Laura Sandefer
WHAT ACADEMIC LESSONS WILL MY CHILD MISS BY NOT ATTENDING AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOL?
Comparing the academic programs at public schools with the learning that occurs at Acton Academy is like comparing apples to oranges – or...
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Laura Sandefer
- Jan 18
- 2 min
TALENT, LUCK, OR HARD WORK?
At Acton we often talk of gifts and talents. Our current projects have added a mathematical element to this discussion: can you...
Laura Sandefer
- May 13, 2021
- 2 min
THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF TECHNOLOGY – OUR FAMILY DILEMMA
It was a battle we were not winning. Every time Jeff or I took a stand to limit “tech time” at home, it would stick for a day or two,...
Laura Sandefer
- Apr 25, 2021
- 2 min
A LETTER FROM A CHILD – THE REMINDER I NEEDED
I was given permission to share the following letter written by an elementary school Eagle. The heartfelt request is beautiful and...
Laura Sandefer
- Mar 24, 2021
- 2 min
THE LEARNER DRIVEN APPROACH: HOW AND WHY IT WORKS
The learner driven approach inspires, equips, and connects young people who embrace a Hero’s Journey to make principled decisions towards...
Laura Sandefer
- Mar 16, 2021
- 2 min
A PARENTING MINDSET SHIFT TO FREE YOU
The mindset shift that happens at Acton Academy with the children is two-fold: 1) Shifting from a fixed mindset (I’m just not good at...
Laura Sandefer
- Mar 16, 2021
- 8 min
THE SECRET SAUCE AT ACTON ACADEMY
My friend and fellow Acton founder, Lauren Quinn, wrote the following article. I believe it is an important reminder for parents today....
Laura Sandefer
- Mar 16, 2021
- 1 min
BACK TO THE BASICS: WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BE LEARNER-DRIVEN?
With over 200 Acton Academies and 600 Acton Children’s Business Fairs around the world it’s easy to get overwhelmed in trying to figure...
Laura Sandefer
- Mar 16, 2021
- 2 min
TWO MOST IMPORTANT TRAITS FOR PARENTS
Over the past twelve years, I’ve been inspired by many heroic parents in my midst. The list of strong character traits I witness in their...
Laura Sandefer
- Mar 16, 2021
- 2 min
TOP 3 THINGS A PARENT CAN EXPECT WHEN JOINING AN ACTON ACADEMY
I thank Jake Thompson, founder of Heroes Academy in Boise Idaho, for co-writing this with me. A common question we get is: “What are the...
Laura Sandefer
- Mar 15, 2021
- 2 min
PRINCIPLES OF A LEARNER DRIVEN COMMUNITY
While each Acton Academy community has its own culture and personality, we are bound by the same key principles that drive our daily...
Laura Sandefer
- Feb 28, 2021
- 2 min
ESSENTIAL ELEMENT #10: THE ROLE OF THE ADULT IN AN ACTON STUDIO
The Acton learner driven experience solidifies only when there is an understanding of the role of the adult in the studio. Our adults are...
Laura Sandefer
- Feb 22, 2021
- 2 min
ESSENTIAL ELEMENT #9: FREQUENT PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS OF LEARNING
When Jeff and I started Acton Academy, we wondered how we could prove learning beyond simply giving a test, the antithesis of a learner...
Laura Sandefer
- Feb 16, 2021
- 2 min
ESSENTIAL ELEMENT #8: FREEDOM WITH RESPONSIBILITY
With deep respect for the work of Dr. Maria Montessori, we layer onto our design of the Acton learner driven community element #8:...
Laura Sandefer
- Feb 12, 2021
- 2 min
ESSENTIAL ELEMENT #7: EXCELLENCE
This is where the rubber hits the road. Excellence. None of our work matters without it. An Acton learner driven community has a three...
Laura Sandefer
- Feb 8, 2021
- 2 min
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS #5 AND #6: THE SOCRATIC METHOD AND TRIAL & ERROR LEARNING
We are halfway through this series of posts laying down the essential building blocks of an Acton learner driven community. So far, we...
Laura Sandefer
- Feb 5, 2021
- 2 min
ESSENTIAL ELEMENT #4: MIXED AGE STUDIOS
The element that promises an Acton learner driven experience will thrive is also the simplest of all: the mixed age environment....
Laura Sandefer
- Feb 4, 2021
- 2 min
ESSENTIAL ELEMENT #3: STUDIO CONTRACT
Our Acton learning communities would not be “learner driven” without this essential element: the Studio Contract. Unlike rules or...
Laura Sandefer
- Feb 3, 2021
- 2 min
ESSENTIAL ELEMENT #2: GROWTH MINDSET
At Acton, everyone is learning and growing all the time – adults included. This is because we are fueled by element #2 of the Acton...
Laura Sandefer
- Feb 2, 2021
- 2 min
ESSENTIAL ELEMENT #1: THE HERO’S JOURNEY
Nemo. Luke Skywalker. Mulan. Odysseus. Dorothy. The Little Engine that Could. These stories strike a chord of yearning we share – ...