Modern Woodworkers Association
Luke Johanson of the Sloyd Experience joins on this truly inspiring episode. Luke is a woodworker turned educator that is working with his local elementary school to bring the concepts of Sloyd education back to the youth. The concepts he is teaching reach far beyond woodworking to provide an authentic, educational experience to youth through the simple act of "working with your hands”. The Sloyd Experience has something to offer to all of us. Check it out!
The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast : The Next Generation of Sloyd with Luke Johanson
Sloyd is a 19th century teaching methodology that fell out of favor in the early 20th century in America. Luke Johanson shares how The Sloyd Experience is bringing this highly useful teaching approach back to relevance for students in the 21st century.
In the Making: Slöyd Experience
…a webinar that discusses our organization’s history, vision, and impact with North Bennet Street School.
More yo-yo. Less TikTok.
Two weeks ago I was chatting with a new cohort of 5th graders in the Slöyd classroom. As we waited for the rest of the students to arrive we discussed interests and hobbies. One of the students brought up yo-yos. A lightbulb went off immediately : I had to make a yo-yo.
Parallels: Slöyd and Endurance Sport
Everyday in our Slöyd classroom we talk about mistakes (sometimes they’re about woodworking and sometimes they’re about forgetting sleeping bags). Mistakes aren’t just okay in Slöyd, they are expected and celebrated. They are celebrated because we do our best to encourage children to recognize their mistakes as a critical part of the learning process…we aim to foster a growth-mindset in our students.
Low-Stakes Mistakes
The Sloyd Experience felt like a welcomed option for how kids can spend their free time. I liked the slower, deliberate focus on what kiddos need to experience in order to access the part of their brains where they learn to view themselves as a resource while problem solving.
INSIDIOUS INERTIA
A Cautionary Tale is an article written by Charles H. Hayward and published in Woodworker Magazine in 1957. There is so much more to say about Hayward himself, but for this blog post, I want to focus on his extraordinary prescience…something written 65 years ago that is so applicable today. The italicized text throughout this piece are excerpts from Hayward’s original article or quotes from other literary works; everything else is commentary by yours truly.
Plastic Brains & Green Errors
Children’s brains are highly plastic. Adult’s brains…not so much. From what I understand, neural pathways in children are like a bowl of spaghetti; neural pathways going here, there, and everywhere. As children age, their brains learn what pathways are needed (synapses), and which ones are not. Over time, glial (literally latin for glue) cells fill the voids to strengthen these identified critical pathways. This is GREAT news in so many respects; however, this very process is actually what leads to decreased neuroplasticity in adults. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”...or so they say.
Growth Rings: Marshall Fire
As Louisville residents, Allison and I are completely devastated by the tragedy of the Marshall Fire. Although we did not lose our home, we are still in a state of shock and disbelief - still trying to process various emotions as they arise. Our hearts and prayers are with all of you who lost so much. It is unfathomable…unbelievable…unreal. We stand in solidarity with the entirety of our community as we weather this storm together.