OUR PHILOSOPHY & DIRECTOR
DISCOVER OUR PRACTICE & MEET THE DIRECTOR
Turtle Learning Co-Op is a ceremonial school of life. We are a nurturing, collaborative and empowering alternative to k-5 schooling for families dedicated to purposeful connection with their children within a dynamic design of liberatory, experiential learning.
We provide purposeful living learning experiences that connect young people to their hearts, their senses, the land and the wisdom of their intergenerational community. Combining mind-body modalities with art and song, interdisciplinary projects and powerful opportunities to be in service, we create a unique experiential education community.
So, what exactly is a ceremonial school of life?
At TLC we honor and respect that each day is a sacred gift given to us to be of best service in our families and communities. With this ethos, we endeavor to build a strong foundation for Wise Ones in their early years. We center our Living Learning Day around respect and self knowledge, engaging in various daily routines for care and community building. Our core learning pathway is the connection to the land, the heart and the creative inspirations that arise through those relational allegiances. We live the learning of a lifetime in humility, embodying our universal human values, with gratitude for each day.
We operate in harmony with the seasons, we teach and foster a cultural appreciation for original peoples and the timeless wisdom of plants, animals and cultures that steward and enliven the place we call home.
The principles of Active Pedagogy and Project Based Learning inform the central activities of Living Learning days. We focus on inquiry, project and play in the context of cultivating intercultural, intergenerational community in harmony with our environment.
Our Living Learning Days combine experiential learning, rooted in one of our essential themes, with grounding, purposeful routines that truly serve 5 to 11 year olds in their development. These days are designed to serve as the drum beat of your Wise One’s week and to set the foundation for their ongoing explorations and growth—both weekly and throughout the quarter.
TLC LIVING LEARNING DAYS COMBINE THEMES WITH ROUTINES
This combination nurtures Wise Ones in their gifts while grounding them in their bodies as relational beings.
We often utilize or adapt existing open-source educational resources to support both our Living Learning Day experiences and our guardian-educators. However, the design and implementation of the Living Learning Day is uniquely geared toward honoring and accompanying each child in their own process.
THEMES
Land & Lifeways: remembering who we are, where we come from & how we thrive
Language & Communication: remembering the power of our words, how to communicate & speak from the heart
Art & Creation: remembering our creativity, connecting our hearts, hands & heads
Wellness & Ethics: remembering healthy & ethical living by making strong choices for ourselves
ROUTINES
Routines of Gratitude: cultivating appreciation and honoring
Routines of Connection: cultivating interdependence and unity
Routines of Inspiration: cultivating vision and dreams
Routines of Reflection: cultivating understanding, humility and growth
PLUS
Local Genius Sessions: meaningful and inspiring engagements with elders, experts, artists, tradespeople, leaders and other originals who bring beauty, flavor and real-life connection to Wise Ones.
PARTNERS
Curriculum: meaningful and inspiring engagements with elders, experts, artists, tradespeople, leaders and other originals who bring beauty and real-life wisdom to Wise Ones. Plus, reliable lessons like those from Since Time Immemorial and other authentic sources.
GET TO KNOW EMMA JANE
TLC FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Holds a Master of Arts in Teaching
Licensed to teach Elementary Multiple Subjects, plus Spanish Language
Endorsed in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
10 years of experience as a teacher, mentor & coach
Educator Trainer for Tribal History Shared History (Original curriculum developed by the Oregon Tribes)
Certified bilingual in Spanish (Advanced, ACTFL)
Yoga & Meditation Certified Instructor (200 HR)
Instructor & advanced practitioner of Tae Kwon Do
Certified in CPR
Born & raised in the Greater Duwamish / Seattle area
“Turtle Learning Co-Op is the seed of my dream for a more holistic approach to child wellness and development balanced among the four dimensions of the self: physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual. Like the turtle, at TLC we bridge two realms: the physical and the spiritual, while we work through two mediums, on the land and through the digital aether. We carry our home in our hearts as we walk our life’s path. Thank you for joining us on our journey!”