Real life learning for K-8

What do you feel is most important for your child?

Most people don’t put academics at the top of their list. It’s usually self-esteem or confidence. And yet, parents worry more about their child’s academic standing than these internal qualities. There is a constant anxiety that their child “won’t be prepared.” But what does being prepared really mean? Yes, you want your child to develop the skills to achieve any goal they set their heart on, but does that only include academic skills? What about kindness, presence, creativity, love of work, conscience, responsibility, living in a community, understanding the foundation for lifelong health? When nurturing a child’s inner, feeling life goes hand in hand with learning about the world; when as much value is put on a child’s being as on what they can accomplish; when we educate the whole person – only then does education bring forth the fruit of the seed that lies within every child. This is what we do at Running River School.

When children are young, they are exploding with energy, curiosity, creativity and joy. Learning is natural and constant. But by the end of kindergarten, the light in their eyes frequently begins to fade, they are disconnecting from the power and capacities inherent within their bodies, and nature no longer rivets their attention and fascination. Running River School was founded to allow children to thrive by addressing all of their needs in a holistic, integrated, and balanced way.

Life and learning are synonymous.

Learning brings joy, engages passion, and allows every individual to discover and begin to manifest their gifts. The latest brain research proves that we learn best experientially, in a multi-sensory, meaningful, collaborative, and compassionate environment. Think about where you did your best learning. It probably wasn’t with 25 people your own age, in a windowless box, through books or lecturing. This is how most schools teach our children.

At Running River:

• We use multi-aged classrooms to address the diverse needs of learners so they can progress at their own pace because children learn subjects at different rates, using different modalities. We customize and personalize education, feeding the children’s spirits and allowing their passions to flourish.
• Learning is experiential and interconnected, like life. All subjects are integrated into yearly themes applying academics to projects as well as life skills such as gardening, cooking, carpentry and sewing to name just a few. Children are given more responsibility, building confidence as both learners and teachers.
• We don’t label children according to their grade, nor do we give standardized tests to compare them to one another. Children naturally challenge themselves when they are in an environment that honors them as individuals, and values the quality and effort of their work.
• Our children are connected and deeply in tune with nature. We hike every week, all year long, as well as go camping.
• Our contemplative practices such as quiet time, stillness, yoga, mindful eating and time in nature balance awareness of our inner world with the outer.
• Health means understanding your body, eating well, being physically fit, and being able to both relax and to work hard. We build and support the foundation for life long health.
• We are a community. Respect, kindness and relationships are built through using such tools as councils to develop communication skills and deeper understanding, monthly parent forums, all school events and working together to operate all aspects of our school.
• Children crave meaning and connection, and the opportunity and support to engage their intellects, hearts, and bodies in learning. The knowledge (notice I say knowledge and not information) gained by in-depth learning experiences translates into students for whom learning is an inherent, life-long process. Running River students love learning, and they are taught how to go about learning anything they set their minds to.

Only this type of experiential, mindful learning prepares children for the complexities and challenges of the world we live in today. They need to be deeply centered in themselves, to be confident in their ability to learn and to express, to work, to play, and to love. How do we know our school does this? We hear it repeatedly from the children and parents of children who have graduated from Running River School.

Our highest aim is to serve humanity and the planet; but, each individual has to answer this call for himself or herself. An education that supports the acquisition of self-knowledge with equal significance as the development of academic skills, is necessary for directing and influencing how each of us gives our unique gifts back to the world.

Please take some time to read through our website to find out how Running River School engages children on every level: intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual. Then come and visit us to find out just how joyful school can be.