completely-free-no-registration-necessary resources for families in quarantine

Nurturing Self-Directed Learning at Amber Colibri Center

with Agnieszka Golasik (29 min)

Donations accepted via

DESCRIPTION

Agnieszka Golasik is among many things a valuable resource with a plethora of insights to share with you about the operational logistics of setting up and running homeschooling coops.

Come hear what she has to share about the parenting journey that led her to create a self-directed learning center that fosters these values:

Happy, kind, compassionate, fulfilled, balanced, and self-motivated children connected in meaningful relationships. Older children serve as mentors and teachers to younger children. Younger children remind older children to have patience and empathy in communication.

How do we continue to help our children thrive naturally in nurturing environments in the current climate?

Healthy Children

Fostering the BALANCED MIND

We value learning in all forms: reading, researching, problem solving, planning and goal setting, experimenting, observing nature, discussion, and embracing mistakes,

self-direction, self-regulation, and self-motivation;

honoring personal strengths and challenges.

Fostering the HEALTHY BODY

Ample outdoor play: we believe children need fresh air, sunshine, and nature daily

Exercising: sports, dancing, yoga, martial arts

Nourishment of the body by eating nutritious food and knowing where our food comes from

Honoring time for rest and reflection

Fostering the GRATEFUL SPIRIT

All forms of self-expression: art, music, story making, dancing, singing, and theater.

Sharing fun, laughter, games, and good times together as a community

Fostering the LOVING HEART

We help children to root their hearts in caring, compassion and kindness.

Helping each other, being supportive, listening respectfully,

and having good manners are all ways to show that we care

Interpersonal skills: conflict resolution, group discussion, and being an active member of a group

Emphasize collaboration and cooperation rather than competition

All children to feel cherished, loved, included, and respected for who they are

Social Justice and Caring for the Earth

Social consciousness, global awareness, and ecological responsibility

Active involvement in the community

Model a sustainable environment and steps toward reducing our ecological footprint

Gardening and permaculture

How does teaching differ in this learning environment vs. a traditional school?

There are many differences that set us apart from the traditional education system. We are not a school or a child care center but an educational center that currently within one of centers programs provides the variety of enrichment activities for and stability of social environment for a community of homechoolers. We differ dramatically from any other traditional educational system. Just to mention a few differences:

*Free play and daily nature exploration are regarded as highly important for child development

*An emphasis on creative expression and interdisciplinary approach as part of all learning including traditionally academic subjects such as math, writing, and science

* Building activities and learning opportunities around a child’s interests

* A focus on cooperation over competition

* Social-emotional learning and healthy friendship development is highly valued

* Devotion to building a connected community within the center itself as well as local community through service projects

FACILITATOR BIO

Agnieszka Golasik is the Founder and Director of The Amber Colibri Center. As an artist, mentor, child advocate and educator, her journey to Amber Colibri began unexpectedly when her oldest daughter entered public school and was confronted with a system that did not match her specific needs and learning style.

After three months of attempting to “fit a square peg into a round hole” it became increasingly clear that something unconventional was needed if her daughter was going to thrive. As such, Agnieszka turned to homeschooling and unschooling and later became a teacher and parent at South Mountain Coop Democratic Free School before founding Amber Colibri Center in 2017.

Agnieszka is long time Vipassana meditator who strongly believes that mindfulness meditation practice is the main tool to achieve personal balance. She is an exhibiting and teaching artist who works in variety of visual mediums, with artwork present in a number of private, corporate and public collections in the States and abroad. You can see Agnieszka's art here. She is highly passionate about making nutritious food and spending time in nature. Agnieszka holds a Masters in Historic Preservation and Bachelor of Fine Arts degree received abroad and in the States, both with highest honors and awards.