In Our Elements! Vol VIII
Vol. VIII - when teens feel safe to be themselves…
Welcome to the Elements Academy newsletter, ‘In Our Elements!’
Your behind-the-scenes look at the magic of a child-led school (and life).
Written by Heather DiNino, Founder, Director, Educator, Elements Academy 🌳🌊☁️🔥
Each edition has the following sections:
📓 IN THE CLASSROOM - Something happening at school in one of our classrooms (don’t worry, learning here is actually FUN)
🚙 OUT AND ABOUT - Something happening away from school! (we all know learning goes past the 4 walls, right?!)
📣 SMALL MOMENT SPOTLIGHT - The small moments that have the BIGGEST impact
🛠️ DIY - Your invitation to try it yourself and be more child-led at home!
✨ Ready for this week?! Let’s get started! ✨
📓 IN THE CLASSROOM
“I don’t like it. It feels like public school.”
We always say, we’ll do what the kids need. That’s part of being child-led.
Before school vacation, we rearranged the classroom for our Middle/High School program. They helped, of course, but then the teachers finished it over break. (We were really proud — it looked great! We thought…)
Enter Monday — the day the kids return. First thing they say?
“I don’t like it. It’s awful. It feels like public school. CHANGE IT BACK!”
It would be easy to take this personally. And to slip into an attitude of, “There’s no pleasing you,” or “Do you know how much work we put into this?!” And if we’re being honest, of course these thoughts entered our mind. But we didn’t let them take over.
Because here’s the thing: they weren’t being rude. They were being honest. And if they feel safe enough to be honest, that’s already a win.
And that honesty told us something deeper — something we never would have known if we weren’t truly listening: the new layout made them feel different. More controlled. More boxed in. Less free. And we feel strongly that their space, and their voice, shapes their experience.
So what did we do?
We changed it.
Not because we’re pushovers — but because we mean it when we say this space is theirs. A space where they feel safe, free, and respected.
It’s not back exactly the way it was, because it didn’t work that way either. But we listened and talked it through. And then we all got to work — screwdrivers out, muscles ready, moving furniture around again.
We laughed; we sweat; we reminisced about the dozens of times we’ve rearranged things. They felt seen and heard. And that’s the energy we all need right now.
🚙 OUT AND ABOUT
Conference in Atlanta
Last year, I attended the Hybrid Schools Conference in Atlanta for the first time. My dear friend (and hero), Kerry McDonald, recommended it — and it truly changed my life. I couldn’t wait to go back.
But there was one small problem:
As inspiring as it was, something was missing. I had attended nearly a dozen breakout sessions, and not one touched on my biggest passion — mental health in education.
So when they announced this year’s conference, I submitted a proposal:
“Happiness Matters: Mental Health in Alternative Education.”
Not only was the pitch accepted — it turned out to be a highlight of the event. (For more than just me! Some attendees even told me it was their favorite session of the day.)
Now, I’ve been invited to present a similar talk at Harvard this fall. And you better believe I’ll scream it from the rooftops to anyone who will listen:
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS — emotional safety is as important as physical safety.
The university that hosts the Hybrid Schools Conference does incredible research on hybrid models, microschools, and alternative education. I can’t wait until that research includes mental health — and I’m honored to help lead the way.
📣 SMALL MOMENT SPOTLIGHT
Decorating shoes
My daughter (almost 11) and I went shopping last week for new sneakers and sandals. Her feet have far outgrown mine by now, and she’s on them a lot—so comfort matters. But so does style—and for her, that means colorful, creative, and full of pizazz.
Finding that combo in an adult size 10? Not easy.
But to her, it wasn’t a problem. It was a creative project.
She chose a pair of comfy Clarks sandals—supportive and well-made (though pretty boring beige)—and pulled out her markers the second we got home. One shoe became a cheetah, the other a peregrine falcon.
Here’s what I also love about this moment: it’s not just the joy she gets from turning shoes into art. It’s the fact that she can wear them to school and around town without caring what anyone else thinks. She’s built such a strong foundation of confidence and self-awareness that she’s unapologetically herself—and she’s proud of it.
And as a parent and an educator? I freakin’ love it.
🛠️ DIY
If there’s a way your child wants to express their creativity—let them.
One story that’s always stuck with me from The Last Lecture is about Randy, as a kid, asking if he could draw on his bedroom walls with Sharpie. His parents said yes, and he covered them with everything from a rocket ship to a quadratic equation.
His parents knew: walls can be painted over. But creativity? That’s worth preserving.
Later in life, Randy told another story about a new convertible and how he wanted to make sure his niece and nephew felt comfortable in ‘a fancy car.’ Before they even got in, he opened a can of soda and poured it on the seat. His message? This car is just a thing. You are more important.
Randy wrote The Last Lecture when he knew he didn’t have much time left. But it doesn’t have to take dying to realize we’ve gotta live.
Let that sink in. Let your kid be a little messy, a little wild, and totally themselves. Memories, creativity, joy, and connection — that’s the good stuff. That’s what I think we’re in this human life for.
🌳🌊☁️🔥
Until next time,
Heather 💕
Founding Director, Elements Academy
If you’re ever interested in talking more about having your child attend Elements Academy or a child-led school like it (or even opening your own!) reach out any time. I read (and respond to) every single email. No ai bots in my email - just me, a real human, connecting with other real humans to talk about parenting and education. You can reach out to me any time — heather@elementsacademy.org