Central Texas schools operating as sites of infection Last week, Dr. Mark Escott of Austin Public Health shared some shocking Covid-19 positivity rates in school-age children. The positivity rates for elementary, middle, and high school students were 19.8%, 27.1%, and 20.2%, respectively;…
read moreThis past weekend we hosted a virtual information session and open house. Five families dropped in to learn about Abrome and Self-Directed Education, and one has already followed up with some admission specific questions. We were thrilled to have so many families…
read more
#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Autonomy#AY20-21#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Culture Creation#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#micro schools#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#practices#remote learning#unschooling
The pandemic blues continue Friday morning came and I checked the pandemic numbers and they are getting no better, but at least they seem to have plateaued, even if temporarily. It’s pretty apparent that we are not going to have any hope…
read more
#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#AY20-21#Check-in and Change-up#Community awareness board#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Culture Creation#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#micro schools#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#practices#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#unschooling#Video games
As we entered into the second half of the cycle we noticed that Learners were beginning to fall off of some of the calls. At the morning meeting only eight Learners joined the three Facilitators. Facilitator Lauren started the meeting off with…
read more
#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#AY20-21#Community awareness board#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Culture Creation#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#micro schools#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#practices#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#unschooling#Video games
Wednesday was day 70 of the pandacademic year, and the halfway mark (day 8 of 16) of the cycle. As Learners and Facilitators oined the call there was a fun conversation about flamingos. At 10:00 a.m., Facilitator Ariel opened the morning meeting…
read more
#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#AY20-21#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Culture Creation#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#micro schools#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#practices#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#unschooling#Video games
Tuesday was day 69 of the pandacademic year and I wanted to get the day started off in a fun way by asking a different type of prompt for the morning meeting. I asked each Learner to share their gnarliest injury ever….
read more
#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Among Us#AY20-21#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Culture Creation#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Flying Squads#Free Schools#Free to Learn#Free to Play#micro schools#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#unschooling
Morning meeting On Monday morning we were eager to jump into the morning meeting to start off the week. In fact, the young Learner who showed up for the first time during this remote cycle on Friday was so eager to engage…
read moreAnd local schools are still open … Day 67 was our last day of our first week of 2021, and it was the first entirely remote week of our pandemic year. With the numbers continuing to rise in the Austin area, and…
read more
#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#AY20-21#Check-in and Change-up#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Culture Creation#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#gratitudes#micro schools#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#unschooling
Early Thursday morning I shared with Facilitators and guardians an Instagram post by our friend Abby from ALC-NYC on ways that we could support young people in the aftermath of Wednesday’s events. I also informed the Learners and guardians that we would…
read more
#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Anti-Oppression#AY20-21#Community#Covid-19#Covid-safe#Culture#Culture Creation#Democratic Schools#Emancipated Learning#Facilitation#Flying Squads#Free Schools#micro schools#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#unschooling
Morning meeting time We headed into Tuesday hoping to build on the positive first day of our pandemic-induced, fully remote experience for cycle five (assuming Central Texas doesn’t miraculously begin to take the pandemic seriously in the next couple of days). Facilitator…
read more
#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Among Us#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#Learning Community#micro schools#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#polar bear club#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#Set-the-Week#unschooling
Monday was our first day of the week, our first day of the fifth cycle of the pandacademic year, and it was the first day of 2021. It was also our first day being entirely remote as the county moved to risk…
read more
#Abrome#Agile Learning Centers#Alternative Schools#Alternatives To School#Among Us#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#Learning Community#micro schools#pandacademic#Pandemic pods#pandemic schooling#remote learning#Self-Directed Education#Set-the-Week#unschooling
Tuesday, 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…
read more
#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…
read more
#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…
read more
#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…
read more
#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