A Deeper Education
By Shari Maser, Off-Campus Program Advisor Learning is a continuous process, so why examine a subject once and be “done” with it? Instead, return to it again and again and explore it in different ways, from different angles, and on different levels. This spiral approach to learning lets young people know they can constantly deepen […]
Picture Books Are for Everyone
By Shari Maser, Off-Campus Program Advisor Picture books seem to have gone out of fashion. Of course, they are still popular in early elementary education, but as soon as children are old enough to read, we tend to steer them away from illustrated books. I’m not sure why. In fact, I find that many books […]
Wordplay and Hope
By Pat Montgomery, Founder Editor’s Note: From time to time, we’ll “look back” through our archives to share articles that are as relevant today as when they were printed. In this piece that was originally published in the Summer 2012 issue of The Learning Edge, Clonlara’s founder reflects on the importance of incorporating hopeful words and expectations into conversations […]
A Trip to India Through the Eyes of Two Homeschooled Kids
By Kristen Marsh, Clonlara School Parent In October, my children and I took a fantastic 10-day tour of Northern India. I had visited India almost 20 years ago for work and had been teaching them about the country for years, telling them, “Someday I will take you to see the Taj Mahal.” Along with 10 […]
The Value of Learning Handwriting
By Bev Munday, Director of Education As we use technology more and more, it appears that the art of handwriting is being lost, especially among younger people. To some, the topic might even be obsolete. My own three daughters now do so much using their computers, tablets, and phones that they rarely pick up a […]
Clonlara School Marks a Golden Anniversary
By Kevin Fitzgerald, Editor Clonlara School celebrated its 50th anniversary in a two-day event that brought together guests from across the United States and as far away as Japan. The festivities included a proclamation presented by Ann Arbor City Council Member Kirk Westphal on behalf of Mayor Christopher Taylor that showcased the school’s decades-long commitment to […]
Foreword to The School That’s Inside You
By Patrick Farenga, President and Publisher, HoltGWS, and Founding Member of the Alliance for Self-Directed Education Editor’s Note: Clonlara School Founder Pat Montgomery’s new book, The School That’s Inside You, is now available. This foreword by Pat’s longtime friend and colleague Patrick Farenga offers a glimpse at how the ideas that started Clonlara 50 years ago […]
Celebrating 50 Years, Decade Three
A Podcast by the Students, Parents, and Staff of Clonlara School Episode 3 Description The third episode of our series exploring Clonlara School’s history brings us into the ’90s—a decade that saw a precedent-setting ruling by Michigan’s highest court in favor of Clonlara and homeschooling families. The conversation between parent Barbara Robertson and Founder Pat Montgomery […]
Celebrating 50 Years, Decade Two
A Podcast by the Students, Parents, and Staff of Clonlara School Episode 2 Description In this podcast covering decade two of Clonlara School’s history, parent Barbara Robertson talks with Founder Pat Montgomery about the school’s growth in Ann Arbor and the beginning of its Home-Based Education Program (now called the Off-Campus Program). Pat shares how her […]
Welcome to Clonlara School’s 50th Year!
By Chandra Montgomery Nicol, Executive Director Since our first day on October 3, 1967, Clonlara School has grown strong roots in the Ann Arbor community and has touched many lives both locally and globally through our programs. Pat Montgomery, Clonlara’s founder, began with a dream of building a school in which the students’ interests and […]