This week, Kaity and Adriane chat with Caleb Collier, co-founder of The Forest School and director at The Institute for Self-Directed Learning. This episode is all about self-directed education, where learners take control, and the classroom becomes a place for personal growth and intrinsic motivation. Caleb explains the role of educators and parents in this innovative learning landscape and shares his journey of transformation from a conventional middle school educator to a trailblazer for educational autonomy.   This episode also explores:  🔥 the practicality of self-directed learning in our schools and homes 🔥 strategies for cultivating student agency  🔥 the imperative of school leaders in transforming institutional norms 🔥 how parents can be instrumental in supporting their children's educational journey 🔥The Forest School's approach to aligning family expectations with student outcomes 🔥 how a paradigm shift in education can lead to more personalized and engaging learning experiences 🔥 and so much more! So, make sure to tune in for a fun and informative discussion on the world of self-directed learning, where autonomy and thoughtful guidance are the keys to unlocking a lifelong love of learning. You don't want to miss this episode! ABOUT THE GUEST: Caleb is a storyteller, academic, educator, and writing coach. He has a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning, is a co-founder of The Forest School, serves as the Director at The Institute for Self-Directed Learning, and has been a Research Fellow at the University of Virginia. He has published extensively in academic journals and is the author of The Theoretical and Historical Evolutions of Self-Directed Learning: The Case for Learner-Led Education. 🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST 🎙️ The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments. Powered by Prenda, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning today. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. ✍️ GOT A BURNING QUESTION? ✍️ We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to [email protected]. Let's dive into the conversation together! 🔗 IMPORTANT LINKS 🔗 🔥 Want more KindlED content? 💙 Connect with us 💌 Subscribe to The Sunday Spark 💙 Interested in starting a microschool? 💙 Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today ➡️ Start My Microschool