Help Me Teach Myself

21/04/2022

Big news: I'm offering a full scholarship, worth $300 for one month of one-on-one tutoring! If you know any students age 6 - 12 who could use an academic boost, pass on the message.

Bonus: If we get 20 serious applications, I'm opening up a second, full scholarship. Please share widely; the more, the merrier!

www.helpmeteachmyself.com/scholarship

30/03/2022

My thoughts and approach on difficult conversations with children.
I remember feeling overwhelmed the first few times students asked me about sensitive topics. I've since grown more comfortable with it and in this video I share some of what's been working for me lately.

Please let me know your own approaches here!

23/02/2022

A story about a student of mine working on reading and writing. By following her interests in what we read and write about, she has set herself the project of writing better laws to correct injustices in society. She's 6 years old!

The times that I have nudged and incentivized students to work on a project that i think would be good for them, I have met with pushback. When I listen and adapt we accomplish more than I would have imagined possible.

14/02/2022

Hola Hola !

Las quería mencionar el trabajo que estoy haciendo de clases particulares para niños a partir de 6 años. Uso las técnicas Montessori adaptadas al medio virtual, basándome más que todo en el respeto por el estudiante y su camino de aprendizaje. Mis especialidades son las matemáticas, ciencias e idiomas (inglés, francés y español). Les dejo esta imagen con mi información y les pido de compartirla por favor con amistades y grupos que se pueden interesar.

Muchas gracias 🙏🏻

27/01/2022

A love of beautiful words has been a driving force in my learning. At soon as I grew interested, books were available to me - at home, at school, in the library. I was given the space I wanted to disappear into new worlds. I received lessons in how to care for them. They took on totemic importance.

This quality has migrated evermore to screens in my life. Kids and screens are a tough balance to get right. I observe the child with an eye to what emotions are driving the behaviour. Does the child look alert and engaged, or do they have a glazed look? If the latter, maybe it's time to hit the park.

Kids need to explore the world they live in. Screens are part of it.

16/01/2022

"Join your consciousness with that of there universe and you will find your divinity."

08/01/2022

Everyone thinks they know how to use a saw. It's harder than that though. To cut a straight line to measure, without binding the blade or splintering at the end requires strength, patience, endurance, and care. Especially if it's curupaú (tropical hardwood) like we were working with here.

Quite apart from whether a child will ever *need* to saw something, this is a template for every challenge he will ever face. We build ourselves in interaction with the world.

08/01/2022

There's little in life more satisfying than digging a hole. Critically, it must serve a purpose. Here, we were aiming for China. Last year the kids at my school wanted a pond, so we dug one, together. This is learning. Whatever we do, let's not let education interfere with learning.

08/01/2022

Here, we're wetting some newspaper and shredded cardboard for use in compost. I make worm composters with kids whenever I get a chance. This is great on a purely sensorial level and it's alright to save the big concepts for later.

It's amazing how naturally composting comes to us when were young. Last year one of my students grew so comfortable with compost that he would root about in it with his fuzzy, pink mittens on, looking for interesting bugs! 😆

08/01/2022

Maria Montessori speaks of an inner wisdom which guides each of us toward what we need most in our development. I work to engage with this force in children and help them find the power therein.

28/04/2020

I just read a book on the Sudbury Valley School. It's amazing what they're doing and I learned a lot from it. Here's a summary I wrote (as well as a link to download the book). I hope you like it too!

My introduction to the Sudbury Valley School. A summary and notes on "A Clearer View" by Daniel Greenberg.