I used to be a traditional teacher, but have been teaching outdoors since 2007. After stints as a garden teacher and at a forest school, I now operate my own school in a regional park. My Outside School kids roam the East Bay hills of California. While this is idyllic in many ways, various fears can get in the way of some families being able to embrace non-traditional schooling for their children. One concern they may have is about transcripts and getting into college. It’s not possible to know how much of an impact not having an official-looking transcript will have, and parents may seek assurance for themselves or their extended families and friends that they are making acceptable decisions.

Your formal educator training is essential so that you know the language of assessment. You must translate your thoughts into language that professionals recognize and respect, whether those are occupational therapists or college admissions personnel. Assessments arise from your reflection and documentation. (If you’d like to learn about my practices, you can here). Here’s what I say on my school’s website:

“Reports and Certificates

If you require a certificate or diploma at the end of enrollment, I would be happy to provide one. To transfer to some schools, they require a report card of some type. Typically I will either provide the documentation on the school’s form or will write a narrative in the form of attesting to the child’s cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development. I can adapt to your particular needs.”

Preferentially, I use frequent, informal, in-person communication about children, usually at drop-off and pick-up times. No one should ever be surprised by their child’s interests or behaviors; it’s my job to keep families informed. I’m always happy to set up more formal meetings, phone conferences, or appointments with therapists or other schools as needed. I write letters at the request of parents and send them to potential programs. They are customized for what I know about the child, their family, my group, and the next program’s requirements. I always indicate that I’m available for follow-up.

For this formal communication, I take a head (cognitive), heart (social and emotional), and hands (physical) developmental approach that mimics the style I use for daily documentation. Usually, I will write up a story that entails things the class has been doing together. This story highlights how traditional subjects: art, math, science, and language are inextricably linked in our day-to-day activities. It also highlights how the children work individually and together on subjects they find interesting. This brings the soft subjects to light that I will then speak to, the head, heart, and hands. Stories in the form of anecdotes and notes for future activities or development are given as appropriate.

Other programs have alternative forms of assessment, too. I was inspired years ago by a teachers’ information night at Brightworks in San Francisco. They described their portfolio process and explained how college entrance staff are drawn to novel paths taken by a very few students… Those able to think critically are sought after because they have the necessary life skills entering as freshmen. Usually these schools spend the first two years of college honing their students’ cognitive skills. Brightworks’ bands of students create learning arcs. Check out more information here. Indeed, any alternative-schooling family can elect to create a portfolio, which would highlight learning experiences year by year, using their children’s works and documentation.

In Peter Gray’s book, Free to Learn, he describes the work of Sudbury Valley School. A student’s efforts to get into the college of her choice are spoken to in this article by Daniel Greenberg, “No One Need Apply”.

Aside from college applications, do you recall ever being asked for your high school transcript? How about your elementary grades? It’s okay for people to be uncertain if their path is the right one, but let’s encourage embracing the unknown. Let’s not allow fear to stop a journey in its tracks. The world is full of uncertainty, and those in this field understand that pursuing an alternative education model strengthens problem-solving, health, resilience, and more. If your desire is to have children who will grow up strong and confident, don’t let the unknown be the guide into the well-travelled, boxed-in path. When we’re confident in our knowledge and our life’s work, it will give families that very same sense. 

You've got this!

Heather Taylor, EMT

Founder/Director/Teacher, Outside School

Founder, Teach Outside

California Master Teacher

teachoutside@gmail.com