Winter Session 2024
DATES: every Thursday from JANUARY 11, 2024 - MARCH 14, 2024 [10 weeks]
TIME: 12pm-4pm
LOCATION: 1221 Division St.
Theme = Zine + Podcast Episode
For our next Arc, each learner will be doing a deep dive into one topic [ of their choosing ] and we will split the weeks into two sections. We will spend some time in Discord BEFORE the session begins making sure each learner arrives with an idea/a few ideas for their topic before we meet for Week 1.
*section one // weeks 1-5: we will be taking their topic and making a ZINE!
What is a Zine? [ even if you already know, this is thought-provoking and fun to watch! ]
*section two // weeks 6-10: we will be taking their topic (the same topic they used for the Zine!) and making a podcast episode. The Project Knotwork Podcast will be made up of one episode from each learner!
The goal of this focus for the session is to make our Theme a shared SET OF SKILLS (planning, ordering, storytelling, writing, drawing, editing, design, collaboration, recording, etc) instead of a shared topic.
Enrollment Fee: $375 per learner [includes cost of materials for making the zine // equipment needed for recording the podcast ]
What will each day look like?
Each week will be hosted by one facilitator, and it will rotate each week, between Jamie, Amber, and Lane. A few days before each session, you will receive an email from that week’s facilitator giving a summary of what we will be up to that week, reminders about what to bring for that week, and a link to a supporting resource (like a podcast episode or YouTube video).
Each session will begin with everyone gathered together. We will catch up, connect, have a Socratic discussion about the resource that was sent.
From there, the learners will work on planning and making their project (in the case of this arc, their Zine then their Podcast episode) with the support of their peers and their facilitator.
Unless the weather completely prevents us due to safety, we will aim to spend time outside every day. We are within walking distance of Giant’s Foot Park and Hurley Field Park, we explore along the bike path and in the adjoining woods, and we love exploring South Marquette as a group.
At the end of each session, each learner will be asked to ARCHIVE their progress that day in some way. We do this to build communication and self-reflection skills AND so that the learner can use this time as self-led accountability to process, plan, and progress.
This can look like:
- a short video taken by the facilitator that can also be shared with the parent via text [ this is the preferred way for Knot Work facilitators for ease and clarity and we are happy to share examples of what these videos are like ]
- a written note [ this can be kept in their Knot Work binder ]
- an audio recording
- an artifact set aside and described to illustrate their experience
During the Winter Arc, through making zines and podcast episodes, we expect that learners will foster + grow skills like:
- creative decision-making: choosing content, layout, design, and visual elements.
- writing skills: through storytelling, and sharing opinions effectively.
- visual communication: how to communicate visually, experimenting with colors, shapes, and images to convey a message.
- critical thinking: making decisions about content, structure, and format.
- verbal communication: speaking clearly, articulating thoughts, and expressing ideas effectively.
- research skills: learn to gather information, select relevant material, and organize it in a meaningful way.
- collaboration: sharing ideas, and working together, improving social and communication skills.
- listening skills: listen to their own recordings, podcasts from others, and feedback.
- empathy + perspective taking: crafting content for an audience involves understanding what might interest or resonate with listeners or readers.
- technical skills: through writing, formatting and printing a zine AND recording, editing, and producing a podcast episode.
- time management skills: each project is on a 5-week timeline and will involve setting deadlines, and organizing tasks effectively.
frequently asked questions
What do we mean by a learning ‘Arc’?
We are basing the basic form of our projects on the model used by Brightworks School in San Francisco. Their Arcs extend over an entire school year, while ours are condensed into mini-arcs of a few weeks each. The Arc includes 3 phases:
Exploration (researching, planning, question asking)
Expression (making, creating, building — in the case of this Arc a zine and a podcast episode)
Exposition (sharing and explaining) — for our learners, this will be with each other, parents, and other creatives who work in the 1221 Division St. Building.
How many learners will be in the group?
Our group will consist of 12 learners.
How old does my learner need to be to participate?
Based on our experience, a learner around age 10/grade 4 is around the best range of age to start. More important than age, however, is interest (in this type of learning and process) and the ability to read and write themselves so that they can create the types of projects we are working on together. Not sure if your learner is a fit? Feel free to reach out to us to chat knotworkstudio@gmail.com
How will I be sure my learner is being supported/held accountable?
How will be sure my learner has the autonomy to be self-led?
These might sound like opposite concerns, but we feel they are quite related!
Our goal is to be here as guides for the learners, but we will not compel them to work on anything. Because we started this project partly out of messages from unschooled children asking for more structured time in their week, we will ask and encourage learners to be engaged in project creation for each Arc…with no pressure on the outcome/product. During each week we check in, we ask if they want help, and we encourage them to check in with each other, but we won’t be verifying/assessing progress.
Conversely, we will send out a loose plan for each week so each learner knows what to expect in terms of the daily schedule/working on their project. We set the theme for each week of the arc (Exploration // Express // Exposition) so they know where we are in the process. Please remember to share the weekly prep email with your learner (if your learner has their own email address and wants to receive the email directly, please let us know!). This is meant to be part of setting expectations AND to give reminders about the flow of our day.
However, we do WANT to give every opportunity for the learners to be accountable to a plan and/or to reflect on how plans change.
At the end of each session, the facilitator that day will encourage your learner to let us take a video of them explaining/sharing what they did that day. This video will be texted to you after the session. This has been a great way for parents to feel connected to what their learner is doing/making. [ if a learner isn’t comfortable with the video, we will provide other ideas for archiving/accountability — but this process will be an expectation ]
Additionally, creating the video is a KEY PART of the kids building skills:
- being accountable for what we are doing each week
- summarizing what their day/project looks like
- communicating verbally
- archiving process
My learner wants to participate in the Winter Arc, but is concerned about doing a podcast.
We get it! Recording yourself and putting yourself out there is nerve-wracking! Our goal is to use these various media to share an idea in different ways. If your learner is excited about that idea but doesn’t want to talk into a mic…what about using music to convey their idea through a playlist or other format? What about writing a script and asking another learner? What about using audio clips cut together? We are a creative group! Don’t let this stop you. The challenge is the fun.
What does the Enrollment Fee cover?
Our goal with the fee structure is to:
- pay ourselves a living wage for our time on-site with learners as facilitators
- pay a proportionate amount of the rent of our space at 1221 Division St.
- pay for quality supplies as needed
-pay for artists/creative professionals who support our kids
What is expected of my learner/me between each weekly meeting?
While we will be working on the Zine + Podcast episode together (and will have all the materials provided at our space) it is possible your child will need to do some research, planning, or question asking at home.
In the weekly email, we will provide a link to a resource to watch/read/listen to. Please support your learner in having time to review this resource.
Additionally, we have a Project Knot Work Discord Server where our learners can connect between sessions to share ideas, ask questions, and plan for the weeks ahead.
What can parents do to support the process of the Winter Arc?
The best thing for parents to do is to be curious about the process, discussions, and learning that goes on at Project Knot Work when their learner comes home. Making sure to share the weekly email + resources with the learner is key, and encouraging them to engage while at Knot Work and via Discord between sessions is also useful.
What is Project Knot Work?
This peer and adult-supported learning experience is intended to enhance our children’s unschooling experience.
Through unschooling, we offer our children freedom. But alongside that freedom, they need our support to activate skills, adopt helpful structures and create individualized systems. We see this further development of their freedom as the next step in creating the life they want.
How will we facilitate this? The learners at Knotwork Collaborative will learn in ‘arcs.’ The learners will be presented with a project and theme at the start of each arc. Over the weeks, the kids will Explore the theme by researching to discover which aspect of the topic most interests them. They will Express that interest in a project plan and archiving process. Finally, they will share their finished project and discoveries in a public Exposition.
Knotwork Collaborative will be facilitated by Lane Clark, Amber Dohrenwend, and Jamie Kitchel. We are unschooling parents with collective background and experience in teaching, social work, midwifery, art, community building, mentorship, and music – with an overall commitment to imperfectionism and self-led learning.
We created Knotwork with the intention to make space and time to chase ideas. To turn an idea into a skill. To follow curiosity into understanding. And to share our learning and mastery with the broader community as we showcase ourselves as unschoolers and lifelong learners publicly.