The carpets are coming … after almost exactly 3 months the carpets are coming next week! and we shall open the week after and start getting ready for term 3.
A lot has been happening in the background. Not just new recourses – though we do now have two knitting machines, ones you have to programme! a lot of new learning to happen there. And a printer! I am so thankful to the generosity of people and their support of our mahi.
I have been doing more of my master’s in education. Currently I am doing a course on teaching neurodivergent students. I am even more convinced in the importance of self-directed education. The presentation I did on this is too big to attach here but I will add some easy access interesting resources on this post. Handing in this assignment brought back some not so pleasant memories of school. I got to learn some really interesting things and then to assess whether or not I had learnt this I was tested in a less interesting manner, including my ability to use a computer, and the marking rubric has nothing to do with the learning intention (ick) or whether or not I will be ‘better’ at ‘teaching’ neurodivergent people. I was nearly in tears because of this and remembering the frustration, anger and powerlessness I felt at school.
Shelby has an exhibition on in the Suter. She is looking forward to coming back to the co-op and thinking of courses we could inspire others with on the Weekends.
I have managed to get a job at the STEAM school with Yael on Wednesdays during school hours so we are changing our opening hours.
Self-Directed resources:
WATCH
Suvemae: Pioneer of possibility. About a democratic school within a school in Tallin (Estonia).UDEC2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2VKhH7Fb67AKvpMCfS_yn790sRSMEBZByTb0z1KZQveeyRjwyqGxqHiq0_aem_BE8JQ5nztbiQhdPFm48u6g&v=WYjkIIMmhcs&feature=youtu.be
Radical, based on a true story of transformational education. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_(film)
Peter Grey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g1zlU5vbMk
Ken Robinson https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity?language=en
Sugata Mitra https://www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_build_a_school_in_the_cloud
LISTEN
Aiono Sarah, (1 Nov 2024) Play Conversations. Season 4 Episode 7: A Conversation with Professor Guy Claxton. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3R61omoqQtdTp2ZdwO89QR
Or Sonja Grey’s Podcast https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/no-such-thing-as-normal-new-podcast-by-sonia-gray-explores-the-world-of-neurodiversity/4IA45Q4LOJAVDGF54K6LVUMBEM/
These are examples of New Zealand schools who are allowing more self-directed education, and their student testimonials (these are not democratic schools).
https://tamariki.school.nz/testimonials
Websites:
https://whakatukidscooperative.org.nz/
https://futuremakers.nz/2024/01/18/self-directed-learning/
https://aurora-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/FINAL-Agency-by-Design-Playbook.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimally_invasive_education
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_rights
https://www.progressiveeducation.org/the-20-project-for-schools-a-modest-proposal-by-derry-hannam-2/
https://www.self-directed.org/sde/
Taakuta Ferris: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ELNmorSF3/
Good BOOKS
Thigpen T, Collier C, Bryant A, Toles B. (2025) The playbook for self directed learning. A leaders guide to school transformation and student agency. Routledge ISBN 9781032758879
Ings W, (2025) Invisible Intelligence. Why your child might not be failing. Otago University Press
Fisher N, (2023) A different way to learn. Neurodiversity and Self-Directed Education. Jessica Kingsley Publishers ISBN 9781 83997 3 635
Reading specific references:
Review of Rethinking learning to read Harriet Patterson https://www.self-directed.org/tp/re-thinking-learning-to-read-book-review/
Whitebread D, (2013) School starting age. Faculty of Education Cambridge UK 2013 https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/discussion/school-starting-age-the-evidence
Grey P, (2010) Children teach themselves to read. Psychology today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/freedom-to-learn/201002/children-teach-themselves-to-read
A student’s perspective on learning to read without ‘teaching’ https://yes-i-can-write.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-i-learned-to-read-and-write.html
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