A series of loud, metallic bangs is erupting from the makerspace. Ms. Lauer peeks her head in and, after observing a moment, walks up to a student.”What are you doing here?” “Hammering,” the student replies, continuing to hammer while looking at Ms. Lauer. “Keep your eyes on your work!” she responds.

For all the noise they have produced, the students have made tremendous gains in their hammer-nail dexterity. Likewise they have gained in self-confidence and a positive, “I can do it!” mindset.

One parent explained how the recent purchase of a shelving unit, to be assembled at night and given to the child as a surprise in the morning, turned into ‘One of the most wonderful experiences I’ve had with my child’ as the child insisted they put it together, together.

All of the Lower School has had or will be receiving this basic instruction in hammering so that they feel comfortable with wood, nails and a hammer and all possible interactions of those three materials.