Choices Education Mentoring for Ages 14 – 18

Independent Learning for Independent Minds

Learn in a way that is relevant for you, and that allows you to follow your interests and passions.

Academic Approach: Own Your Learning. 

Because your teen is unique, we believe that his or her education should be too. At Choices we honor that learners need creative freedom, trust, and hands-on experiences to fully engage in the world around them, and in their own education. Too many teens “phone it in” in the classroom, or, play the “game called school”, without engaging actively in their own education. We work with your teen to create a custom approach their education based on their interests and goals.

Choices practices a holistic, community-based educational approach informed by the work of Growing Without Schooling founder John Holt, by the passion of educator activist, John Taylor Gatto, and from the Developmental Immersion-Mastery theory utilized in Enki alternative education. We focus on the whole learner – mind, body, and heart – and foster each learner’s confidence by guiding her through intellectual exploration, discussion, practice, and concrete application.

We believe that intrinsic motivation is the engine of learning. Many times, the traditional school systems do not to motivate the student, or focus on the desires of the student. The lock-step “bell system,” with its restrictive, structured environment, and attendance-based, mandatory curricula often does not create an atmosphere conducive to self-motivating learning.  Our approach is decidedly different from the mainstream. We believe that learning is a natural and enjoyable lifelong process, and one that requires freedom and self-direction if it is to be truly effective, rewarding and satisfying.

Our mentors are educators who enjoy helping teens develop into self-motivated, independent learners. Our educators guide students through options, resources, and academics much like a travel agent. We look at where the learner is and where he or she wants to go and collaboratively make a map of how to get there. Through an authentic, personalized approach that promotes high standards, we help the student map out learning opportunities grounded in the world that reflect their unique needs and desires.

Learners and their parents work with our staff to design a learning plan that reflects the learners’ interests, goals, and honors their learning style. Learners are encouraged and supported in the process of determining what they want to learn, how they will learn it, and at what pace. We have found that freedom in learning, when given with support and mentorship, is the best motivator of all. Learners who have been stifled in the public system can become happy, successful, and highly motivated when allowed to pursue their educational goals in a student-centered program, totally free of restrictions and restraints on how and what the student is allowed to learn.

Discover what owning your learning can do.

Package Options For Choices Learners

Community Learning Package  ($7,500/Year)

What is included in the Community Learning Package?

1. One hour weekly mentoring sessions individually or in small groups with professional learning consultant.
2. Access to all Village Home Class offerings (if available) ($6500 value).
3. All Access Pass to Campus T-F, 9:30 – 3:30.
4. Learning Plan Development with Mentor
5. Academic goal setting
6. Work record tracking by family and mentor
7. End-of-Term narrative summary of learning completed by learner and mentor
8. Year-end Academic Record Report (not for HS credit)

Collaboration Learning Package  ($2,500/Year)

 What is included in the Collaboration Package?

1. One-hour weekly mentoring sessions individually or in small groups with professional learning consultant.
2. Learning Plan Development with Mentor and regular check-ins with mentor via email.
3. Academic Goal Setting
4. Work record tracking by family and mentor
5. End-of-Term narrative summary of learning completed by learner and mentor
6. Year-end Academic Record Report (not for HS credit)

Choices is a non-traditional academic path. All Academic Reports are non-transferable and non-credit based.

Will Choices Work for You?

Learners who have diagnosed learning differences may or may not be successful in the Choices Program at Village Home Education Resource Center. Everyone has learning differences, and we at Village Home, wouldn’t have it any other way, but we also recognize that our unique learning environment and program structure is not appropriate for everyone. The Village Home community learning environment and the Choices Personalized Education option are best suited for self-directed, intrinsically motivated, lifelong learners who actively participate in their educational plans with their families. Not all learners are able to function successfully in a classroom environment that demands a certain level of social and emotional skill to navigate. In addition, the faculty in Choices and at Village Home are not specifically trained to accommodate learners with learning differences. For these reasons, Village Home and Choices staff reserve the right to make decisions regarding suitability of a learner for our programs. Non-discrimination policy: All learners are welcome at Village Home regardless of race, age, religion, creed, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disabilities, or education philosophy.

Choices Mentor, Jenny Forrester

Oregon-certified teacher Jenny Forrester is an award-winning author published in a number of print and online publications, including Seattle’s City Arts Magazine, Nailed Magazine, Hip Mama, The Literacy Kitchen, Indiana Review, and Columbia Journal. Her work is included in the Listen to Your Mother Anthology published 2015 and her memoir Narrow River, Wide Sky was published in May 2017. Jenny also curates the Unchaste Readers Series and has been teaching at Village Home for several years. She has enjoyed learning as much as teaching and believes in the power of independent thought, freedom, and words to develop a strong spirit and a tender heart.

Email choices@villagehome.org for more information or call 503-597-9100 to set up an information meeting.