Dear Leaders,

Learner-centered is a way of being—it extends into how we see children in all settings, including at home. Last month, I shared how a learner-centered parenting class made a real difference for me by showing how the concepts we find core to any learner-centered transformation—trust and co-creation with young people—can be practiced at home within my family unit.

The teacher of my parenting class, Paige Trevor, who has also become a friend, posted a wonderful message in her blog post last week, R-E-S-P-E-C-T. She talks about 3 ways we accidentally disrespect children:

• Asking questions you know the answer to (e.g. Asking if they took a cookie out of the cupboard after you just saw them do it);
• Being nice in ways that takes away their responsibility (e.g. giving them new clothes when they haven’t shown any capacity to take care of the ones they have); and
• Being disappointed when kids aren’t perfect (e.g. when they talk back or have a messy room).

She also shares the antidote to these which are applicable to any setting with kids.

• Say things like, “I saw the Oreos were all eaten, I was looking forward to sharing them. We’ll be taking a sugar break for a week.” (notice the lack of shaming in this straight forward communication)
• Build capacity and ask for a demonstration of that capacity before more responsibility is given.
• Be curious and ask questions rather than just be disappointed. We are all human.

After reading the blog, you can take a minute to think, when and why am I asking questions I know the answer to? Am I moving young people to the next thing before they’ve demonstrated they are ready for a new responsibility? When am I passing judgement onto my kids instead of exploring what’s going on from their perspective?

Learner-centered is a way of being. It relies on self-reflection, empathy, and a trust that we are better off solving problems together. If the learner-centered paradigm became the dominant paradigm of the next century, what might society evolve into?

As you read the 55^th issue of Pioneering, discover the examples that exist today of “what could be” and a futurist piece from our friend, Katherine Prince, who explores four possibilities of what our education system could look like ten years from now.

Enjoy,

Kelly