Hence, my final lesson.
Lesson #4: Parents who venture into a learner-driven community and stay to watch their children struggle, fail, get back up, grow, and achieve are the true heroes at Acton Academy.

Lesson #3: Level up your storytelling.

I overheard Charlie say to Sam, “Don’t do what mom did! Remember that story? It didn’t turn out very well!”

First, be curious.

Second, make decisions out loud.

Do you let your children hear how you decided to oversleep, pay your bills, read that particular book, forgive your friend?

As promised, I want to share some of the best lessons I’ve learned about learning, families, parenting and human growth over the past 10 years.

The first lesson sets us up with a way of thinking and living that is transformative for family living.

Remember back to your six-year-old self.

The world was full of possibilities. You were a natural learner. Deeply curious. Maybe you even considered yourself a superhero.

The wonder of the Hero’s Journey is that it honors each individual while holding up the importance of the community surrounding that individual.

What are the Main Differences Between the Montessori and Acton Academy Programs?
A question we commonly hear at our London, ON, Canada Acton Academy is this: “How is your school different from a Montessori school?”

You’d think it would be one of these:

Online learning
Socratic discussions
Collaborative quest work
Emphasis on writing, public speaking, logic and rhetoric
Peer managed studios
High standards of kindness and honesty.

But it’s not.

The biggest adjustment incoming middle school and high school Eagles encounter is a two-fold life skill – both simple and difficult:

It’s the beginning of the year and the Eagles are learning the processes and systems that will help them soar for the long haul. For parents, these early days can feel baffling and stressful.