Acton Academy Lincoln | A Montessori Inspired Private School in Lincoln, Nebraska

An Educational Journey

​with Unlimited Possibilities

The future is changing rapidly.Traditional Education is not. So We are changing it. 
Join us on this journey as we ​reimagine school in Lincoln Nebraska.
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2/18/2021

There's no-such thing as bad weather

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1000 Hours Outdoors - Arctic Blast Update

This story is the first in a multi-part series by Heidi Harsin, wife, mom, co-founder of Acton, and the reason Acton Academy Lincoln exists. If it weren't for her momma heart pushing her to find a refreshing approach to our children's education we wouldn't have discovered Acton.
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​I came across a great analogy the other day comparing the “witching hour” we, as parents, all know and love - to the second half of February. The long, exhausting time period you just wish would hurry by. We’re definitely there. I find myself checking my weather app an unhealthy number of times, as if checking it will hurry these frigid temps along.

We rounded out the month of January with 25 hours outdoors, about 5 hours less than I would have liked. I see that number and it looks so small and yet I KNOW that many of those hours required some real effort, time and tears to make it out the door. So, we’ll take them.
In just 25 short hours I’ve already learned a few great lessons:
  • Hot chocolate + marshmallows = a simple pleasure
  • "Sweet exhaustion" is a beautiful term and after your children have spend HOURS outdoors in the cold and snow- that’s exactly where they’re at.
  • Favorite winter hack, trying to have the dryer empty so that when we come inside all the cold, wet gear gets thrown right in. This is an extra sweet idea if you’re headed back out shortly, the girls LOVE putting back on their warm, snuggly clothes straight from the dryer.
  • We’re absolutely doing things that we NEVER would have done in the past. My personal favorite, a 90-minute, Saturday afternoon hike through our neighborhood “woods” with snow falling all around us. Hands down one of my favorite experiences since becoming a family of five.

Here’s what I also know- we MISSED our outdoor time during the frigid temps. The other day our 3 year old asked when it was going to snow again, so they could go outside and scoop. THEY are missing their outdoor time. We have extra energy that’s hard to get rid of, lots of LOUD voices inside that we’re used to using up in the great outdoors

I’m already making plans for how we can knock out some chunks of time once those temps hit the 30s and 40s...40s...a heat wave. Bring it on!
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We spent almost an hour outdoors one night after work this week. It was a balmy 15 degrees and we were ALL so happy, rosy red cheeks and all. Our middle said, “oh wow, it’s so warm”. It’s all about perspective, dressing warm and find a big mountain of snow to climb!

Heidi Harsin

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In 2021, our family is on a quest to experience 1000 hours outdoors. Heidi will post monthly updates on our journey. We invite you to follow our journey and hope it inspires your family to live life outdoors.

Outdoor time will also be a staple at Acton Lincoln. We plan to implement Forest School Fridays later this spring and build an outdoor classroom as soon as the weather allows.

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2/13/2021

Your Kids Can Love School!

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A school that helps Kids Love learning again!​

Meet Miss Mayah. This past session our learners wrote their memoirs and she chose to write hers about Acton Academy Lincoln, "her favorite place to be". Watch and see why she loves Acton, a private school in Lincoln, Nebraska 

WHAT SETS ACTON APART FROM
​TRADITIONAL EDUCATION OPTIONS?

Acton is a place where the learning environment is nurturing, and we provide a variety of academic offerings, technology, entrepreneurship, physical education, music, art, community service, and leadership opportunities. We believe middle school is a time to build character, seek independence, and gain an understanding of self and others. As an independent school, we place great value on preparing our students not only for High School (coming soon!) but also for a world beyond school. We believe in the education of the whole person - inside and outside of the studio - and encourage students to develop intellectually as well as into citizens of good character. Quests help students learn about potential careers they might be interested in as well as develop lasting skills such as the ability to work as a team, develop creative solutions, and to set and crush goals.

Students from all types of school choice backgrounds thrive at Acton Academy Lincoln: Whether your family comes to us from a Montessori school, after homeschooling, public school, private Christian school, or charter school, we believe a like-minded tribe aligned around a common purpose is powerful. Learning happens all the time, and staff, parents, and children each have a powerful part to play. All parts of our learning community are engaged for support, to share perspective, and bring value.

Grab Your FREE Info Kit Here: my.actonacademylincoln.com/freeinfokit

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2/6/2021

Applying to Private Schools

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What to Expect from our Audition Process

Applying to private schools in Lincoln, Nebraska can seem like an overwhelming process. There are so many options from private Christian schools, to Montessori schools, not to mention a handful of alternative  homeschool options to choose from. Each has their unique application process.

For us, we prefer to call ours and audition. We are auditioning for you as much as you are for us! It's a two way street, and it must be a good fit for both parties. 
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Our philosophies must be well-aligned. Our unique audition format acts as your guide as you discover the Acton learning design and philosophy. As you go through, you will be asked to reflect on your ideas about education to ensure that our environment and execution are REALLY what you want for your family!

We recognize that we ask you to dedicate time and thought to the process. Families who are thriving in our community often share that they truly enjoyed the process, and we hope you do too.
​
1. VISIT US!
We invite you to schedule a campus tour OR attend a Discovery Night. 

2. REQUEST OUR PARENT APPLICATION + HERO FORM
After completing your own research and reading "Courage to Grow" we invite you to complete our two-part online questionnaire.
3. HERO FOR A DAY
After we receive the completed questionnaires and your videos, your child is invited to visit our school for a day. The visitor day is an excellent way for us to get to know your child and allow them to experience learning at Acton Academy Lincoln.

4. ADMISSIONS DECISION​
If we believe Acton Academy Lincoln would be a good fit for your family, we will invite you to enroll. Admission to our school will be confirmed upon receipt of the registration fee, and signed enrollment documents.

Acton Academy Lincoln is a "year-round" private school.  The 10 month school year is broken up into "sessions" that are typically 5-7 weeks with a 1-2 week break in between. There is an 8 week break in the summer with an optional 2 week summer session.

You can find tuition information along with other specifics about our audition process to our private school here in Lincoln, Nebraska under the apply page of our website.
​
Apply to Acton!

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2/5/2021

The Importance of the American Experiment: A Hero's Perspective

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EveryDay Heroes

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One of our Acton Heroes Mr. Tucker with his dad Captain Borchardt
At Acton Academy, a private school in Lincoln Nebraska, we believe that the American Experiment, with all its faults, is the best hope on earth for protecting human liberty. As Acton Co-Founder Jeff Sandefer says in this episode of Our American Experiment, "We believe in liberty and justice and the ideals of the American revolution as the cornerstones of civilization. In addition to experiential learning, we will study the American documents and the true meaning behind them, as we examine other cultures and forms of government." 

This session our heroes (what we call our students) learned about the American flag and the history of the pledge of allegiance.
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Our Elementary Studio saying the Pledge of Allegiance to start their day.
Whenever possible, we bring in what we call "everyday heroes," individuals who can share their life experience and stories from their own Heroes Journey that may inspire and help further the lessons we are exploring in our Elementary Studios.

Last week, we had the opportunity to invite a real-life hero into our studio to speak to our heroes! Mr. Borchardt, who currently serves as a Captain in the U.S. Army and National Guard, shared about his job and what being a part of a team means to him. “Being a part of something bigger than myself is what my job is really about. In order to accomplish our missions, my team has to work together.”

Mr. Borchardt’s words relate very closely to what life looks like in our studio here at Acton. Each and every day, our heroes must work together to ensure they accomplish their SMART goals for the day and stay on schedule. If one hero falls off the track, the entire tribe is affected.

Mr. Borchardt described that America to him is about opportunity and freedoms. “Less than 1% of Americans go into the military. We get to do things over 99% of people don’t get to do.” This goes to show how incredible of a job Mr. Borchardt has and how he truly is a hero every day. At Acton, our heroes learn every day how special of a role they have in the world! Becoming a real hero may not be the easiest or most common path, but, as Mr. Borchardt shared, there is no doubt it is the most impactful. To wrap up our time our special guest, we asked Mr. Borchardt to share any advice he had for our Acton Lions. He said, “Focus on being a part of the team here. If you give your best, your team will be able to give their best too.”

We are incredibly grateful for Mr. Borchardt’s service to our country and that he was able to come share about his hero’s journey in our studio! We can’t wait to see how our young heroes apply what they learned from this discussion to their adventures here at Acton!

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Acton Academy Lincoln

A learner-driven private school in Lincoln, Nebraska. We offer a truly different approach to school. Supported by the latest in technology and cognitive science, we move beyond the traditional tools of lectures, homework, high-stakes tests, and grades. At Acton Academy Lincoln, students K-8 learn in collaborative classrooms of multi-age learners. Our flexible approach challenges each student with their differentiated learning plan and inspires them through real-world projects.​
Learn more by watching this video.

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1/29/2021

What is your curriculum?

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"What is your Curriculum?"

One of the top questions we are asked by parents when touring our private  school in Lincoln, Nebraska is "what curriculum do you use?" 

While we utilize Montessori elements and the latest in game-based adaptive software, the "curriculum" at Acton Academy Lincoln can seem confusing; especially with so many Lions pursuing independent learning plans.

When asked about curriculum on tours, I like to quote fellow Acton owner, Matt Beaudreau:
Our most important curriculum is fostering self-awareness from having tried a number of things and developing self-confidence from actually having pulled through doing hard things that mattered.
​

​-Matt Beaudreau | Acton Placer Founder
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That said, below are four principles that form the foundation for our curriculum at Acton Academy Lincoln. 

1. First, Make it Fun.

Job number one is to make it fun to be part of the community.  If the Lions want to belong to the tribe, they will accept hard work and the Hero’s Journey as the price of membership, deeply imbedding the core belief that Grit matters more than IQ for heroes in the long run.

Plus, motivated Lions work at 10X the rate of average students.

2. Focus on Core SKills.

Reading, writing (communication) and math are fundamental tools for decision making and critical thinking.

Reading: First, make reading fun and enjoyable (see point number one above.)  Allow Lions to read anything they want.  Once Lions love to read, you can offer more challenging ideas, authors and genres.

Hint: Never mention the word “classic.”  Sadly, many children define "classic” as “a boring book that grown-ups make you read.”  You can and should offer Great Books; just be careful what you call them.

Writing (Communication):​ Make writing fun by starting with journaling or lighthearted creative writing.  Start early with Socratic discussions.   Always write or communicate for a reason, usually as part of an exhibition, so that quality matters to the Lions.  Over time, offer more difficult challenges and genres.  Use peer critiques to boost motivation; Lions will write and revise a great deal if they can share with friends.

Handwriting and spelling will come over time, but giving Lions incentives to improve these earlier helps some parents relax.  Grammar is different.  Too much early emphasis on grammar can kill the joy of getting thoughts and emotions on paper.  If Lions care about writing and communicating, better grammar will come.

Math:  Khan Academy and other game based adaptive programs make math curriculum a breeze, so you can focus on motivation and including math in real world projects.

Civilization:  Find articles, videos and ethical dilemmas that put the Lions in the shoes of a heroic decision maker, require them to take a firm stand and debate the alternatives in a Socratic Discussion.

Lions are competitive by nature.  Ask them to track and post the results for the Core Skills activities above, and deep learning will happen.

3. Add Quests for 21st Century Skills

If you are confident that the Core Skills are being mastered, you can add Quests to master 21st Century skills and subjects like Science.  A Quest is nothing more than a series of hands-on, real world projects that contain a narrative and a public exhibition at the end.

Start with simple Quests first.  Then add more complex Quests.  Once you have a sense of what makes a great Quest, simplify again.  Then hand over Quest creation to your Lions.

4. Real World Apprenticeships

As soon as possible, ask Lions to begin real world apprenticeships – often as early as ten years old.  This includes each Lion considering his or her individual gifts and talents; activities that bring joy or “flow,” and the irresistible opportunities or terrible injustices that inspire a young hero.

Challenge Lions to identify and pitch apprenticeship opportunities themselves, with as little help as possible from adults.  There’s nothing quite as freeing as knowing you can identify and land your next adventure in life, all by yourself.

Lion Driven Learning Communities offer a rich tapestry of collaborative discovery with serious rigor, as young heroes negotiate collaborating and learning with Running Partners and in small groups.  But “self organized” doesn’t mean chaos; in fact, it usually requires a rigorous set of  rules and natural consequences.  Embracing the principles above allows the chaos at Acton Academy to (usually) have an upward trajectory, and to self correct when it doesn’t.

Originally posted on "The Eagles of Acton" Blog

You can read more from this blog here.

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1/26/2021

Is Acton Academy a Montessori School in Lincoln Nebraska?

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A question we commonly hear at our Private School in Lincoln, Nebraska is: “How is your school different from a Traditional Montessori school?”

As we prepare to open a more traditional Montessori Studio in the Fall to compliment our Elementary and Middle School Studios, we thought it would be great to share this article from a
 fellow Acton Academy owner. They explain their experience as parents with a top-rated Montessori school near them and opening an Acton Academy similar to our school in Lincoln, NE.
The following has been adapted from their original article. We added our specific name and city where applicable.
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What are the Main Differences Between Montessori and Acton Academy Programs?

We relied on the experience of having both of our children attend a wonderful Montessori program as toddlers and preschoolers, our own research on this topic, as well as the input from other Acton Academy owners who have also spent time contemplating the answer to this question. We certainly share many values of the Montessori system and care greatly for our friends who run and work in these schools.

A common response to this question from other Acton owners is that Acton Academy is almost like a Montessori 2.0 or Montessori for the 21st Century. While Acton Academies do believe in many of the principles espoused by Maria Montessori (respect of the child, self-learning/freedom of choice, multi-age classrooms, a prepared environment and teachers as guides, to name a few), there are significant differences between the programs as well.

It is important to note that not all Montessori schools are officially licenced so there is some variation in the style of programming delivered. Similarly, each Acton Academy is independently owned and operated as well so absolute generalizations cannot be made.

With that in mind, here are some specific distinctions that make an Acton Academy a unique learning environment compared to a Montessori school.

Consistent Progressive Education Goals vs. Focus on Early Years

Acton Academy Lincoln is a great option for families looking to continue an alternative education after graduating out of their current Montessori School in Lincoln, Nebraska.
View Our Montessori Studio
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Maria Montessori seemed to invest her genius in preschool-aged children and early childhood development. Acton owner Kai Olderog had this to say: “She designed it for those ages and placed an enormous amount of trust in children that age to be responsible for their environment and capable of doing amazing work.”

The Montessori programs offered for older children weren’t necessarily developed by Maria Montessori and have been formed by individual programs wanting schooling for higher ages. As a result of this distinction, many Montessori schools add more traditional elements to their programs as the children get older; this actually leads to decreased responsibility in the higher grades. At an Acton Academy, our Hero’s are given more responsibility as they get older and are heavily involved in self-management, leadership, and self-government of their learning environments.

Having said that, our school and many other Acton Academies accept students at age six or seven so we often rely on, recommend, and partner with local Montessori programs for the toddlers and preschoolers who will come to our school at that older age.

​The Focus on Mastery + Use of Technology

At an Acton Academy, a large emphasis is on the development of mastery when learning Core Skills (reading, writing, math, and spelling). We utilize tools, at times technology-based, that allow our students — we call them “Heroes” — to learn at their own pace and individually. We continually seek the most efficient ways to enable this, and many Acton Academies incorporate other paper-based tools (Singapore Maths, Writer’s Workshop, for example) to find the best means to achieve our ultimate goal.

Technology is one tool we use to allow this kind of learning to take place. For the most part, Montessori programs have a reflexive policy against the use of technology in the classroom.

Jeff Sandefer, the co-founder of Acton Academy said this about our program: “Acton isn’t pro-technology, but we use powerful game based programs for areas like Math, as well as relying on the internet to bring experts and the world to us. We don’t dismiss technology out of hand. If it’s a useful tool, process or habit, we use it, whether its Khan Academy or a walk in the park.”

Socratic Method vs. Group Discussions

Acton Academies emphasize the use of the Socratic Method in educating our students. This differs from the group discussions led by teachers, which Montessori programs encourage. The Socratic method, with the use of active questioning in order to draw out and clarify one’s thinking, is a vehicle for developing critical thinking skills, stimulating critical reflection, and developing depth of character. Although group discussions are better than lectures, often the teacher is still in the role of ‘expert’ and this can limit the robustness of thought required by the students.

Ability to Apply Learning to the Real World

Real world preparation includes a need to adapt to a place influenced greatly by technology, a continual shift in knowledge, and a rapidly changing landscape. We just don’t know what kind of future our children will face so developing useful skills and a critical thinking approach is extremely important moving forward.

The Acton Academy system is focused on preparing our Lions to find their own calling in the real world. We continually help our students in this regard in multiple ways:

1. The use of the Hero’s Journey heuristic as a way of using stories as a backdrop for learning, and in understanding that they themselves are on their own journey

2. Bringing in guests to discuss their Hero’s Journey and demonstrate the challenges everyone faces on their life’s path

3. The use of Quests as structured real-world challenges that create real world accountable results, much like project-based work

4. The use of Apprenticeships as Eagles get older to make the world their classroom

5. The focus on entrepreneurship, leadership, and self-management

6. An emphasis on character development and the concepts that allow our Hero’s to do their best – Curiosity, Gratitude, Grit, Growth Mindset, Optimism, Purpose, Self-Control, Social/Emotional Intelligence, and Zest
At an Acton Academy, we continually focus on relating lessons and tasks to the real-world in order to give our Hero’s the skills, abilities and confidence to succeed in whatever field they choose. The focus is on the process of learning, not just the content of it, thus enabling them to be ready for whatever the future may bring.

Ongoing Improvement to Achieve our Educational Goals

An Acton Academy has, at its core, the mission to enable our Hero’s to Learn to Learn, Learn to Do and Learn to Be, along their path of finding their own calling. The program has been developed with this goal in mind and therefore there is constant reflection on what is working and what is not, so continual improvements can be made as needed. The Montessori Method is a specific educational philosophy in and of itself, and thus it can be hard to change in a rapidly changing education landscape.

Overall, while Acton Academies do share, respect, and incorporate many of Maria Montessori’s philosophies on children’s education, we do have a number of differences which we feel help our Heroes to best prepare themselves for the future. It comes from the similar desire to do all we can for our next generation but also takes advantage of the recent advances in tools, philosophy and understanding of education in the 21st Century.

Written by Dr. Vineet Nair & Andrea Nair, M.A., CCC

INFINITY SCHOOL: AN ACTON ACADEMY IN LONDON, ON, CANADA


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1/21/2021

The Desire To Do Work That Matters...

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"What do you want?"

Lincoln, NE Montessori School
“You don’t have to be smart to go to Acton. You have to want to be smart.” – Matteo, an Acton Academy middle school Eagle

Though merely two sentences within a long, heated Socratic discussion, Matteo’s words were flashes of gold. Everyone agreed with them. With clarity and ease, he’d pointed us to the essence of why Acton exists in a way I had never pondered.

It is about wanting. It is about desire.

Desire is longing for something not yet attained and includes a sense of dissatisfaction with the status quo. It is the fuel for curiosity – the most powerful intrinsic motivator.

But I wasn’t satisfied with my analysis of Matteo’s words. Was he really talking about just the desire to be smart?

I decided to pursue his idea further. I asked a small group of Eagles to help me out:

Why do you want to be smart?

So I can feel confident in the world.
So I can understand how things work.
So I can make hard decisions and tough choices.
So I can do the right thing.
So I can do something important with my life.
So I can solve problems that aren’t being solved yet.
So I can find my calling.


Their wanting to be smart was not about having an academic credential. It was not about pleasing parents and teachers. 

These young people desire doing intelligent work that matters for this big, wonderful world.

Shakespeare wrote: “Joy’s soul lies in the doing.”

Acton Academy exists for the “doing” not just the “knowing.” Ultimately, there will be joy even if the journey includes suffering and sacrifice because the learning and work are purposeful. They are driven by the heart – where desire and character reside.

As a parent, this shifts my stance on talking with my sons about their work at school. My natural tendency at the end of the week is to ask them: How many points did you earn? How many Eagle Bucks do you have?

These extrinsic, academic questions are easy and okay. But, frankly, they miss the target.

There is a much more important question: What do you want?

I often forget to consider the desire in their hearts. When I focus merely on the external evidence of their daily learning, I snuff out the force that will drive them for the rest of their lives: the desire that lies in their hearts to do work that matters.

These young people exude profound confidence and inner freedom because they carry a mindset of growth. They know they can learn absolutely anything if they work at it. There is no slumped-over pessimism that comes from the burden of being labeled “smart” or “not smart.”

It’s as if they are already saying, “Open wide your doors, world. We are excited to meet you.”
​
Thank you, Matteo.

Laura Sandefer

Acton Academy Co-Founder
Original blog published on Being an Acton Academy Parent

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1/12/2021

THE OUTDOORS CALLED - WE're ANSWERING.

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If we want children to move mountains, we first have to let them get out of their chairs.
​-Wilder Child

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​The following is an excerpt taken from “Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children” by Angela J. Hanscom

A day in the life of a typical modern kid- imagine this. 

Sarah, a sweet nine-year-old, gets up and dresses quickly in the morning, keeping in mind that if she eats fast enough her mother will let her watch cartoons before leaving for school. As soon as she finishes her last bite, she watches reruns of “Looney Tunes.” Twenty minutes goes by in a flash.

Sarah lives in the country, so it takes about twenty-five minutes to drive to school. Her mom feels guilty about the long drive, so she lets Sarah play on the iPad until they arrive. “Everyone, please take your seats!” the teacher shouts as Sarah approaches her desk, where she sits most of the day, except for a brief snack, quick lunch and a twenty-minute recess. Then it is time to go home.

After another twenty-five minute commute home, Sarah is feeling energetic after a long day of sitting. She instantly heads toward the swing set in the backyard. “Not yet,” Mom catches her. “Homework first”. Sarah groans, shuffles to the dining-room table, and pulls out her assignment.

“Argh…” Sarah is literally trying to pull her hair out. “I hate this! I can’t do this!” It takes about ninety minutes to complete the homework on a good day. By the end, she is exhausted. After two bouts of crying, she feels angry and spent. “Can I play on the iPad for a little bit?” She asks her mother. Her mother, thinking Sarah has definitely earned it this time, says, “Sure. But remember, we need to leave for Girl Scouts in thirty minutes.”

After Girl Scouts, Sarah and her family use the drive-through on their way home since it is already a late night. When they get home, Sarah grabs her Harry Potter book and readies for thirty minutes before it is time for lights out. Tomorrow, she’ll do this routine all over again. Only instead of Girl Scouts, she has basketball practice. 
When I think about these children, children begging for time, for play, for life to just SLOW down it truly breaks my heart. 
​If you’re anything like me, you finished reading this excerpt feeling empty, exhausted, overwhelmed and sad. Sad because while this may not be your family, we all know that family or families that live this exact life. When I think about these children, children begging for time, for play, for life to just SLOW down it truly breaks my heart. 

​I came upon this book on my Kindle months ago. I started reading it, life got busy with the Holidays and so I set it aside and just days ago started back at the beginning. Two weeks ago I came upon an Instagram account called “1,000 hours outside”. It was pretty easy to see that I was being pointed in a strong, straight line towards the simple concept that our children thrive when we allow them outdoor, active, FREE play without adult interference.


I don’t use the term “called to” lightly. But this, there was no denying. Maybe it’s our current climate, the craziness that was 2020, I’m not sure -but when I came upon “1,000 hours outside” on Instagram I fell in love with her message, her content, her challenge and I didn’t hesitate- 2021 would be the year that the Harsin family committed to 1,000 hours outdoors.

Are we currently behind our (my goal) hours? We are. Do I enjoy being outdoors in the cold? I do not. Is it a fight (with LOTS of whining involved) to get everyone in boots and coats and hats and out the door? 100%.

But, here’s what I already know...after just 12 days: Once we get outdoors and find our adventure- our big girls don’t want it to end. This past Sunday we spent almost 3 hours at Mahoney State Park sledding, hiking, having a picnic and even after all that time- they didn’t want to be done! I’ve noticed that the girls are already asking for less screen time- when we come in from outdoor time they’re so content to just settle in and PLAY. Bedtime is a breeze, nothing wears a kid out more than moving their bodies in the fresh air. Our girls are falling asleep immediately and for the most part, not making a peep for 11-12 hours. If nothing else, these things make it ALL worth it.

The things that I love most about the 1,000 hour challenge (outside of what it can bring to our children): you can begin this challenge whenever you choose, you set your own rules and even if you fall short of the 1,000 hour goal...you still WIN.

If one word of this resonates with you- I challenge you to dig into either of these resources, or the many others that you can find on this very topic and explore. We owe it to ourselves, our families and our children to simply do that...explore.

I am excited for our journey and hope you will follow ours here, while simultaneously finding the inspiration to start your own outdoor journey. 
Balanced & Barefoot Book
Visit 1000hoursoutside.com
Learn More About Acton Academy Lincoln

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Heidi Harsin

This story is the first in a multi-part series by Heidi Harsin, wife, mom, co-founder of Acton, and the reason Acton Academy Lincoln exists. If it weren't for her momma heart pushing her to find a refreshing approach to our children's education we wouldn't have discovered Acton.

In 2021, our family is on a quest to experience 1000 hours outdoors. Heidi will post monthly updates on our journey. We invite you to follow our journey and hope it inspires your family to live life outdoors.


Outdoor time will also be a staple at Acton Lincoln. We plan to implement Forest School Fridays later this spring and build an outdoor classroom as soon as the weather allows.

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12/30/2020

Mom Follows Gut to find Right School for Daughter

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A Founding Family Story - The Shaws

"I have never felt more like I have a say in her education than I have the past month and a half at Acton.  If your gut is guiding you to make this change, trust it.  You will not regret giving your child(ren) the best gift you can give them."
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​Our education journey started with the public school system.  Kindergarten year we had a good year and a great teacher.  As we entered first grade I could slowly see the rigid structure weighing heavily on Peyton.  It was a struggle to get her to want to go to school.  I began researching other options in the area and did not have anything 100% resonate with my desires for Peyton’s education. I explored the homeschooling option; however, since I work full time I would not be able to give Peyton the guidance she would need or be able to connect with other homeschooling families in the community due to my work schedule. 
 
We continued into her second-grade year and her not wanting to go to school only intensified.  She was miserable and I was miserable sending her every day.  I honestly understood why she was not happy.  A lot of what I saw in her is what I felt growing up going through a system that was very rigid and put me in a one size fits all approach that did not align with how I learned at all.  We went to our second scheduled parent-teacher conferences in February 2020 and I left knowing I had to figure out a change.  Tests and metrics that we had been told in previous years to not put much weight into all of the sudden in the second grade were a big deal and the ability to explain those to the parents and help guide the student on the best path to enhance their learning was non-existent.  One month later COVID hit and school was remote the remainder of the year.  I was dealing with a very different child via remote learning.  She wanted to learn, and she could explore her interests as well as develop in core skill areas.  ​Ironically several of the programs we used at home were the same ones she was using at school, so she was getting some of the same content but with the ability to work at her level and solidify her understanding instead of having to keep at a pace to get through the year worth of content to meet standards and most likely only solidify a fraction of the understanding.  This showed me kids are missing the valuable building blocks they need in education.

Gut feelings are like guardian angels and I knew I was being guided in the right direction.
We continued to home school in the Fall of 2020 due to mandates from COVID.  I knew this was not an option I could continue while working full-time but kept the mindset that it was temporary not permanent.  I saw something on Facebook for Acton and watched a video and my gut told me this was something I needed to explore.  
​
Gut feelings are like guardian angels and I knew I was being guided in the right direction.  My best friend from college messaged me after she saw I had “liked” Acton on Facebook.  She said, “I know the owners that are opening this school and they are great people.”  That was it.  Peyton and I attended a park event where she met several of her fellow travelers.  I met with Zach after that event to get more information in regards to Acton and on November 16, 2020, Peyton started her Journey.
We are through our first session, and I am just in constant astonishment at the change in her vocabulary, her mindset towards school, and the real life skills she has gained in such a short timeframe.  She wakes up now most of the time before her alarm and gets dressed and ready for school without me having to prompt and ask several times.  She goes on hikes, eats lunch, and reads outside (whenever possible).  Outside time is so important, and I am grateful it is a normal part of their day.  Through this growth, she has had areas where she has needed guidance.  Navigating those with the guides has been a positive and trusted experience.  I have never felt more like I have a say in her education than I have the past month and a half at Acton.  If your gut is guiding you to make this change, trust it.  You will not regret giving your child(ren) the best gift you can give them.

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12/10/2020

Would you rather be right or surprised?

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Marshmallow challenge

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​The stage was set. It was parents vs heroes. Who would win? Conventional wisdom said the parents should have easily beat the heroes. It turns out the exact opposite was true!

The challenge, if you don’t know it, is a fun and instructive design exercise that encourages teams to experience simple but profound lessons in collaboration, innovation and creativity.

The challenge seems simple enough: small teams have to build a structure in 18 minutes using 20 sticks of spaghetti, 1 yard of tape, 1 yard of string and 1 marshmallow. The winning team is the one that can construct the tallest freestanding structure with the marshmallow on top within the time allowed. The point of the exercise is to collaborate very quickly in order to respond to the task. It reveals some surprising lessons about the nature of collaboration.

I had the the prior knowledge that our youngest group of heroes (age 5-7) had time and again proven they would beat CEOs of fortune 500 companies, so it was extra special to watch this play out in front of our eyes.

The challenge has been done hundreds of times across the country and the results are intriguing.

Who performs poorly?
Recent business school graduates. Why? They cheat and get distracted. They try to find the single correct plan and then attempt to execute that. They run out of time and when they put the marshmallow on top, it’s a crisis. Sound familiar?

Who performs well?
Kindergarten kids. Why? First of all, none of the kids spend time trying to become CEO of Spaghetti Inc.! More importantly, they start with the marshmallow and then build successive prototypes, all the time keeping the marshmallow on top until they find a solution that works.

The lesson learned from all this fun? The capacity to experiment and prototype is essential to success. (aka trial and error)

Younger children tend to be more collaborative and prototype their way to success. Notice our youngest heroes started with the Marshmallow on their structure immediately. This is a key to success and something that is a common thread when completed all across the country with Kindergarteners
Adults tend to start building right away, only to rush to finish at as time is called and throw the marshmallow on time, only to see their structure immediately collapse. This is exactly what happened with our challenge as well!
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Our Findings With Our Experiment
Our youngest heroes won! They build the strongest and tallest tower.

What Can We Learn From This?
We all want to avoid the uh-oh moment when the marshmallow causes the structure to collapse. The Marshmallow Challenge teaches us that prototyping and iterating can help achieve success. It also shows that success is dependent upon close collaboration between team members. ALL things we encourage and work on at Acton Academy Lincoln.

Final Thoughts
As we saw with The Marshmallow Challenge, learning at Acton Academy Lincoln is much like a contact sport – you have to get your sleeves rolled up and get stuck in. Collaboration helps get everyone involved in the process right from the start so you can reach that ta-da! moment at the end.

By getting started and focusing on iterating the process, we can implement what works and quickly throw out what doesn’t work. This approach ensures that when we reach the end of the project, the marshmallow is sitting firmly on top. This is Acton through and through.

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