As parents and educators, we are not just along for the ride. We are guiding our children toward that exciting moment when they slide into the driver's seat, full of confidence and ready to chart their own course. That moment is called student agency, when children begin to believe, “I can do this. I can make choices that matter.”
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and every year when it comes around, I am reminded of our own family’s journey that began more than 20 years ago when we were living in Los Angeles. It’s a story I carry close to my heart, not only as an educator but as a parent who once sat on the other side of the table, desperate to understand why my bright, curious, imaginative little girl couldn’t learn to read.
By now, we’ve all settled into the familiar rhythms of fall. The excitement of the new year has softened into routine, and the real work of learning has begun. It is around this time that things start to shift. Some students feel the pace pick up. Others begin to revisit old challenges. This is when the road ahead starts to twist, and the journey reveals something profound: The Recurring Moment.
At Darlington, the faculty are embracing a theme across Pre-K to 8 this year that reflects the spirit of the school year: “Get Your Kicks in 25-26.” It’s a simple image, but one that speaks volumes. A road trip is about movement, milestones, maps and memories. It is about being intentional with where we are going and flexible when the route changes. Most of all, it’s about the people in the car with you and the stories you will tell when the journey is over.
Growth often takes root in quiet places: in the moments after a tough test, on the sidelines of a friendship conflict, or in the quiet courage it takes to speak up when something does not feel right. These are not moments we can plan for as parents, and they don’t always come with a neat resolution. But when we step back just a bit, they become powerful turning points.
As parents and educators, we are not just along for the ride. We are guiding our children toward that exciting moment when they slide into the driver's seat, full of confidence and ready to chart their own course. That moment is called student agency, when children begin to believe, “I can do this. I can make choices that matter.”
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and every year when it comes around, I am reminded of our own family’s journey that began more than 20 years ago when we were living in Los Angeles. It’s a story I carry close to my heart, not only as an educator but as a parent who once sat on the other side of the table, desperate to understand why my bright, curious, imaginative little girl couldn’t learn to read.
By now, we’ve all settled into the familiar rhythms of fall. The excitement of the new year has softened into routine, and the real work of learning has begun. It is around this time that things start to shift. Some students feel the pace pick up. Others begin to revisit old challenges. This is when the road ahead starts to twist, and the journey reveals something profound: The Recurring Moment.
At Darlington, the faculty are embracing a theme across Pre-K to 8 this year that reflects the spirit of the school year: “Get Your Kicks in 25-26.” It’s a simple image, but one that speaks volumes. A road trip is about movement, milestones, maps and memories. It is about being intentional with where we are going and flexible when the route changes. Most of all, it’s about the people in the car with you and the stories you will tell when the journey is over.
Growth often takes root in quiet places: in the moments after a tough test, on the sidelines of a friendship conflict, or in the quiet courage it takes to speak up when something does not feel right. These are not moments we can plan for as parents, and they don’t always come with a neat resolution. But when we step back just a bit, they become powerful turning points.
