What's Happening at the DLC

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When the DLC was started over a year ago, it wasn’t clear what it was going to become. The original idea had something to do with providing a cross-program place for homeschoolers to meet, providing a space for teachers who wanted to offer classes for homeschoolers, providing a space for homeschoolers to offer their own classes and clubs, and housing the lending library collection from the former Educational Resource Center.

But beside these goals, we didn’t have much of a sense of what the DLC would be like. We all liked that the church we were renting from had a little-used playground and a large open space behind it. And that we had our own little yard out back, with the potential for outdoor workshops.

Now things are starting to come together, and it’s clear that the DLC is developing into everything we hoped for – and more. You can find kids and parents inside playing with math concepts, learning about children all over the world, playing quiet games in a corner. You can find parents at the picnic tables involved in intense discussions of homeschooling or just life with kids. You’ll find kids making up games with props like wood chips, grass, and and a piece of cloth one of them brought.

Some days you’ll find a tie-dye workshop happening in the back yard, and a spillover of kids playing dress-up and moms discussing the math curriculum they’re using. You’ll find a big kid leading a toddler by the hand and a group of kids intensely discussing a project they’re working on.

The other day, a group of kids were having the very best time playing with the puddles of water that had collected underneath the tire swing. Unlike at public schools, where a muddy playground means staying indoors, mud at the DLC is a chance for exploration. Two girls swung round and round over the puddle, then one sat directly down in it.

“Oh, well,” the mom said. “I really did think we were going to get away without mud today.”

The mud will dry up, but the fun, comradeship, and creativity are here to stay! Welcome to your Discovery Learning Center. Come by to see what it’s like. If you want to add your own personal touch, you’re welcome!

Posted by Suki  3/31/12