Where are the teachers?

We’ve heard for years that teachers are overworked, underpaid, exhausted, and often unsupported. Many parents feel their children are falling through the cracks because of the demands on teachers and lack of funding. Solutions have been attempted for many years with little change. 

What if children were their own teachers? What would that be like?

Acton schools have, in a sense, turned learning upside down - putting young people in the driver’s seat of their education. In a traditional classroom, teachers are the apex of the learning process by planning what, how, when, and where learning will happen. They organize the day and define goals and plans for their students. 

In the Acton model, learners make work plans for themselves, setting goals and tracking their progress. They decide where to work (not at desks!) and how best to achieve their goals. They seek out solutions to difficult problems. They collaborate peer to peer and teach each other when someone struggles. Young people are at the center of the learning process and are empowered to make choices about their own learning.

Freedom is empowering! Young people in learner-driven schools thrive on the independence and autonomy provided when adults are supportive mentors who believe in their inherent worth and genius.

Stay tuned to find out what the role of a Guide is in the Acton learning model!

Want to learn more? Check out this article on learning in community from peers, or watch the video below to learn more about self-directed learning. Want to take a deep dive? Watch this video with Acton founder Laura Sandefer about the origins of the Acton schools and how the model works.

Do you have questions, or are you ready to schedule a tour? Click here to schedule a discovery call today!