2nd Grade Teachers Roxaboxen Award

Second Grade Roxaboxen Project Recognized by Ventura County

Congratulations to our second graders and their teachers, Karen Mercer and Eric Cowen, whose “Roxaboxen” student project was recognized with an IMPACT II award.

Run by the Ventura County Office of Education and supported by community sponsors, the IMPACT II awards are presented to K-12 educators for unique, original, and innovative curriculum projects. Through a comprehensive online PDF, these excellent teaching ideas are available to all educators in the county and raise awareness of exemplary classroom practices.

Inspired by Alice McClerran’s children’s book Roxaboxen, which details the adventures of a group of neighborhood children in a seemingly barren desert, Roxaboxen celebrates the imagination of children who, no matter the time or place, can create whole worlds out of what they find around them.

“Second Graders loved this project because it was THEIRS. We were co-creators of playful and authentic learning.”

Eric Karen Roxaboxen Award Ceremony

The Second Grade’s Roxaboxen was a child-led project that empowered students to learn and grow through imaginary play. It captured their imaginations and involved many different aspects of their learning.

Over the course of several weeks, students spent time reading and discussing the book, building a community, where each child created their own space utilizing found materials, as well as engaging in scientific observation of the Roxaboxen environment and writing their own “zine” about their creation.

“What started as an afternoon read-aloud turned into a weeks-long investigation into community, economy, science, and art,” says Karen. “Second Graders loved this project because it was THEIRS. We were co-creators of playful and authentic learning.”

Recent Blog Posts:

Parent Education on ZOOM

Parent Education Workshops Continue on ZOOM

, , ,
Our first Parent Education workshop in the series of the year looked a little different, but the content was equally  impactful. Organized and facilitated by High School history teacher Will Hornblower, Parent Education Workshops have been an incredible resource, and have recently been made available to the greater community.
Read more

What is the Future of Education After COVID-19?

, ,
On Thursday, May 28, 2020, the Ojai Chautauqua formed a panel to discuss this question in front of a live streaming audience. In the words of the Agora Foundation: These are unprecedented times, and it’s unclear whether the worst is…
Read more
Fixing Problems, Student Article

Fixing Problems You Created

, ,
In recent years, a greater global understanding of both environmental concerns and the measures necessary to prevent them has occurred.
Read more