Philosophy

Shared Living and Learning views every person as a learner and a teacher, regardless of age and experience, encouraging every person to maintain as much agency and voice in their life and learning as possible. From the initial meeting through implementation, our goal is to keep the strengths and needs of the individual and the values and goals of the family at the center of the process, and to encourage the natural connection between life and learning. We never take or suggest a one-size-fits-all approach.

Shared Living and Learning knows that content, which should be exciting and meaningful, is secondary to developing sound and effective learning processes and growing habits and practices that will last a lifetime. Therefore, we do not promote the learning of topics and skill by age level, but by interest and developmental appropriateness. Through many years of work with young people of all ages in and out of school environments, we know that hands-on, real-life, and internally motivated learning is most effective.

Shared Living and Learning believes it is our responsibility to do what we can to eliminate bias based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, political affiliation, national origin, or disability. Our practice does not discriminate against students or families based on any of these characteristics, and is interested in working with individual families and groups of families to make our services accessible.