The Rapid Rise Of Pandemic Pods

Will they lead to a lasting transformation of schools?

This version of my newsletter arrives in your in-boxes at an exciting time in my own household, as the micro-school—aka pandemic pod, aka learning pod, aka “Taproot” program—that we launched with three other families began this week.

What’s a taproot you ask?

It’s a straight, tapering root that grows vertically downward and forms the center from which other roots spring. We named the program Taproot because although many schools name themselves after mountains and other words synonymous with helping children reach and soar to their highest heights, our goal this year is to establish a strong foundation—socially, emotionally, and academically—for our young children on which they can build. And our daughters have really taken to the name and enjoyed helping create the experience!

That experience of forming the group, hiring a teacher, building norms and cultures, and launching the program has been simultaneously invigorating, overwhelming, and gratifying—and we’re just in week one. And I also want to acknowledge and thank my wife’s effort in particular, as she has paid for it in her hours of sleep and stress.

With traditional schools in all states of reopening—from virtual to hybrid to in-person with masks and social distancing to likely changing midstream—increasing numbers of parents are, like us, taking matters into their own hands.

Although many object to the name “pandemic pods” because micro-schools pre-date Covid-19, the rapid formation of pods is certainly a trend right now, as readers of this newsletter know.

In my latest piece for Education Next titled “The Rapid Rise of Pandemic Pods,” I do my best to break down the trend, explain the different categories and flavors of pods and the entrepreneurial organizations supporting them to help parents and educators navigate this world, and tackle the question of whether these changes may prove longer lasting beyond the pandemic. Read the piece here. I think it represents the best overview I’ve put out about this yet.

Equity, equity, equity

A major topic around pods remains the equity question—namely who will it leave behind? But a corresponding one that I find interesting is how can we use the formation of pods to reinvent schooling to better serve all learners.

Stephanie Hanes, a correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor, tackled that question in her recent article, “How a pandemic exposed—and may help fix—inequalities in education.” As the story reads, “Education faces existential change as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. But the tumult may open the door for innovation, helping schools reduce inequality—through everything from microschools to joy-based learning.”

The 14 minutes it will take you to read the piece are worth your time, as you’ll hear from some of my favorite entrepreneurs and experts in education, including John Danner (founder of Rocketship and investor in some of the most interesting direct-to-consumer education startups) and Kelly Smith, founder and CEO of Prenda. And fun fact—the author, Stephanie Hanes, was my news editor at the Yale Daily News when I was a freshman reporter cutting my teeth and learning the ropes.

Grab-bag

Here are three other items that may catch your interest:

1)    Parade offers a piece with 30 arts, music, reading, and STEAM activities for home here with some support for why these “supplementary” activities are actually foundational.

2)    I offer “5 Things I Learned Recording ‘Class Disrupted’” for The 74—and I’m also excited to announce that Diane Tavenner and I have decided to tackle another whole season of our “Class Disrupted” podcast. Our welcome back episode will post this week!

3)    Finally, my Future U co-host Jeff Selingo’s new book, “Who Gets In and Why” was released officially TODAY! With write-ups in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, the book rocketed to #2 on the “movers and shakers” list on Amazon, right behind Bob Woodward’s new book. Get it while it’s hot at Amazon or your local bookseller. And check out our Future U podcast where I grill Jeff about the book and some of its major themes and conclusions.

As always, thanks for reading, writing, and listening.