Rugged, unconventional, multi-colored, twirling, hysterical, witty, and radiant are words yet insufficient to describe Cody and the SS4Love community. When I first met Cody, I could see that she navigated the world with confident love. I remember two burning questions arose as I walked inside my apartment to meet her for the first time, “Where did she come from?!”and “Is she dancing?!. Over the course of that year I had the special opportunity to develop friendships with her and become a part of the community. It became clear to me very quickly that Cody doesn’t just make community, rather, with her heart and intellect, she weaves, plays, imagines, and paints community. 

            At the SS4Love, my mentors, Cody and Alecia, challenged me to ask myself and reflect on, “What does it really mean to be a teacher?, “What does it mean to be alive? To be human? To be a caretaker of the youth and the earth?”. Each day, as I tried to apply the compassion and curiosity that characterize the SS4Love method and curriculum, I became empowered to see each interaction with the students as an opportunity to uncover something new about one another, as well as to expand on our interests and abilities. To see the children moment-to moment, grow physically, emotionally, and intellectually—seriously, sometimes Alecia and I would say, “I think Jaxon grew a couple inches since yesterday!”or“Wow, today Violet was so much more mindful of her friends’bodies and emotions!”—naturally transformed my heart and inspired me to go deeper into my role as teacher and my responsibility to the school community in general.  

            With great sensitivity, Cody and Alecia, helped me to see my strengths and weaknesses, and presented ways in which I could nurture them. Cody and Alecia saw that I had room to grow in the areas of communication and family outreach, so they encouraged me to be bold in developing relationships with our families. This was a turning point for me, because the more I worked on this challenge, the more I could ascertain how much the parents were so grateful for my time and energy. This realization then served as motivation and inspiration for me in the classroom throughout the school year and beyond. 

            If there is anything that has been most ingrained in me from my apprenticeship at the SS4L it would be that, whatever you do, becomes infused with your intentions. Thus, if you are thinking of connecting with the SS4Love, be prepared for every atom of your life to be infused and transformed with LOVE…big time! +Melissa

Teaching at The Sovereignty School For Love with Cody is, beyond anything, a learning experience. Prior to this, I was hesitant to work with young impressionable minds. I have taught adults in the past and this has not necessarily prepared me for working with children. Cody's crash course, however, has helped me gain confidence in this area. In my personal profession of wood working there are correct ways of doing something and incorrect ways, and I am normally very quick to point out flaws and mistakes because this could lead to a bodily injury. With children in a school environment it's better to use positive reinforcement and encourage students to work toward the correct answer, rather than solely stating, "that's wrong" and supplying the correct answer. This gives them ownership of the lesson as opposed to something to purely memorize. I've learned to ask questions, even easy ones, to keep their minds involved, and to avoid simply dictating information.

   Letting the children remain in control is paramount, which can be achieved by avoiding authoritarian commands, refraining from the initiation of force, and abiding by the non-aggression principal. How a teacher reacts in certain situations provides a model of behavior for the children. If they are restless do not resort to punishment. Be like water and change courses or carve a new route, letting them lead while suggesting possible paths. If there is a dispute amongst the group, champion logic to convey a more polite interaction so all parties are pleased. This is where an explanation of a compromise or the golden rule may be employed. 

Taking frequent breaks and remaining aware of the students energy levels can help to facilitate a less stressful atmosphere, another key to diffusing tensions by always remaining calm. Anger solves nothing and only teaches the children to use anger instead of level headed logic. By communicating the needs of the group instead of putting your or any one child's needs over the others, strong bonds are created. When appropriate, one on one sessions can help the growth of children at different stages of development. Above all I have learned to treat the children with love as if they are my own. To harbor love for your students unconditionally is the best course, so that they might reflect this light outward as well. I have been grateful for the guidance provided by this enlightening crash course.

-Joshua

Teaching/learning at the Belize SS4L is an integrated experience. One walks a path and one learns about the natural world, color, shape, size, and vocabulary. These experiences are adult guided and child driven. Learning is adult supported but responsive to the child's interests and motivations. The variety of learning opportunities (art, music, drama and math, science, and literature) allows all age levels to engage where they will learn.

Incorporating children who are temporary visitors enhances everyone's experiences. New participants bring their unique personalities and knowledge to add to the daily curriculum. All the children learn to be flexible and support each other as they are learning. Children who are more advanced in one area (motor skills for example) may not be as advanced in language arts so they learn the continuum of skills that we all have. Some are great ball throwers, others are good artists, etc. Incorporating a variety of activities and engaging everyone at their level of interest and engagement pushes all to learn.

Including parents in the learning process allows learning to continue after school and allows multiple perspectives to the curriculum. I'm sure parents feel engaged, even if they are not able to be physically present. Empowering parents through better understanding of how their children are learning when they are away from the family - when they are in a group - and when they are with new and different adults helps extend what they know and how they interact with others.

-Mel & Paula

I was lucky enough to experience Cody'sclass for 5 days in Belize while nannying. I saw that teaching is Cody's true calling. If her goal is to change the world through teaching, she is accomplishing it. Her teaching style is like none I've seen before and it centers around love, kindness, and imagination. Cody opens the eyes of children through her insightful way of communicating with them.

She truly knows how to connect with children and because of this, lessons turn into incredible experiences and a book is brought to life. She makes learning truly fun and imaginative for her students. I spent less than a week with Cody and I learned so much - mainly in how to effectively and lovingly communicate with children. Teaching and learning with Cody is truly inspiring; words don't do the experience justice!

-Leila

What the Sovereignty School for Love does is redefine what expectations of a school should be. If school is intended to prepare you for life, then rote memorization and recitation (what you get at most schools) is going to leave you sorely underprepared. SS4L encourages the asking of questions, the sharing of experience, and a flexibility that is not often found in standard education.

Lessons are drawn from the environment and the students interests, and taught through encouragement and excitement. In some ways the methods used at SS4L remind me of the Socratic Method. Students are encouraged to look at a subject and try to understand it, and instead of just being given answers are given the questions and toolkit to drive them towards deeper understanding and exploration.

By welcoming teachers from different backgrounds, interests, and holding different skills the students at SS4L are exposed to a multitude of perspectives, allowing them to grow and help to define themselves while learning and growing at the same time. The most important thing I think that the SS4L teaches students is that teachers are everywhere, and the interpersonal skills they learn at SS4L will help them to learn the lessons that the world and the people in it offer them.

-Dana

The Sovereignty School For Love is an immersive, intuitive and revolutionary approach to education. The world is your classroom, and every interaction is a learning opportunity. Students at the SS4L interact with the world around them through a full sensorial experience. Every day is filled with new lessons, questions, and discoveries, all in a nurturing and supportive environment. There is a certain magic that happens when education is approached as a collaborative process. (It takes a village.) There is an optimism, an affirming positivity that is contagious. It is impossible to not participate in this joyful investigation. It is an incredible educational love revolution and also the simplest, most natural thing in the world—all at once. This is what happens when you embrace intuitive teaching. This is what happens when a school transforms into a community. I am very grateful and humbled to have had the opportunity to work alongside Cody in Belize. The SS4L is such a rare and incredible school, and Cody continues to excel in bringing new and wonderful learning experiences to the children and families that are a part of the SS4L community.

- Caiti