by Ken Danford | Oct 1, 2020 | self-directed learning
The Glass Is Half-Full When I’m asked how North Star is coming along this fall, I struggle with starting with whether “the glass is half-full” or the “the glass is half-empty.” We have a lot of redeeming and inspiring moments each week, and I think we are making the...
by Ken Danford | Sep 16, 2020 | self-directed learning
(Here’s a “Happy Alumni Story.” I will have an update on North Star’s first month of the new academic year in the next installment, but it’s a bit too soon to summarize right now.) What happens to a boy who skips school and goes fishing all day? Not just one time as a...
by Ken Danford | May 26, 2020 | self-directed learning
When I started teaching at Andrew Jackson Middle School in Suitland, MD in 1991, I had visions of Jaime Escalante, featured in the 1988 movie Stand and Deliver, as my inspiration at that time. He had taught his Latino students in Los Angeles to excel on the Advanced...
by Ken Danford | May 1, 2020 | self-directed learning
Before Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced that public schools will be closed for the remainder of this academic year, he stated that he wanted to re-open public schools in May to administer standardized tests that could determine just how much children...
by Ken Danford | Apr 8, 2020 | self-directed learning
North Star is about two weeks into its online efforts. The main lesson: There is a very important reason that North Star is a community center. Our online efforts to support each other have some highlights, but really, we miss being together. For all that we use...
