When we went outdoors this year in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we were not sure how the Learners would respond to the heat, the cold, the rain, the bugs, and the physical activity. Because we are a Self-Directed Education community that…
read moreApril 21st was day 125 of the pandacademic year and it was also our last day with a Learner who was moving to Los Angeles. We expected the day to be a sad one but we were determined to make it a…
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#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#AY20-21#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#dance party#Democratic Schools#Flying Squads#foraging#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#hydrate or die#I love you#leave the schoolhouse behind#micro schools#Outdoor learning#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#skipping rocks#unschooling#Usual Cruelty
Tuesday, April 20th was the second day of cycle nine and my first remote day. With both Facilitators Ariel and Lauren thriving as Facilitators I am taking a step back twice a week to focus on supporting prospective families and on tying…
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#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#AY20-21#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Democratic Schools#Flying Squads#foraging#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#hydrate or die#leave the schoolhouse behind#micro schools#Outdoor learning#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#The Sandman#unschooling#Usual Cruelty#vaccinated
Not being in school is a start. I’ve seen multiple friends sharing a blog post over the past couple of days that states that children should be outside for 4-6 hours every day. The post was shared on the 1000 Hours Outside…
read moreTuesday, December 22nd, was day 62 of the Abrome pandacademic year, the last day of cycle four, and our last day of 2020. It’s been quite a ride thus far, in spite of all of the disruption and struggle faced by members…
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#Abrome#Adolescents#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Culture Creation#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#Outdoor learning#Outdoor school#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#Punishments and Rewards#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#shadowing#unschooling
Day 61 was the last Monday of the fourth cycle of the Abrome pandacademic year. It was also the first day of winter. In the morning meeting I asked the remote cell, how will you celebrate the 1st day of winter? They…
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#Abrome#Adolescents#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#Outdoor learning#Outdoor school#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#shadowing#unschooling
Dangerously close to risk stage level five December 18th, was day 60 of this pandacedemic year and it was our last Friday of this fourth of eleven cycles of the year. Although we are wrapping up the calendar year soon, we are…
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#Abrome#Adolescents#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#Outdoor learning#Outdoor school#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#Trust#unschooling
Everyone in the remote cell showed up for the morning meeting on Zoom. It was a pleasant way to start the day for us. We started the meeting with a fun prompt: who do you believe is most likely to hack into…
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#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#Outdoor learning#Outdoor school#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#risk#Self-Directed Education#unschooling
Day 58, Wednesday, December 16th, meant that we only had five days left in the cycle. Because we require prospective Learners to shadow with us for five days, those who wished to enroll for January needed to begin shadowing no later than…
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#Abrome#Adolescents#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#AY20-21#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#Outdoor learning#Outdoor school#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#risk#Self-Directed Education#Trust#unschooling
On Tuesday I started off the morning meeting with the question, what’s better, cold pizza, hot pizza, or an apple. Two people said an apple, three said hot pizza, and none said cold pizza. I asked them for their justification and it…
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#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#AY20-21#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#Outdoor learning#Outdoor school#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#unschooling
Looking up information about birds in the area Day 56 was the beginning of the last full week of cycle four. It was the beginning of a very hopeful week, with perhaps two prospective Learners starting to shadow later in the week….
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#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#AY20-21#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#inclement weather#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#Outdoor learning#Outdoor school#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#unschooling
What do you call a day where everyone shows up for remote meetings, but only three Learners show up in-person? You can call it day 55. This fourth cycle of the pandacademic year has thrown us a few curveballs. It was the…
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#Agile Learning Centers#alt#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#AY20-21#business decisions#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#Outdoor learning#Outdoor school#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#trust kids#unschooling
On Thursday I led the morning meeting with the remote cell with the question, “what are your goal-oriented intentions today?” I asked this because when we set intentions they tend to be more goals than intentions. Afterward, I asked them what their…
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#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#AY20-21#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#Outdoor learning#Outdoor school#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#trust kids#unschooling
I started my Monday morning frantically working to finish a blog post on why all schools should close their doors for the rest of the winter. I was hurried in the morning and ultimately was not able to get it finished. But…
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#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#AY20-21#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#Outdoor learning#Outdoor school#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#risk#Self-Directed Education#Trust#trust kids
Comfortable morning meeting for the remote cell. Friday was the big five-zero. Our fiftieth day of this pandacademic (pandemic + academic) year. The day started with a chilly morning, but I was sitting at Abrome in front of my computer waiting for…
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#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#AY20-21#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#get outside and play#Learning Community#Liberation#micro schools#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#Trust#trust kids#unschooling