Skip to main content

The Power of Synchronous Social Experiences in Human Development

The Power of Synchronous Social Experiences in Human Development Rediscovering the Joy and Necessity of Learning Together ABOUT A  4  MINUTE READ –  Synchronous social experiences—those shared, real-time interactions between individuals—are foundational to both learning and human development. From infancy onward, our cognitive, emotional, and social growth is shaped by engaging with others in the moment. Whether it’s a conversation, a collaborative task, or a spirited group discussion, synchronous interactions offer immediate feedback, foster empathy, and build the communication skills essential for navigating the world. In education, these experiences deepen understanding. They allow students to question, clarify, and expand on each other’s thinking. Knowledge becomes something we construct together—not something absorbed in isolation. This kind of dynamic engagement strengthens critical thinking, nurtures curiosity, and cultivates both self-awareness and metacognitive skill. The Science Learning Modern neuroscience affirms what educators...

Continue reading

Finding Magic in the Mess

Finding Magic in the Mess ABOUT A  3  MINUTE READ –  Transitions can be hard but they can also be magical.  During the school year, the magic of The Leelanau School can be clouded in conflict, struggle, and growing pains, but between graduation and alumni weekend, it is undeniable.  We’ve had so many past students return or reconnect with us these past few weeks to share what Leelanau meant to them. Some of them graduated here, some of them didn’t. Some were here 4 years, some less than a semester. Because, from day one, we’re not like other schools. It takes resilience and faith to learn and teach here; just like it takes resilience and faith to succeed in today’s rapidly changing reality Instead of “teaching to the test” we create the conditions for learners to learn how to learn. Life isn’t about what you know or can memorize and regurgitate on a test, especially now when most facts are a few taps away on a device in our pocket- but so are a lot of AI fails, fiction, and deliberate misdirections.  I was reminded just today as I was...

Continue reading

environmental science mushroom

Improving Learning by Making Schools More Humane

Improving Learning by Making Schools More Humane ABOUT A  4  MINUTE READ –  Learning is a natural process hardwired into every human being. From birth, we engage the world with our senses, learn through feedback, test boundaries, and expand our intellect through experiences and relationships. Over time, we grow more self-aware, discovering joy and purpose in our talents while recognizing and valuing the diverse gifts of others. We learn to seek help and to offer it. This innate drive to learn is at the core of human nature. And then we are sent to school… Schooling was invented to augment, not displace, this natural learning process, bringing together experts for learners to interact with and peers to share experiences. Modern schooling, as we know it—sending children to a dedicated “place”—is a relatively recent experiment in human history. Despite its success in improving general literacy and striving for equity in opportunity, it has also accumulated significant inertia. Today’s schools are often weighed down by convention and...

Continue reading

Back-to-School Pictures

Back-to-School Pictures ABOUT A 3 MINUTE READ –  August’s end and September’s beginning are the times when our social media feeds are filled with photos of our friends’ fresh-faced kids standing in smart new outfits, perched on their porch, in the driveway, or in front of a big yellow bus. Some hold up signs or fingers matching their upcoming grade, while others clutch colorful new lunch boxes announcing their interest du jour. Most are grinning from ear to ear in anticipation of old friends, new teachers, and the promise of learning adventures.  As a teacher myself, raised in a family of educators, I’ve continued this tradition well into adulthood. My mom still awaits that back-to-school photo text from me, though the lunchbox has been replaced with a mug of strong coffee in one hand and often a class pet in the other. My cheesy smile is a giveaway of my excitement for the morning bell and a classroom of eager learners. And, boy, was I in trouble with Mom my first September at Leelanau when I didn’t send a picture! By no...

Continue reading

For Our 2024 Seniors Who Taught Us to “Smile and Shine On”

For Our 2024 Seniors Who Taught Us to “Smile and Shine On” ABOUT A 3 MINUTE READ –  I recently took a trip to a local restaurant with a few students, and as we drove through the twists and turns back to campus, the hemlocks stood tall. One of the students, valedictorian Sophie Schwartz, said, “This is my favorite thing in the world when the sun peeks through the trees.” And honestly, what our 2024 graduates may or may not realize is that they’ve exhibited this very act throughout the entire school year. Instead of sun beaming through trees, though, they acted as mentors, kindness-givers, and peacemakers within our whole community. Their rays beamed when the sun did not. So, with overflowing gratitude to the seniors, we most certainly had a memorable year. As the final semester neared the end and the memories started piling up, I kept thinking about the famous song by the Youngbloods, “Get Together.” It’s as if the seniors memorized the chorus because they most certainly lived its actions throughout the school year. The chorus sings… “You...

Continue reading