Main feature photo and photo above by Sean St. Denis Affectionately compared to a goblin shark, and sometimes – rarely – the more pleasant “baby duck” by kids who’ve taken his HomeLearners Network (HLN) Activities, our newest Guide, [...]
Next September, Grace will leave the small farming community where she grew up in the west Kootenays to begin the four-year Bachelor of Arts theatre program at Dalhousie University in Halifax, where she’ll specialize in historical costume design.
We recognize that parents and guardians know their child’s needs best and may have clear ideas as to the types of learning activities that would facilitate their growth and development. A number of SelfDesign parents and guardians share their insights about how they view and approach their role of supporting their children’s learning.
Imposter syndrome. skepticism and fear of judgement are often the biggest challenges parents face when deciding to homeschool their kids. Lori Bender is one of these parents. She felt insecure in her ability and unsure of what her children were supposed to be learning for their age groups. It caused her to question whether home learning would be the right decision for her family. Luckily, her friend with an older son had taken the leap, giving Lori the opportunity to observe and ask questions before making her final decision. She dove into homeschooling shortly after, and years later, she’s still overjoyed with her choice.
To help support families and educators as they make the shift to SelfDesign’s unique approach to learning, we offer a guided, interactive online course that explores the SelfDesign philosophy in the practice of their daily family lives.
The BC Ministry of Education and Child care has invited SelfDesign Learning Community to continue the process to become a virtual school hub, or independent provincial online learning school (POLS–Independent).
Meet HomeLearnersNetwork Guide, Amber Santos! Muralist, musician, dancer, hockey mama and amateur surfer, Amber is a person of many talents. She identified as an artist at an early age, and explores art in all its forms with a focus on visual arts. Having spent over 20 years as a professional artist and over 12 years teaching art with SelfDesign Learning Community (SDLC), she’s grateful she can create safe spaces for kids to express themselves and connect with others as a Guide for HomeLearners Network.
All of our BC certified educators advise, guide, mentor and support learners and families through the learning process, but their titles vary. Here is a quick guide to the different kinds of educators our learners and families may work with at SelfDesign.
Being actively curious about others is key in creating relationship. In this second article in our series about SelfDesign philosophy, we delve into what “being curious” means and how asking questions challenges our assumptions, leads to learning, and helps us develop the wisdom that comes from honouring multiple views even if we may not agree with them.
Gabe, an aspiring graphic designer and typographer and a member of our Class of 2022, is starting college this fall to continue his studies in graphic design and interactive media.
