"There is some principle of magic in everything, some living quality. Something living, something real, is taking place in everything"               - Chogyam Trungpa

Holistic Approach:

Come with us on a journey through a day in an Enki school. Do morning chores in French with us, watch language become movement and art become science, as the children experience our holistic approach to learning.

The following is a compilation of scenes from different classrooms and programs that have used the Enki holistic approach.”

"Qu'est-ce-que tu veux faire?" the children hear as they head to their outside time.

"De l'eau chaude! L'eau chaude pour la canarde!"one child replies as she takes the pitcher of hot water to thaw out and replenish the the duck's bowl of water.

"Sarah, qu'est que tu veux faire?" the question is repeated.

Far more tentatively Sarah replies, "Les lapins?"

"Tu veux nourir les lapins, Sarah?"

"Feed the bunnies?" she half asks and half reassures herself.

"Oui," the teacher nods, "va nourir les lapins." And Sarah runs off to feed the bunnies.

In our holistic approach, foreign language is sprinkled throughout the most interactive parts of the day, as well as being taught in the foreign language lesson. In the Kindergarten, once the chores are complete, the foreign language is dropped and children go in different directions to explore the woods, scale the rocks, or play on the various kinds of playground structures.

When their long outdoor time comes to a close again they hear the French words to the tune of Frere Jaques, calling them in, "Venez ici, venez ici, mes enfants...Allons-y, allons-y, tous ensemble..." And they tie up their games and head inside.

Inside we find them sitting at the table singing, "From these living hands let wonders unfold, and show to us beauty, visions untold..." as they prepare to work together on a project led by the teacher. They might be making beeswax models from the story they have been hearing, felting wool beads for necklaces, sawing candle holders, or kneading bread for Friday's bread and soup lunch. Whatever of the varied activities they do in our holistic approach on any given day, during this part of the day the children work together under the teacher's leadership, beginning to develop the group learning skills they will need in the years to come.

During the remaining time in the four hour kindergarten morning, the children will enjoy many other adventures. They will join together for an active circle time of songs and movement, each activity chosen to strengthen their neurological development and lay the physical groundwork for the academic skills they will learn in the grades. They will each go their own way, working alone or in small groups learning to self direct and to navigate the social learning as they build worlds out of silk and stone, hammer together some new creation, set a dinner party in the play kitchen, or do any one of a myriad of arts and crafts projects.

Finally, they will regroup to hear the teacher tell this week's story. Eyes wide, they listen to the story , unconscious hands follow the teacher's gesturing. As the story comes to a close, the candle is blown out and the children join in singing, "Allez laver les mains..." as they run to wash hands before lunch.

In the grades, the Enki holistic approach works with a block learning system. Each subject is taught in a 3-4 week block. Each block cycles around several times per year. Within a block there is one primary topic (Humanities, Science, Mathematics etc) which will be the particular content focus in all other studies, such as arts and music. As well, in each week the schedule flows through a series of skill-building classes. On this particular day, we begin our visit during the morning lesson as the first graders are finishing their circle time. Up and down the hall we can hear them reciting a verse from the story of the week, "Wild waves rise in the wind, twisting and twirling as day begins. Whipping waters whistle on high, as sea foam sprays the winter sky." All the while, the children move around the room in a wave pattern that rises, falls and twists about, amid playful giggles. Drawings of ships rocking on waves decorate the walls and the letter "W" is displayed overhead. As we pass by the room, the children are eagerly opening their books and beginning their written work.

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