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Wow! This is the first time on MDC where I don’t even know what a forum is about?  

post #1 of 30
3/31/05 at 5:34pm
Thread Starter 
What are these things?

(Reggio Emilia, Sudbury, Democratic)
post #2 of 30
3/31/05 at 5:45pm
they're types of schools
post #3 of 30
3/31/05 at 11:11pm
Thanks for visiting! We all learn something new everyday!
post #4 of 30
3/31/05 at 11:13pm
Fascinating....

I had no idea...
post #5 of 30
4/1/05 at 3:24am
Thread Starter 
Yea, I get that they’re types of schools and did a little search. I’d love to hear more from those of you who have personal experience. DD is going to school one day and I’d like to know our options.
post #6 of 30
4/2/05 at 3:46pm
My daughter recently began attending the Sudbury Valley School (SVS) in Framingham, MA. She is 8 years old, and left a public school in the middle of second grade. SVS is a democratic school, accepts children 4 through 17, and the children are entirely self-directed all the time. There are no grades, no tests, and there are only classes if the kids specifically request them. From my observation, the kids are happy, relaxed and busy much of the time. There is lots of music, art and conversation going on. The kids seem very comfortable associating with all the different age groups. Now that warmer weather is finally arriving, the kids seem to spend a good part of their days outside. It's pretty wonderful to see children blooming like flowers in the sun now that spring is here.

Is my daughter learning? Yes, it's amazing to me how much she's learned so far. Much of it is life lessons like how to get along with such an array of people, how to structure her day, fiscal responsibility (there are oppportunities to buy some food items, and some art suppplies). She is much more interested in news and current events, and has lots of energy after school to pursue her other interests.

Sudbury Valley pretty much requires you to believe that children left entirely to their own devices will learn everything they need to know. Much like babies will learn to walk and talk without specific instruction, this school believes that in a rich and supportive environment, you can't stop children from learning.

My daughter was not thriving in public school, and I needed an alternative. Once I started researching this, it I was very excited. Honestly, I'm also a little scared, because this is so different from any idea of school I ever had.

The school has a good website http://www.sudval.org if you want more information. I'd be happy to answer any questions that anyone has about our experience.
post #7 of 30
6/1/05 at 1:37pm
as lame as this sounds:

I thought "Sudbury Schools" Meant schools in Sudbury Ontario Canada

I knew Sudbury Ontario was different, but not THAT off the mainstream track! lol
post #8 of 30
6/11/05 at 10:31am
I am a Reggio inspired teacher. The Reggio approuch of education began in the 1960's for children age 3-5 and later also iinfants and toddlers in an Italian city called Reggio Emilia. It is child centered, project-based and sees the teacher as researcher not just as the all knowing head of the classroom. There is a real emphasis on documentation of the learning through photos, work samples, and video. Also, the children are encoraged to use their meta-cognition (think about their thinking) when they revisit the documentaion. Small group work and long term projects are encoraged. The teacher really is to follow the children's lead to develope the new provocations presented to them.

That is a very, very brief overview.
post #9 of 30
7/28/05 at 2:08pm
I didn't know what these things were either. Thanks for starting this post and thanks to the people who helped explain these types of schools. I thought that Waldorf was all I would ever consider for dd, but now that I know about sudbury. I'm very excited to have more (and maybe even better) options to choose from.
post #10 of 30
9/21/05 at 2:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MommyPam
My daughter recently began attending the Sudbury Valley School (SVS) in Framingham, MA. She is 8 years old, and left a public school in the middle of second grade. SVS is a democratic school, accepts children 4 through 17, and the children are entirely self-directed all the time. There are no grades, no tests, and there are only classes if the kids specifically request them. From my observation, the kids are happy, relaxed and busy much of the time. There is lots of music, art and conversation going on. The kids seem very comfortable associating with all the different age groups. Now that warmer weather is finally arriving, the kids seem to spend a good part of their days outside. It's pretty wonderful to see children blooming like flowers in the sun now that spring is here.

Is my daughter learning? Yes, it's amazing to me how much she's learned so far. Much of it is life lessons like how to get along with such an array of people, how to structure her day, fiscal responsibility (there are oppportunities to buy some food items, and some art suppplies). She is much more interested in news and current events, and has lots of energy after school to pursue her other interests.

Sudbury Valley pretty much requires you to believe that children left entirely to their own devices will learn everything they need to know. Much like babies will learn to walk and talk without specific instruction, this school believes that in a rich and supportive environment, you can't stop children from learning.

My daughter was not thriving in public school, and I needed an alternative. Once I started researching this, it I was very excited. Honestly, I'm also a little scared, because this is so different from any idea of school I ever had.

The school has a good website http://www.sudval.org if you want more information. I'd be happy to answer any questions that anyone has about our experience.

Is there any way you can build a time machine for the years 1985-1998? Seriously, that is the type of school I needed to attend. I made excellent grades as it were, but I know I would have loved that sort of atmosphere. It would have fitted my personality to a tee.

~Nay
post #11 of 30
9/22/05 at 4:36pm
AntoninBeGonin, a lot of people I tell about the school feel exactly the same way, including me!

The school started in 1968, but I sure knew nothing about it during my school years. I would have loved it there. I feel like this is a gift that I am giving my daughter.
post #12 of 30
9/22/05 at 5:24pm
Thread Starter 
It’s funny that I started this OP a long time ago and now we’re moving to an area with a Sudbury Valley School (Santa Clara, CA). I’m seriously considering if my DC starts school next year.
post #13 of 30
9/22/05 at 10:05pm
I was going to send my son's to Waldorf, but there were still things bothering me about them. So when I found Sudbury schools, it fit exactly what I was looking for. So I am so excited to live by one, and my son is going to start there next fall. I also wish I could have gone there, it would have fit my personality so well. I am an Indigo, and I would have thrived there.
post #14 of 30
9/22/05 at 10:15pm
this is so much fun! thanks for starting this thread - i thought i knew a lot about different types of schools - guess not!
post #15 of 30
9/22/05 at 10:20pm
: Cool info...
post #16 of 30
9/23/05 at 5:51pm
We're in an alternative program within our public school that sounds just like what you're talking about. Very student-driven, no grades, the kids get to choose what they want to do. All mixed grade classes, they each get a buddy and are encouraged to work in groups, etc... They also have the same teacher two years in a row which I like. And they emphasize parent-teacher collaboration, instead of parent volunteers.

It's a wonderful program and it sounds a lot like what you're talking about; it also started in the late 60's. We are so lucky to have it in our public school.
post #17 of 30
10/25/05 at 1:41pm

This sounds familiar

I am REALLY not trying to sound negative about this but the Sudbury schools sounds A LOT like the school I am pulling my DD out of. Everything is pretty much self-directed, there are no "grade-levels" they are broken up by color and within the colors there are several different ages and the children are pretty much free to do what they want to a point. I loved the idea so in september I enrolled my daughter. Of course this could be school specific and maybe this has never and hopefully will never in any of the schools you all speak of but I am there quite a bit monitoring the activities and twice (not once but twice) the school has "lost" a child. Not just where did Johnny go, oh he is hiding under the table, but the first time the 4 yo left the school to be with his older brother. Nonetheless he left the school and the second time they accidentally let a 5 year old get on the but when one of the teachers was supposed to bring her home. There would be no one at her stop to get her. There were other disorganizational I had with them but I was not waiting for a third time they lose a child it be mine.
I apologize for sounding so negative but a place so free sounds a little disorganized with many repercussions possibly resulting in the harm of a child.
post #18 of 30
10/25/05 at 6:08pm
UmmSamiyah-

That's an interesting point you bring up, but also one that could happen at any school. My dd is in a "regular" public school, and one of the other students in her class wondered out the door about 20 minutes before the end of the school day. He was just hanging out on the playground, but he *could* have left school grounds, gone home, whatever. My DDs teacher is a great lady, and her class is NOT disorganized, but you can't watch kids every second- as a parent or a teacher.

IME, by five or six, most kids really are responsible to stay (in general) where they are supposed to. But that's a great question to bring up when speaking to an administrator.

IdentityCrisisMama-

I'm in Mountain View, and considering the same school you are for next fall! We should talk some more.
post #19 of 30
10/26/05 at 2:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by laurata

IdentityCrisisMama-

I'm in Mountain View, and considering the same school you are for next fall! We should talk some more.
Gladly. I'll be in the San Jose area beginning November 21st. Maybe a coffee.
post #20 of 30
10/28/05 at 7:07pm
At my daughter's Sudbury School, the kids take responsibility for where they are at any given time. The staff makes no effort to "keep track of" the kids - the kids keep track of themselves. They sign in and out to indicate their presence on the campus. They pay an attendence fine if they fail to sign in or out.

When at school, they can be where ever they want to be. I don't think it's at all disorganized, but from a traditional schooling perspective, it is radically different.

Of course, it does require the students to have the maturity to know the boundaries, and follow them. I don't think my son will be ready for this when he turns 4. We'll evaluate when he's ready for this much freedom as he matures.

I have absolutely no problem with this amount of freedom for my 8 year old daughter, however.

I'm sure this isn't for everyone, but it does work for some of us.
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Mothering › Forums › Education › Learning at School › Other (Reggio Emilia, Sudbury, Democratic) › Wow! This is the first time on MDC where I don’t even know what a forum is about?