The election, politics, and young children
In this election season, many of us are energized to deepen both our political advocacy and our pedagogy. I believe that we all need to…
Tag: democracy
Getting Started: West Coast Global Pandemic Edition
This pandemic experience is a massive experiment in collective vulnerability. We can be our worst selves when we’re afraid, or our very best, bravest selves.…
Exploring The Nest
“Children are not cherished but detained at national borders, treated not as radiant beacons of our shared future but as criminals. To any conscionable human,…
Building nests together
Opal School has a long relationship with Alise Shafer Ivey and Pedagogical Institute of Los Angeles. We’ve admired and contributed to the important work that…
Sharing Gratitude
On Friday morning, Opal School children, families, and teachers gathered together for our weekly school-wide gathering. This week, it was the Dogwood community of first…
Political Work
Last week’s retreat focused on developing learning communities characterized by courage and collaboration. During the brief days of the workshop, we were rocked by the story…
Practicing strength by being vulnerable
Maintaining connection while feeling big emotions is something that we work hard on and practice a lot at this school. We want children to experience…
Play, school, and the future of jobs
As much as I find good reason to treat anything that comes out of Davos with a measured dose of skepticism – and as resistant…
Unpacking Compassion
“Empathy is a gateway to compassion. It’s understanding how someone feels, and trying to imagine how that might feel for you — it’s a mode…
A call for truth and reconciliation
Yesterday, we held one of our monthly Online Subscriber meet-ups. Susan and I were joined by Monica Martens, a teacher from Manitoba. She described how she…