In Our Elements! Vol I
Vol. I - What are we doing? (And WHY?!)
Welcome to our first edition of the Elements Academy newsletter, ‘In Our Elements!’
Here you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the magic of a child-led school (and life).
Written by Heather DiNino, Founder, Director, Middle/High Teacher, Elements Academy 🌳🌊☁️🔥
Each edition will have the following sections:
📓 IN THE CLASSROOM - Something happening at school in one of our classrooms (don’t worry, learning here is actually FUN)
🚙 OUT AND ABOUT - Something happening away from school! (we all know learning goes past the 4 walls, right?!)
📣 SMALL MOMENT SPOTLIGHT - it’s usually not the huge events or planned moments that make the most impact. Here, we spotlight the small moments that are actually quite HUGE.
🛠️ TRY IT AT HOME - your opportunity to DIY! An invitation to try being more child-led at home!
✨ Ready for this week?! Let’s get started! ✨
📓 IN THE CLASSROOM
When an executive order came in to halt gender-affirming care, our students in Middle/High were having a LOT of big feelings. We channeled their thoughts and feelings into writing (respectful) persuasive letters advocating for trans rights. As with everything we do, we ask Lisa Murphy’s 3 questions: WHAT are we doing, WHY are we doing it, and WHO are we doing it for. This writing assignment felt particularly purposeful and powerful - driven by the students, combined with common core standards, and in alignment with our beliefs.
🚙 OUT AND ABOUT
I recently visited Fusion Academy in Hingham - a 1-to-1 private school for grades 6-12, where personalized education unlocks the full potential of students with learning, social, or emotional differences. Fusion has a beautiful campus with many wonderful offerings, personalized and individualized for each student. As an educator who wanted (desperately) to support public education but could no longer watch while kids’ spirits were destroyed, it’s so inspiring to see so many educators coming together to do things differently.
*(I’m hosting a free community gathering on Wed 2/26 for alternative school leaders/educators - if you know of an alternative school, please share so they can find support!)
📣 SMALL MOMENT SPOTLIGHT
When a parent volunteered in our Middle/High program to teach us how to knit, I didn’t expect one of our students to be one to teach me.
(Bear with me here for the back story - it’s worth it) We had a student start at our school about 3 years ago. Anyone could tell she was incredibly sweet, smart, and the star of any show; a natural born leader. However, she had gotten the message (like so many do) from teachers, peers, and society, to be quiet, do what she’s told, and stop taking things so personally. That just did not align with her spirited, funny, quirky, sensitive self, so she had become a shell of who she really was. Having a front row seat to her rebuilding self-confidence and rediscovering her natural leadership is nothing short of magical.
(Now, back to the knitting…) This student felt my struggle and seamlessly stepped in to help. I was getting frustrated - ready to throw the knitting needles aside and just try to help others - but this 12-year old had the patience, leadership, and skills most adults don’t demonstrate, and she showed me (and other students) step by step by step by step. She was (unknowingly) integrating visual, tactile, and auditory supports (like every phenomenal teacher does) and she had me knitting in no time! I’ve now knit an entire scarf and am working on another. (Oh - and the parent volunteer was also knitting up a storm! We opened the eyes of at least a half dozen kids who are asking for her to come back.)
Small moment bottom line - You just never know when an unexpected moment will take your breath away.
🛠️ TRY IT AT HOME
Ok, ready to DIY?! This week (maybe a weekend to give yourself time) ask your child what is ONE thing they want to do. And do it! That’s it! Simple, right?! (Not always easy, I know!) But it can be something really small - and you can set your expectations clearly with them - ask on Friday afternoon, “What’s one thing you want to do this weekend?” And then see if you can fit it in. Do your absolute best to do it - even if you don’t want to! I promise, it’s worth it.
🌳🌊☁️🔥
Until next time,
Heather 💕