We were lucky to catch up with The Gathering Learning Studio recently and have shared our conversation below.

The Gathering Learning Studio, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The Gathering started over five years ago, with a restlessness that stirred our (the founder’s) souls every time we dropped off our children at school. We could not explain this restlessness nor understand why we had it. But every day, that “something is not right” feeling crept in. And yet, rather than digging in to figure out what was behind it, we kept going. After all, we had jobs and careers to attend to.

Fast forward to the beginning of the 2019-2020 academic year when we announced to our children that it would be the last year they would attend the only school they knew. That one decision transformed our hearts and home like no other.

As we prayed earnestly about what school to attend, God started dropping resources into our lives around education. It was while reading Courage to Grow by Laura Sandefer that our eyes were opened to the injustices of an educational system that is outdated and antiquated. We realized that the frustrations and restlessness we experienced had to do with the school system’s design.

But, it was not until the pandemic shut down the schools that we began to open our hearts to home education. During this once-in-a-lifetime window, we saw what was being taught in school, how it was being taught, and how our children responded. Never before did we have the opportunity to see how our children learned best and what made them thrive. It was then that we started dreaming about how we could do education differently. The Gathering Learning Studio is the product of God dreaming through us.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We provide a learning space for families to enjoy the benefits of homeschool with a modern-day twist. Families can send their children 2, 3, or 5 days per week, giving families the flexibility they need. In this model, families get the benefits of homeschooling (flexibility, personalized education, and learning at a pace and modality that best fits each learner), with a consistent community of multi-age peers and a learning coach who partners with families to help prepare their children to launch into adulthood. This community serves 15 or fewer students each day, allowing for an intimate, personalized learning space.

Students bring their academics to the Studio to work independently in the morning. As the teacher on record, parents choose (but are supported by The Gathering Learning Studio team) the curriculum for their children. Students work to progress in their academics, with the help and support of the Learning Coach. In the afternoons, students work on real-world projects and connect with industry experts. In the near future, students will participate in job shadows and apprenticeships.

This model allows working families the ability to homeschool and feel supported in their homeschooling journey. We help families who know they need something different for their children in a cost-effective, hybrid learning model.

We believe that families should have a say in their child’s education. To this end, our parents are at the center of making educational decisions for their children but are supported in ways that a traditional school cannot provide. We also believe that students should drive their education, and have a say in how they are educated. They have a voice, and they get to express that voice!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

While we spend marketing and advertising on social media, including paid ads, word of mouth is our most effective marketing strategy. Often, it is a mom talking with another mom, worried about school for their kiddo. Something could be going better – or they know they need something different. One mom shares our model and business with another mom, and the ball gets rolling. Those prospective families are often the most substantial leads.

Still, however, a lot needs to go into acquiring a new family. Much change and disruption goes into the decision to join The Gathering, especially for those leaving the traditional educational system. For example, they have to wrap their head around homeschooling, pick out curriculum (which can feel very overwhelming), adjust their days to fit this new lifestyle, and, of course, be the sole educator for their children. For many families, that risk is too much, and they don’t adjust – yet. I always like to say I’m just a farmer planting seeds. Those seeds need time to germinate. Eventually, if that is what they are to do, families will come around. In the meantime, I keep encouraging, supporting, and praying for them. We have been told by the incubator program we participated in to help us launch, that within the next five years, over 5 million families will seek alternative education.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I (as a homeschool mama myself and now a Microschool founder) and each of our families have had to learn is how to undo school. It seems backward, but there is so much unschooling families need to do in order to thrive in a hybrid learning environment like ours. For example, we often refer to our learning space as permissionless education, referring to the fact that parents no longer need their children to learn the traditional way (i.e., textbooks, teachers in front of the classroom, etc.). As I shared this with one of our moms, I permitted her to use YouTube for her son. She just looked at me and said, “Can I do that?!” Of which I said, “Of course you can!” I then followed up with, “How do you learn?” Her response was, “Through YouTube!” YouTube can be an excellent learning opportunity, though students in traditional schools are often not allowed on YouTube.

Another question I get often is, “Can I allow my child to learn without a formalized test or paper?” The answer, of course, is yes! In the real world, we learn through YouTube, regular books (not textbooks), asking others for help, and the feedback we get from others on our own failed (or successful) attempts. Learning how the student is designed and allowing them to explore their passions gives life to learning. This idea, though not new, is new to many families that come from traditional education. It takes both time and courage to unschool, in order to for their learners to thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thegatheringlearningstudio.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegatheringlearningstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegatheringlearningstudio