The Open School

Learning was happening all around this table.

✔️ Reading cards and instructions
✔️ Counting and managing money
✔️ Mental math
✔️ Strategic planning
✔️ Decision-making
✔️ Taking turns
✔️ Critical thinking
✔️ Communication
✔️ Sportsmanship

The best part? It all happened through play.
At The Open School, we know that meaningful learning doesn’t have to look like a textbook—it can look like laughter around a game board. 🌱

What beliefs about school, learning, authority, or success did you absorb as a child—and which of those beliefs are you still carrying today? What might change for your child if they were encouraged to question those assumptions and discover their own way of learning, thinking, and engaging with the world? 💬 We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Last week, our staff attended the Global Self-Directed Democratic School conference in Chicago, along with representatives from about 60 other schools. It was a time of connecting with other educators, sharing stories and best practices, and was topped off by an incredible keynote address from none other than Dr. Peter Gray! These conferences are priceless, and the benefits last for years.

Sudbury International Tallgrass Sudbury School

In this student-written reflection, Lexie explores the profound differences between traditional schooling and self-directed education—and what becomes possible when young people are trusted to take an active role in shaping their own lives. 🌱
Read the full blog post to learn more!

The Open School- Breaking Down the Unconventional Beliefs Created by Public Schools This is part one of a series called “A Journey of Self-Directed Education” written from a student's perspective. Each post will discuss a different aspect of

Even pinata's can be educational. The best part of an afternoon at school is watching the small negotiations happen in real time -- who goes next, how to make things fair, and how to make sure everyone is safe. The kids figure it out because it matters to them.

What happens when young people are given more control over their own minds, bodies, time, and learning? They begin to question the assumptions they’ve been taught to accept. They discover that learning can happen anywhere, curiosity deserves space, and their ideas have value.

What does positive discipline look like in practice? It starts with connection before correction. At The Open School, we guide students through conflict with respect and problem-solving, not punishment.

Rules mean something different when you’ve had a voice in creating them. When students help shape the community they live and learn in, they develop a deeper sense of ownership, responsibility, and respect for the agreements that help everyone thrive. 🌱