with a close friend feels too rough, and not always fun”. He added, “I think I’ve seen other Pumas feeling uncomfortable too.” When I asked what he wanted to do with this situation, we agreed on having a Peace Table, a space in Tinkuy where Pumas reflect on what didn’t feel good, listen to one another, and create agreements. It was such a powerful experience.
A Lie, Courage, and Heroic Actions
The Discovery Pumas have taken on the mission of mentoring the Spark Pumas through games and challenges that help them earn their badges. This process has been fascinating: an opportunity to connect, share social skills, and grow in leadership. Let me share something that happened this week: what began as a tense moment, was transformed into a sequence of courageous and even heroic actions.
Little moments, big meanings
The Path of Building Community: Family Day and Family Camp
On Tuesday I had our regular meeting with the Mapache leaders: ten moms and dads who generously give their time to serve the community, to walk alongside and encourage other Mapaches on their own journey, and to help me in the mission of supporting and equipping all our families.
The question I brought to the table was simple: What do you appreciate about Family Day, and how could we make the experience even better? The answers I got were much deeper than I expected.
Let Them Fail
We were taught that failure is something to avoid. We sense it coming and push it away. But… What if failure were actually a direct path to strength, confidence, and resilience? As counterintuitive as it may seem, letting a learner make mistakes does not mean giving up, neglecting, or being disinterested. When done intentionally, it can become a profound act of trust: the certainty that they are capable, and therefore, the conscious choice to step back so they can find their own way to success.
Sparks in the world
“Like Maria Montessori, we believe even the youngest child has important work to do, and while we might observe them reading a book, dressing up for a play, drawing a favorite animal, or engaged in loose parts play, a much deeper, core sense of self is being developed every time a child accomplishes something they set out to do. This engagement in purposeful activity, guided by the inner desire of a Spark hero, is at the core of the hero’s journey and an Acton Spark Studio.”
After the Transition: The Bonds That Remain
At Tinkuy Marka, transitions between studios mark important milestones, but they’re not the end of a journey. The bonds Pumas form with their former tribe often remain strong, showing up in surprise visits, shared advice, and quiet moments of encouragement. As they step into new roles, many become mentors, guiding others with empathy, wisdom, and the excitement of growth. One conversation recently caught my attention…
What Is Justice? Ascend Pumas Seek Answers from Athens to Today
Every session in Ascend brings three key threads: a hands-on Quest, a writing Genre, and a Civilization topic for Socratic discussion. This time, the Pumas took a deep dive into ancient Greece, wrestling with timeless questions about democracy, power, justice, and truth.
They didn’t just study history. They lived it.
Through debates, myth-making, and a reenactment of Socrates’ trial, they explored the tensions between order and freedom, progress and control, the weight of moral choices, and what it truly means to be a hero.
Privileges Should be Earned or Given?
Every time a Puma makes progress on their badge plan (learning path) and completes milestones (a key step or achievement within the badge plan), they celebrate their effort by spinning the wheel at the end of the week. This wheel contains privileges and rewards that the Pumas designed at the beginning of the year. It’s a ritual of celebration and recognition.
Culture of Hospitality: Reflections from the Spark Tribe
At some point in our lives, we’ve all been the “newbie” somewhere: at school, in a workshop, at university, at work. And sometimes, being new can feel like being an alien: everything is unfamiliar, nerves run high, and there may be fear or anxiety. In those moments, how do we know if we’re truly welcome in a place and among its people?
We talked with the Spark Tribe about the culture of Hospitality, and here I share their thoughtful reflections based on the story “Golden Land”, from Los Hermanos Paz.
Explorers’ adventure, Episode 2: Autonomy
Autonomy has become one of the most valued goals in recent years. From special furniture designed at a child’s height to child-friendly kitchen tools, everything seems to invite little ones to do things on their own. And yes, the environment plays a key role when we talk about fostering independence. We can’t expect autonomy from a child who’s under a meter tall if what they need is placed two meters high. But beyond creating an accessible space, what else does it mean to support a child’s journey toward autonomy? I’ll share what I think are the most important requirements for developing autonomy.
Becoming Irrelevant
At Acton, the ultimate goal of a Socratic Guide is to become invisible: not because you’re absent, but because the learners no longer need you to lead. This year, my students asked me to step back, to speak less, to trust more. And when I did, they rose. They led launches, solved problems, gave precise feedback, and reminded me that true growth happens not when we push harder, but when we let go.
More Than Just Leftovers: A discussion of Fairness, Effort, and Community
What began as a simple question about who gets the leftover lunch turned into something much deeper. A real-time lesson in fairness, recognition, and what it means to build a true community. Voices rose, ideas clashed, and no clear answer emerged. But something more important did: the courage to listen, question, and co-create.
Read the full story of how a group of young learners in Lima turned snacks into a conversation about justice.
How This Book Helped Me Become a Better Dad
If someone asked me, “How has this book helped you?” I would say it helped me understand and respect my daughter’s emotions. It gave me the tools to do this better and to stop reacting when her emotions didn’t match what I expected in a given situation. I would like to share some of the ideas that clicked for me, why they resonated, the changes I implemented once I internalized them, and finally, the impact these changes have had on my relationship with her.