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In our society, sending our children to school when they are 3, 4, or 5 is the default. Every town (or city neighborhood) has a public school with busses that pick up children early in the day and then deliver them back home in the afternoon. Parents can then get on with their day - work and earn money to sustain the household and manage the unending duties related to caring for a home. The system is (mostly) easy --- until it isn’t. When kids begin to struggle - whether academically, emotionally, or because of bullying, are newly diagnosed neurodivergent (or seeking a diagnosis), or straight-up refuse to go. This is when families begin exploring alternatives because the ease of school has disappeared. Self-directed learning environments like Deep Root Center are designed to support, nurture, and trust every child to follow their interests and aspirations. Because we understand that every individual is a brilliant natural learner with strengths, challenges, curiosity, and their own internal timeline, the artificial developmental schedule - based on age and grade level - makes zero sense. Neither does the pedagogy that utilizes rote memorization, reward and punishment, competition, and standardized testing. Simply put, the human brain shuts down when it is under stress. One of the most common statements I hear from parents seeking my help is that they are worried or have been told their child is behind. I can't stress this enough, no child can ever be behind (an artificial timeline) - only on their own unique schedule. When kids are allowed to seek out accommodations (create their own hacks), take the lead in their education, and make choices built on the things that light their fire - they are happier and make immense strides in understanding their own learning style and accumulating knowledge that is pertinent to their needs and goals. We know that learning happens when we are engaged and feel safe, secure in ourselves, and connected. The disheartening part of this is that occasionally, once kids get beyond the levels of distress that sent parents frantically searching for alternatives in the first place, they default back to the ease and comfort of public school. Yes, I get it! It seems much more difficult to manage the multiple details of the alternative - whether homeschooling at home or with a self-directed learning center. Navigating a new paradigm (explaining it to family and friends and dealing with their potential disapproval), travel (drop off and pick up), accessing resources, technology, and devices, and seeking social opportunities can add to an already seemingly impossible load. I will argue, however, that the ease of the default may be deceptive. Having happy, fulfilled, and engaged kiddos - as opposed to just OK or even compliant, stressed out, and miserable - makes all the difference in how a family unit functions. This concept applies to anything that we take on; easy isn’t necessarily always the best option. Growth happens when we are challenged out of our comfort zone to do the “hard stuff.” Nonetheless, I understand that ease can only be defined individually, or as the saying goes, you get to "choose your hard." DRC News We totally forgot to take photos - again this week. Here's hoping we will do better next week! Three DRC kiddos had an adventure at the SLU Volunteer Fair on Thursday. We set up a table in the Student Center and talked to students about volunteering at DRC. They also navigated the Pub after asking some helpful folks how to order our lunch. Turns out there's an app for that. Thank you, @sluserves, for organizing this opportunity. The Center will be closed on Monday in observance of MLK day.  The DRC Pop-Ups Crew had a great time on Wednesday & Thursday at the Norwood and Massena Libraries. They worked on individual projects, invented games, and spent time learning a coding app.  These two resources were designed to help families new to self-directed learning navigate this paradigm shift.
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I am reading Ina Garten’s Memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, which is notable for two reasons. Firstly, I was known as a voracious reader (often finishing a book a day when I had the time) until the pandemic hit. This is the first physical book I have picked up since then (I even bought it). I had only begun to read a few eBooks this past year. Secondly, I typically do not enjoy memoirs, biographies, or nonfiction in general. As explained in previous posts, even though I have been reading since a very early age and read constantly as a child, I typically do not remember anything, which means it is not a vehicle for learning. I skip through books looking for the story and tend to get bored easily if the narrative is hard to find or follow. This book has truly captured my attention. Ina's writing brings her fascinating story to life and clearly reflects her personality. She is someone who pursues her desires with determination. Whenever someone told Ina she could not do something, she doubled down and found a way to achieve what she believed was right for herself. Ina is full of ideas; she dives into her latest adventure without fear of getting messy or making mistakes. She is very hands-on and works through the process to find solutions. Additionally, Ina is willing to follow her latest ideas wherever they lead her - because she too tends to get bored easily. The title, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, emphasizes that you must do the hard work before success can find you. She has certainly put in the effort. However, the most important aspect of her story is that it is all rooted in following her ideas and passions. Ina effectively embodies the key principles of self-directed learning. She recognizes that having an open mind, creativity, a willingness to take risks, and the ability to learn from mistakes, while being playful and having fun are crucial for personal success. Additionally, she understands that the motivation to tackle challenging tasks is essential for achieving goals. Through Ina's narrative, the reader discovers that they not only can - but are absolutely responsible for writing (creating) their own life stories. This is why in my role at Deep Root Center I cannot, and will not, (ever) dictate what a young person should do. I will offer unlimited support and mentorship, but ultimately, they are each free to choose their paths based on their interests, passions, dreams, aspirations, and having fun. DRC News We were happy to be back from Holiday Break this past week. The snowy weather was responsible for a smallish crew on Tuesday and closing altogether on Thursday. We also forgot to take more photos...  The Pop-ups Peeps had fun at Nicandri Nature Center on Wednesday and the Massena Public Library on Thursday. Any homeschool family in the NoCo is welcome to join in the fun every Wednesday & Thursday. Learn more about the Pop-ups here.  This Monday, January 6th, marks DRC's 11th Birthday! It seems entirely plausible that we have been around that long, yet - hasn't it been just a blink of an eye since we opened with one kiddo in that icy cold, dingy space - without WiFi? When I consider those humble beginnings, I realize how far we have come in those eleven years. (Especially after a really rough tenth year!) Mike and I have been sorting out our storage space during this break. (Yes, even we minimalists have to reorganize and purge every once in a while.) In the process, I cleaned out two old file cabinets and discovered some correspondence from 2012 & 13. Rereading those letters instantly brought back all the frustration, anger, and helplessness I felt back then. However, I can now reflect with gratitude on those difficult times (and countless tears) because those experiences are why DRC exists. It was in those moments of pain that I discovered Ken Danford and North Star for Teens.. (DRC is a member of the Liberated Learner Network.) They also reminded me exactly why I have poured all my time and energy into learning from Ken and then building this organization while making some important promises to our community. I recognized that so many kids (neurodivergent or not) were not being served by school and needed a safe space where they were heard and trusted, before I understood neurodivergence on a broad level or even had the tiniest of clues that my lifelong eccentricity and straight-up weirdness were influenced by my own neuro-spiciness (which I discovered three years ago, at the age of 57). Eleven years later, I can say without hesitation that DRC is that space - where each young person who wants to join us, no matter their family's financial situation, is celebrated and encouraged to follow their interests and aspirations and fully be themselves. Additionally, we support any family who wants to homeschool on their own through our consultation services. From the very beginning, drawing from my previous experiences, I consciously decided to be completely transparent about absolutely everything. These blog posts have served as a platform for that transparency. From the start, you have all have been a vital piece of this journey with front row seats - where you have witnessed hair-brained ideas (some that worked and others that crashed and burned spectacularly), trials, tribulations, mistakes, and moments of success. I can't begin to thank you for cheering me on through it all. As we jump boldly into year eleven to explore all the possibilities it presents, I am beyond grateful for your support. DRC NewsWe will be back in the building on Monday to celebrate our Birthday after this much-needed Holiday break.  The Pop-ups will start up again on Wednesday, January 8th, at the Nicandri Nature Center. Pop-ups are open to any homeschool family in the NoCo.  Funding Appeal News Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Annual Funding Appeal. With a substantial sustaining contribution, we have a grand total of $3,295.00. This eases us into the new year with a level of financial comfort we have not felt before. Thank you also to the folks who support us through the year with monthly contributions. You can help DRC keep our promises by supporting us with one-time or monthly donations, or sponsorship. Resources Our resources page was recently updated. You will find various resources for your homeschool, as well as general info about self-directed learning - including links to videos and books. You will also find links to the Digital DRC Homeschool Guide and YouTube Presentation, there.
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