|
|
|
|
Hello, friend!
Alt Ed Austin’s Festival of Learning, the biggest, most joyful alt ed event of the year, is coming up on Sunday, November 18, from noon to 5pm, at beautiful Fiesta Gardens. I can hardly wait! Read all about it here and see what the 40+ participating programs have in store for you. RSVP to the Facebook event to get all the updates and share with friends. Some highlights:
- 20 extraordinary, learner-centered schools that serve elementary, middle, and/or high school students
- an adorable bunch of play-based preschools
- oodles of cool programs that teach new skills to adults and kids of all ages
- special attractions including the acclaimed Typewriter Rodeo and The Edge of Imagination Station
- performances on the outdoor stage for all ages: Daniel G. Benes Science Shows, Cards for Connection, Richard Hurley Piano for Special Needs Students, and Hey Lolly Puppet Theater
- great food vendors, including Texas Chili Queens, Pizza on Point, Make My Day Italian Ice, and more
Spend the whole afternoon with us to experience all the hands-on learning, interesting exhibits, crafting, face-painting, martial arts demonstrations, great books for sale, and much more. The school fair (inside) ends at 4pm, in time for everyone to catch the Teen Talent Showcase (outside), which will keep your ears happy and impressed until 5pm.
Did I mention FREE admission? I could go on and on about why you should attend, even if you don’t have kids. But I’ll stop now because I have other things to tell you.
In our Sponsor Spotlight this month is the Academy of Thought and Industry, a terrific high school that you can meet at the Festival of Learning. Scroll down to read EvaClaire Albion-Wright’s article, and see if ATI sounds like a place where your teen would thrive.
We’ve been so busy coordinating festival festivities that we haven’t devoted much attention to the blog over the past several weeks, so our Recently on the Blog feature is on hiatus until the next issue. But as always, the Happenings column on the left is overflowing with school tours, open houses, public talks, and other education-related free events around Austin. Be sure to visit our frequently updated online calendar, too. I also encourage you to follow Alt Ed Austin on Facebook, Twitter, and now Instagram, where we regularly share relevant news and ideas.
Finally, please exercise your right to vote today. If you already did, or you’re reading this while standing in line to vote, hooray! Alt Ed Austin is not a partisan organization, friends, but I urge you to vote for science and reason, for compassion and equality.
Alternatively yours,
Teri
Sponsor Spotlight
The Power of Personal Coaching for Teens
The natural process of teen individuation often results in less-informed decision-making. At ATI, we believe personal coaching is the solution.
Teens’ readiness for more autonomy coincides with their taking on bigger decisions and making choices that have lasting effects. The result is that teens often make decisions with a lower level of input from their parents and a higher level of input from their peers, or no input at all. Due to lack of insight, parents feel understandably concerned. To protect their child, they may respond by trying to limit their child’s freedom. Teens react by trying to pull away further. This process is frustrating for teens and heartbreaking for parents.
At Academy of Thought and Industry, we believe that, to serve a teen holistically, we have to be part of tackling this problem. Our solution is to pair each student with a coach who checks in with them one-on-one every week. The coach's job is to build a strong relationship with both the student and parents, to build an understanding of the student’s personal, emotional, academic, and professional status and goals, and to guide them toward success in all areas. Coaches achieve these goals through pointed coaching with applicable tools and resources. We support students in taking on more independence, making strong choices, learning to find outside help and resources, and taking the tangible steps to make their dreams a reality.
For families, the result is that they are more informed and aware of their teen’s experience. Parents can trust that their teen is being supported and taken care of and thus feel more comfortable allowing their teen to go through the necessary process of individuating. As a result, relationships within the family improve.
Our coaching program has been successful with a varied group of students, from those who are struggling with personal or academic barriers to those who are already high-achieving and need support in finding work that is challenging or has applicability to the real world.
Through our coaching program, ATI supports teens, whatever their starting point, to prepare for a flourishing future and to live their best lives now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
