Parenting, education, raising children - none are for the faint of heart. There are countless surprises - the good, the bad and the completely out of left field! There are equal numbers of moments when, as teachers and/or parents, we stand back and wonder what on earth we're supposed to do now.
This blog is for everyone - whether parenting kids, teaching kids, or simply interested in education - who have felt that moment of paralysis, who worry about the future, and wonder how to move forward. I'm finishing my Ph.D. in Education, focused on the family-school relationship and my studies have been interdisciplinary, guided by the idea that one area alone cannot create change. Complex problems require broad, inclusive thinking, rooted in context and processes which foster connection and mutual understanding.
I believe that:
Improving education for children requires input from many people
There is not one "best way" to raise/and or educate a child.
Society has deep and specific expectations of schools, families and students - many of which are not useful at all.
Education is relational: when we build relationships, everything is better.
The best way to work through problems is to bring everyone together, in the same space to agree and disagree, to talk, to plan, to act, and learn from each other.
Join me in thoughtful discussion about our schools, our children, our communities and our future.