Look For The Helpers-Village Home Learning Community with Lori Walker

Lori Walker is passionate about the idea that learning is a natural process, and is an inherently fun process. It feels good to learn, so why are so many students bored and disengaged? Lori is the founder and Executive Director of Village Home, where learners actually enjoy learning. Village Home is a learning community that is built on the idea that learning is ultimately self-directed, and we, as teachers, are here to encourage learning as a process. Learners are all unique, with unique interests and learning styles. The Village Home model allows learners to pursue their interests as an individual while also participating in a family-friendly, community learning environment.

Prior to founding Village Home in 2002, Lori was the Director of Training and Curriculum at Learning Forum, based in California, where she designed academic and life skills curriculum, trained teachers, and facilitated programs for teens. She also served as a facilitator herself at programs in the United States and abroad. Lori has over 18 years of experience teaching and training adults and children in a variety of subjects, from psychology to accounting for REITs.  She earned degrees, graduating summa cum laude with distinction and honors, from SMU in Business Management and Psychology, with an emphasis in child development. Lori’s two daughters provided the initial inspiration for Village Home, and her job as mom is the best job she will ever have. She lives in Beaverton with her husband and an assortment of animals.

Village Home Learning Community with Lori Walker

Lori Walker is part of my special series Look For The Helpers. Lori saw a need in the homeschool community that was not being addressed and she set about solving that problem. She saw engaged homeschool parents that were close to burnout. Their children were involved in a multitude of activities that required them to spend endless hours in the car, along with many hours organizing. They wanted their kid’s interests and need for knowledge adequately filled but to do that were sacrificing too much of their time and energy. Lori also saw that the one part of school that she enjoyed and valued most as a kid, which were the experiences and camaraderie that school activities and clubs offered, was not readily available to homeschool kids. As a homeschool parent herself, she wanted all of that for her daughters but she still wanted to enjoy the benefits of the homeschool lifestyle and the freedom to learn. So she created Village Home.

Village Home

Village Home has made a difference in the lives of many homeschooling families. It has also provided an example of a learning space that engages learners, allows them to own their education and lets them lead, while being part of a broader learning community. Learners are passionate, families are welcome and educators are inspired to work there.

In This Episode

In this Episode Lori and I talk about how Village Home meets the needs of natural learners, supports teachers to inspire kids and creates a community space for the entire family.

We discuss;

• the natural learning process and nurturing the desire to learn
• why it is important for learners to be engaged in their learning
• the difference between measurement in education and the intrinsic motivation to learn
• choosing to homeschool and why Lori saw homeschooling as a better chance to be in the world compared to the 4 walls of the classroom
• what happens when we pay attention to the human being as opposed to the curriculum
• Lori’s “aha” moments that came through homeschooling her own children
• the rewards she has received through homeschooling and creating the Village Home learning community

What Lori described as the rewards are what really stuck with me. She said, “it’s noticing kids being themselves. They are free to be who they are.” I agree with Lori, that is a reward well worth experiencing.

If you would like to find out more about Village Home, you can go to their website https://www.villagehome.org/ You can also find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/villagehome

Lori and I recorded this episode before quarantine was lifted. As you can imagine, there are a few new updates;

“We are thrilled to host classes that build community and learning in live classes online for homeschoolers in the Fall!  We have 140 mixed-age, grade-free classes to choose from (most of them are $11/hour of instruction). Registration information is at www.villagehome.org. Local homeschoolers in the pacific NW can register for our new Voyagers Outside program, fresh-air learning (as long as it is safe to do so).    We have a virtual meet-the-teacher open house on Tuesday, July 28th if anyone wants to stop by to meet us, and we also host a weekly homeschooling FAQ for those new to this exciting lifestyle on Tuesdays at 4:00pm on our facebook page.”

If you enjoyed this episode and you would like to hear more about unique learning communities check out these episodes;

Freedom Thinkers is an alternative program in B.C. Canada that was started by a teacher that could not get the public system to change http://imhomeschooling.com/freedom-thinkers/

SHINE Together is another example of a holistic, natural learning community.

The Genius School is a democratic, self directed learning space that also supports learners in the entrepreneurial mindset and giving back to the community.

If you would like to help support Honey! I’m Homeschooling The Kids podcast, you can do so through patreon- https://www.patreon.com/honeyimhomeschoolingthekids