Thanks. I suspect a surprising number of adults had similar experiences as kids... and had to learn how to learn somewhere in adulthood. Crazy that we keep repeating the system when we can do better in terms of how we teach our kids.
Here’s the question I was asking myself: How can we balance system-wide accountability with the need for flexibility and personalization? Standards and tests aren’t inherently bad; they provide a baseline. But how can schools and districts embrace a “both-and” approach—meeting shared benchmarks while allowing for individualized learning paths? Could competency-based education, where students progress as they demonstrate mastery, offer a way forward?
It's a daunting question and a critical one. I'm coming at this from the homeschool/microschool perspective rather than the public school perspective. I've 'opted out' of trying to solve the system-wide issues and instead chose to solve them for our kids. I also recognize it's not an option for everyone.
Michael Strong addresses a related issue in his article, Betting on Homeschooling Microschooling. The main takeaway for me is that scale and class size play a big part in creating a learning environment with the flexibility needed for personalization. Whether it's microschooling, homeschooling, or a progressive reimagining of public schools into smaller 'pods' (finances aside for the moment), if we can create smaller-scale environments for kids, they will more likely feel connected and understood as people first, therefore more likely to become engaged learners.
Another thought regarding standards is to create a more flexible system that allows kids to meet different standards depending on the track they choose. I realize this tends to set off alarm bells within some communities in the US, but versions of this approach are in play in Germany and elsewhere... A big topic and ongoing discussion for sure!
This resonates. I was paid for grades from K-12. I learned to pass tests and meet others’ standards.
I had to learn how to learn and how to set my own standards in adulthood.
Thanks. I suspect a surprising number of adults had similar experiences as kids... and had to learn how to learn somewhere in adulthood. Crazy that we keep repeating the system when we can do better in terms of how we teach our kids.
Here’s the question I was asking myself: How can we balance system-wide accountability with the need for flexibility and personalization? Standards and tests aren’t inherently bad; they provide a baseline. But how can schools and districts embrace a “both-and” approach—meeting shared benchmarks while allowing for individualized learning paths? Could competency-based education, where students progress as they demonstrate mastery, offer a way forward?
It's a daunting question and a critical one. I'm coming at this from the homeschool/microschool perspective rather than the public school perspective. I've 'opted out' of trying to solve the system-wide issues and instead chose to solve them for our kids. I also recognize it's not an option for everyone.
Michael Strong addresses a related issue in his article, Betting on Homeschooling Microschooling. The main takeaway for me is that scale and class size play a big part in creating a learning environment with the flexibility needed for personalization. Whether it's microschooling, homeschooling, or a progressive reimagining of public schools into smaller 'pods' (finances aside for the moment), if we can create smaller-scale environments for kids, they will more likely feel connected and understood as people first, therefore more likely to become engaged learners.
Another thought regarding standards is to create a more flexible system that allows kids to meet different standards depending on the track they choose. I realize this tends to set off alarm bells within some communities in the US, but versions of this approach are in play in Germany and elsewhere... A big topic and ongoing discussion for sure!
https://michaelstrong.substack.com/p/betting-on-homeschooling-and-microschooling?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1608114&post_id=152298956&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=czbqe&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email