You’d think it would be one of these: Online learning Socratic discussions Collaborative quest work Emphasis on writing, public speaking, logic and rhetoric Peer managed studios High standards of kindness and honesty. But it’s not. The biggest adjustment incoming middle school and high school Arrows encounter is a two-fold life skill – both simple and …
How do you teach science in the 21st century? If you want to inspire young heroes to change the world through discoveries, inventions and innovations, our belief is that you don’t “teach” science at all. Why not? Because when you study the lives of world changing scientists, you realize that these heroes weren’t “taught” science …
The romance of starting a new school year is fizzling. We’ve been here before. Reality is settling in and we’re remembering how rugged the road ahead is for heroes on a learning journey. It’s already making us a little tired and we’ve started dreading the days when all we can muster is: “How was your …
How Can a Parent Keep the Spark of Curiosity Alive? Read More »
We often contrast Acton Academy’s “Learn to Learn; Learn to Do and Learn to Be” goals with the “Learn to Know” approach favored by traditional schools. Recently I realized our view of traditional schools is incomplete. The full mantra is more accurately stated as: “Learn to Know; Learn to Obey.” In most traditional environments young …
A Simpler Model Is Not Always Best by Jeff Sandefer Read More »
From the time I found out I was pregnant to this exact moment, I’ve wondered what I’m supposed to be doing as a parent. And as much as I love motherhood, there is nothing in the world that scares me so much. What if I do it all wrong? What have I missed? Do I …
Lesson #3: Heroic parents respond with gratitude when their children are held accountable for their choices. It’s not that they are happy about it. It’s that they know their children will be better off in the long run if they learn to deal with mistakes, problems and failures now when the stakes are relatively low. …
Choosing a hero’s journey as my parenting strategy changes everything. I don’t have to be an expert, a psychologist or a super mom. I just have to say yes to the adventure each day, seek mentors and guides, face the ordeals as they come with courage and get back up when I fail. And I …
Heroes aren’t perfect. They don’t have superpowers. Heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things because they refuse to quit, blame others or lash out when things get hard. This is as true for parents as it is children. Rather than seeing parenting as a style or type, we see the experience of being parents …
No Perfect Parenting – from the Ordinary to the Heroic Read More »
In this journey toward becoming Socratic, there are only two more steps. Step 4: Learn to be kind and tough. At Acton, we use the terms “warm-hearted” and “tough-minded” to describe the character of a Socratic Guide. It’s not enough to show empathy and affection. Nor is it effective to weigh too heavily on holding boundaries and …
The third step to becoming Socratic sounds complicated and a bit bizarre. Here it is: CREATE AN ATTRACTIVE GAME AND INVITE PLAYERS. What does this have to do with being Socratic? Imagine this: Your child wakes up and jumps out of bed. She runs to log into her computer to get her next clue. She’s …
