Big Minds

Life changing. Two simple words but for our child and entire family, life has changed monumentally after having started attending an unschool for 5th grade called Big Minds in Pinole. I didnt have the technical terms that I do now as a parent of what is called a 2e student but what we did have was so much sadness, tears, disconnection, so much worry, so much constriction as our daughter tried tried to make sense of private schools, public schools, home learning, learning groups. Challenged by dyslexia, dyscalculia, generalized anxiety disorder and issues with coordination/fine motor skills our smart, funny and loving daughter was floundering, not able to get those feet under her. Our daughter wanted to learn, wanted school, wanted several classes, wanted teachers and a community that she felt connected to, not less than. She wanted to learn about animals, their biology, women in revolutions, art, more art, spelling, what money means etc. We have found a learning environment that not only understood her challenges intimately, knew how to help her grow intellectually and academically while supporting her emotionally. She is now the learner she wanted to be, but didnt know she could be. I say that no matter your religious beliefs, when your child is unhappy on so many levels, you might start praying. You probably feel alone and lost. You might lay awake at night, either crying or staring into the dark room of parental responsibility...feeling like a failure. While no school is perfect for everyone, I feel obligated to share how this special place has changed our lives. At least, reach out and talk to them. It might be your place too.

My 2e son has been going to Big Minds for 2 1/2 years and it has been working really well for him and for our family. He continues to grow and amaze me.

I would say that the hardest thing to get used to is the unschooling, self-directed model of the school. Many parents jump ship early because of it’s unconventional style, which I totally get. At the same time, our family is a little more balanced knowing that our son is thriving in his school environment.

The teacher retention is excellent - my son has had the same core group of teachers his entire time at Big Minds. Some of the teachers are sensitive and creative, some can hold long conversations with him on whatever intellectual pursuits he is thirsting for, such as history and philosophy, and some are knowledgeable in tech and the sciences and have tons of fun experiments up their sleeves.They all get where he is challenged and where his strengths are and help him work with all of that.

Most importantly, they work on the social-emotional piece. They help the students understand themselves, their sensitivities, perfectionism, and intensities in a way that is unique to 2e kids. This is the part I am most grateful for. I feel that, no matter where he goes in his life, having this deep understanding of himself will be something he can rely on again and again.