Category: Commentary

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Finding a Balance Between Formal and Informal Learning

Finding a Balance Between Formal and Informal Learning

Learning can be formal, informal, or anywhere in between. Formal learning is planned, and it often includes set curricula and tests. Informal learning is generally spontaneous and based on real-life experiences. At Clonlara, we believe students learn best with a personalized combination of the two.…
Building Strong Family Relationships

Building Strong Family Relationships

Parents play a crucial role in the facilitation of learning, and, according to developmental psychologist Gordon Neufeld, can create the context in which learning occurs. At Clonlara, we believe building strong family relationships prepares students to realize their full potential, educationally and beyond.  Loida Cañizares Doménech,…
The Importance of “Home” in Academic and Emotional Growth

The Importance of “Home” in Academic and Emotional Growth

When looking to improve the educational experience of our children, we often search for the perfect curriculum, ideal program, or most dynamic teacher. We spend a lot of time seeking the best solution to grow our children academically, but what if the key to educational…
Has Your Idea of “School” Changed?

Has Your Idea of “School” Changed?

When March 2020 began, few families could have imagined the effect COVID-19 would have on their experience of school, work, and life. Under the assumption everything would get “back to normal” in a few weeks, many were happy to try working remotely, socializing via Zoom,…

Why Active Learning Matters

By Inês Peceguina, Guest Author One of Clonlara School’s most fundamental beliefs is that children learn best when their interests guide their activities. Thus, for a student to learn a subject at a deeper level, they must be actively engaged in the learning process. However,…
A Few (More) Good Reasons to Play

A Few (More) Good Reasons to Play

By Clonlara School We’ve said it before, and it bears repeating: “Not enough can be said about the importance of play.” In fact, play is so important that we have always made time for it at Clonlara School, even when the trend in traditional education has…

Homeschooling Adopted Children

By Carrie Lafferty, Off-Campus Program Advisor When I think back on the days before we adopted our son, I was filled with fear. Would he be healthy? Would we like each other? Would he want to be a part of our family? Would I be…
Teens and Zzz’s

Teens and Zzz’s

The benefits of homeschooling and distance learning extend beyond taking ownership over your own education; they allow you to cultivate a healthy lifestyle. Clonlara School’s Off-Campus Program students and learners enrolled in our online courses have the flexibility to schedule learning around their needs, but even…

“Structure” Is Not a Bad Word

By Chandra Montgomery Nicol, Executive Director As many of you may know, my mother, Pat Montgomery, founded Clonlara School. She envisioned a place where kids could learn in an environment that allowed them to make their own choices and pursue their curiosity and creativity. Clonlara’s…

Blake Boles @ Clonlara School

By Clonlara School On September 20, 2018, Clonlara School hosted Blake Boles for his talk titled, “Yes, you can quit traditional high school and everything will be okay!” Blake shared his personal education journey and passion for self-directed learning with the school community, and inspired the…