Final Thoughts and Additional Resources

None of this is going to go the way you’re expecting. It’s going to be loud, and there will be paint on the floor and chase games throughout the space and shouting when you request focus and squabbles about whose turn it is and meetings where it feels like nobody's paying attention and rainy afternoons where you’re all getting under each other's’ skin. Don’t let any of that deter you. Remember that growth happens in upward spirals, that the school year is long, and that the whole self you bring to school is valid, even when you’re feeling frustrated or overwhelmed. You are not alone in this journey - the ALC network is full of ALFs who have grappled with the same questions, concerns, and frustrations. Don’t be afraid to reach out via Slack, facilitation calls, blog posts, or at ALF Summer trainings. Keep in mind that this is a living document. Invent new tools and practices where they’re needed. Change things that aren’t working. Listen for what your humans need. Be agile.

In the midst of a global pandemic, we have been unable to host the facilitator trainings around the world that we had been regularly offering, primarily throughout summer months. As an alternative, in spring 2020, a group of ALC Network facilitators put together a series of webinars that you can access over at an ALC Network Patreon Page. The webinars cover the following topics:

• Let's Talk About Screens

• What About College?

• Self Directed Education (SDE) at Home

• SDE and Disability

• Staying Connected to Why

• Set-the-Week & Set-the-Day

• Foundations of Conflict Resolution

• Change Up: Culture Shifting

• 21st Century Skills