Alternative Education for Creative Minds
Morgan Graham, Christine Lonergan, and former ACGS parent Elizabeth Bouinatchova have started a collaboration to create a new early education movement, inspired by Morgan and Christine's original ideas: An inclusive community with child-led learning and dedicated, creative educators. The plan is to incorporate as a new 501(3)C non-profit. More details to be posted here soon.
Christine's new Facebook page: Real School Inc.
Schools are not factories. Children are not robots. "Real" school is life, and real learning is play.
Christine's blog: what is progressive early education all about?
The Format: We intend to start as a workshop / summer / after school program, 1-3 days per week, around July of 2018. Morgan and Christine will host some sessions at their homes in Eagle Rock. Elizabeth may host additional ones at her Los Angeles residence (a kid-friendly enclosed courtyard building in the Carthay/WeHo area). Other suggested locations are welcome! We'll be doing a mixed age group, approximately age 2 to age 6, and we're extending invitations to about 6-8 children in this first round.
The Teachers: We plan to engage the 35+ years of teaching and credentials offered by Christine herself, as well her son David who is a certified early education teacher. Morgan will of course chip in as host. Additional caregivers include Karen Sanz, a 20+ year childcare veteran and Pepperdine Art Major, and Elizabeth Bouinatchova, a mom with decades of experience in the Performing Arts, who is also a state-employed safety supervisor for her two special needs children. We're collaborating with several gifted child therapists from Beautiful Minds Center for Autism - we're spectrum-friendly - and other artistic guest-caregivers.
It's an exciting line-up so far!
It's an exciting line-up so far!
The Ideas: We want to encourage children's natural energy and creativity with open indoor-outdoor play and free access to music-making accessories, costumes, and props. Christine's guitar will make regular appearances. Elizabeth's creative movement background will likely come into play often, as kids will be prompted to explore characters and themes through pretend play and movement. In more restful times, kids will be offered creative artistic projects with varied materials that will build on other themes they've explored that day. Writing and numbers practice can always be incorporated for students who are interested: We have ideas about exploring the culture and style behind different types of writing and counting. Specifics on all this are available on request.
