by Ken Danford | Apr 16, 2021 | self-directed learning
As a U.S. History teacher, I enjoy following cultural trends and trying to read larger historical patterns into them. This month, I’ve been particularly interested in a Gallup Poll which shows that for the first time in the eighty-year history of that survey, fewer...
by Ken Danford | Apr 11, 2021 | self-directed learning
As I’ve mentioned, one of the highlights of this year has been welcoming Distance Members to North Star this year. In the past, we have only worked with local teens, but because nearly all of our activities have been on Zoom this year, we have decided to experiment...
by Ken Danford | Mar 22, 2021 | self-directed learning
What happens to an unschooler who refuses to wear shoes? (and who attends North Star barefoot in all seasons for several years?) I opened my mailbox yesterday to see Grace Martenson with her industrious smile busy mending shoes as the cover photo of this week’s...
by Ken Danford | Feb 15, 2021 | self-directed learning
Among my favorite activities is welcoming and orienting new people to the field of self-directed education, especially young teachers who are disillusioned by the system they had felt inspired to improve. Now, the moment has arrived to join forces with some others who...
by Ken Danford | Jan 1, 2021 | self-directed learning
Happy 2021! Sometimes we get lucky! Sometimes we make our own luck! North Star is teaming up with The Institute for the Musical Arts and the Shea Theater to bring the world Get Down With Your Hometown, a two-day online musical extravaganza on January 8-9, 2021...
by Ken Danford | Dec 1, 2020 | self-directed learning
I dissent from two current headline-making statements about whether schools should be open during this recent Covid-19 surge in November: Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker: (Concerned that too many students are attempting to learn from home) “We all know that...
