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Posts by Iterative Autonomy

5 rainbow colored spaceships on a starry ombre background with text that reads: Join the Autonomy Adventurers! An online club for playful family teams. Dark blue text on a light blue circle to the left reads: The Club is Officially Open! Dark blue text on a yellow circle to the right reads: Use the link in my bio to join today!

5 rainbow colored spaceships on a starry ombre background with text that reads: Join the Autonomy Adventurers! An online club for playful family teams. Dark blue text on a light blue circle to the left reads: The Club is Officially Open! Dark blue text on a yellow circle to the right reads: Use the link in my bio to join today!

Light blue text over a dark blue background reads: What’s a Quest?. Beneath that is a light blue box containing dark blue text that reads: A quest is an expansive adventure full of new experiences and understandings. Autonomy Adventurers complete as many missions as they like during each seasonal, quarterly quest. They may add in solo side quests along the way if one member of their team is motivated to complete a related mission on their own.

Light blue text over a dark blue background reads: What’s a Quest?. Beneath that is a light blue box containing dark blue text that reads: A quest is an expansive adventure full of new experiences and understandings. Autonomy Adventurers complete as many missions as they like during each seasonal, quarterly quest. They may add in solo side quests along the way if one member of their team is motivated to complete a related mission on their own.

Light blue text over a dark blue background reads: Why Play? Beneath that is a light blue box containing dark blue text that reads: As any kid can tell you, playing is fun! But as it turns out, when we play we also get a bunch of other broadly researched benefits. Skills like problem-solving, negotiation, and abstract & creative thinking. Plus play fosters empathy, creativity & imagination while relieving stress and improving our overall well-being.

Light blue text over a dark blue background reads: Why Play? Beneath that is a light blue box containing dark blue text that reads: As any kid can tell you, playing is fun! But as it turns out, when we play we also get a bunch of other broadly researched benefits. Skills like problem-solving, negotiation, and abstract & creative thinking. Plus play fosters empathy, creativity & imagination while relieving stress and improving our overall well-being.

Dark blue text over a light blue background reads: Learn More… followed by an image icon of each of the pages for these corresponding links: _THE MEMBERSHIP -_ IterativeAutonomy.com/Autonomy-Adventurers-Club. _MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS -_ http://Ko-Fi.com/IterativeAutonomy/Tiers. _THE CREATOR/EDUCATOR -_ http://IterativeAutonomy.com/About. NOTE | All of these links can be found in my bio.

Dark blue text over a light blue background reads: Learn More… followed by an image icon of each of the pages for these corresponding links: _THE MEMBERSHIP -_ IterativeAutonomy.com/Autonomy-Adventurers-Club. _MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS -_ http://Ko-Fi.com/IterativeAutonomy/Tiers. _THE CREATOR/EDUCATOR -_ http://IterativeAutonomy.com/About. NOTE | All of these links can be found in my bio.

The summer quest is open for members! Will your family join us?

With the Autonomy Adventurers Club, the idea is for families to have access to a self-paced adventure this summer that also grows their sense of self & connection as a family team along the way.

Join the club today! (link in bio)

10 months ago 0 0 0 0
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Little free passports are making their way into little free libraries around Portland. I’m excited for families to find them & explore the power of questing as a family team!

For families who want to keep heading out on new quests & missions, I’ve designed the Autonomy Adventurers Club. Link in Bio

10 months ago 0 0 0 0
A salmon colored square on a dark blue background with dark blue text that reads, “Supporting kids’ autonomy gives them the tools to write their own story instead of hoping that a good one will be written for them.”

A salmon colored square on a dark blue background with dark blue text that reads, “Supporting kids’ autonomy gives them the tools to write their own story instead of hoping that a good one will be written for them.”

Autonomy is freely choosing your own thoughts & actions.

Autonomy supportive environments & activities offer kids the space & opportunities to think & do for themselves.

That's a key goal of the Autonomy Adventurers Club for playful family teams.

Learn more at the links in my bio.

10 months ago 0 0 0 0
Video

We come into the world curious & playful. Those who manage to hang onto that nature know that life is play.

One of the best ways we can support autonomy & agency is to encourage kids to play. To guide their own activities. To make choices for themselves. To learn how to fail & keep going.

10 months ago 0 0 0 0
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As an adult, I had an epiphany that I’m allowed to read books however I want to read them.

Toss a 📘 in the comments if this video inspires you to go grab a book off your shelf that you’ve been meaning to read & read it any way you want to read it.

1 year ago 0 0 0 0

Have you ever felt this way?

What have you experienced or noticed about your kids when it comes to learning?

1 year ago 0 0 0 0

becomes something we do because we’re told to.

I used to love to read when I was young & then somewhere around middle school the whole idea became a chore. So getting back to the joy of it as an adult has been empowering...

1 year ago 0 0 1 0

...I hope we can continue to find ways to trust kids more & restrict their choices less.

This "You Don't Need Permission Slip" is my way of reminding all of us that learning is fun & we don’t require a teacher’s permission to do it. When it feels like education belongs to schools, learning...

1 year ago 0 0 1 0
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As a former classroom teacher, I can't help but see permission slips as yet another way in which we train young minds to look outside of themselves for permission to take action.

I know there are some valid reasons to use systems when you have a lot of students in one place, but...

1 year ago 0 0 1 0
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Take Back Your Attention — Iterative Autonomy Take back your attention in 2025 and embrace your true autonomy. We need other people, but thankfully it turns out that autonomy is an important social skill. Discover how to filter digital noise, rec...

Are you scrolling your feed looking for some kind of stability or something to feel hopeful about?

Iterative Autonomy is about growing that consistency & hope within ourselves.

My latest post is a reminder 2025 keeps sending me back to:

Take Back Your Attention

Let me know if it's worth yours...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0

#takebackyourattention #connectioniskey #IAistheoppositeofAI #iterativeautonomy #familyteam #childhoodautonomy #equalrightsforall #socialandemotionallearning #emotionalintelligence #authenticyouth #studentownededucation

1 year ago 0 0 0 0

Dear Algorithm,

Please connect me with families & fellow small business owners who want to help build great things like:

👶   Childhood Autonomy & Agency
🦄   Authentic Youth Expression
💙   Equal Rights for All
📚   Student-Owned Education
🧠   Social & Emotional Intelligence
💪 Powerful Family Teams

1 year ago 0 0 1 0
Valentine's Day...We Made it Up       #valentinesdaygift #valentinesday #wemadeitup #reallovestories
Valentine's Day...We Made it Up #valentinesdaygift #valentinesday #wemadeitup #reallovestories YouTube video by Iterative Autonomy

TLDR: Valentine’s Day, we made it up, so make it your own. Drop a 🩷💛💙 below if you agree.

A common theme has come up in my explorations as an educator: Most things are made up.

More at the link:
www.youtube.com/shorts/-uwXw...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
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Melody@ Iterative Autonomy LLC (@iterativeautonomy) on Threads Do you know who you are as a family? Do you know what’s important to each of your family members & how you can best support one another? Do you play games & take on challenges together? Do you trac...

5 reasons to make your family a team...

Why not start today, in one small way, and begin to see how powerful it is to own & co-create your home together?

Which reason 1-5 feels like a particularly good reason for you to make your family a team?

www.threads.net/@iterativeau...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
Could Your Family Use a Bit More Adventure?              #passporttoadventure #familytime #familyfun
Could Your Family Use a Bit More Adventure? #passporttoadventure #familytime #familyfun YouTube video by Iterative Autonomy

In case you haven’t heard, monthly missions are now quarterly quests!

The Autonomy Adventurers Pre-Membership Club will be accepting a limited number of founding members this summer.

Find more info in this linked post & head to my bio for the waitlist link:

www.youtube.com/shorts/NDZ1b...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
5 salmon boxes arranged in a checkered pattern on a dark blue background. Center box reads: 10 Minutes of Togetherness Checking In With Your Family Team. Then each corner’s box contains a question and a tip. 1. Anyone want to share a feeling of the moment? No need to push this. A list of feeling words can be helpful for all ages. 2. What challenges came up for you this week? Encourage 1 each, no matter how big/small. Listen. Offer help by request only. 3. Who learned something interesting this week? Share at random & ask questions or add on with a similar idea. 4. What are you really into these days? A topic, person, class, book, idea, practice…share the details & ask each other questions. Iterative Autonomy handle at the bottom.

5 salmon boxes arranged in a checkered pattern on a dark blue background. Center box reads: 10 Minutes of Togetherness Checking In With Your Family Team. Then each corner’s box contains a question and a tip. 1. Anyone want to share a feeling of the moment? No need to push this. A list of feeling words can be helpful for all ages. 2. What challenges came up for you this week? Encourage 1 each, no matter how big/small. Listen. Offer help by request only. 3. Who learned something interesting this week? Share at random & ask questions or add on with a similar idea. 4. What are you really into these days? A topic, person, class, book, idea, practice…share the details & ask each other questions. Iterative Autonomy handle at the bottom.

I love creating simple activities for families to be able to throw into the mix easily at any time.

This one offers 4 quick ideas for questions & approaches to rotate through during regular check-ins.

Could you see yourself trying these out? Would anything make them more accessible & easy to use?

1 year ago 1 0 0 0

...shaping & using their own mind as adults.

Kids with autonomy become adults with direction. Start helping your kids invest in their autonomy like a personal bank account that will pay out exponentially as they grow into capable, confident adults.

Thoughts? You know I want to hear them 😉

1 year ago 0 0 0 0

...learn to consult themselves before making a decision.

They become kids who are building their identity thought by thought and learning to take ownership of their own mind.

They become kids who think their ideas are worth sharing. And kids who go on thinking & sharing become well practiced at...

1 year ago 0 0 1 0

...become adults who think their ideas are worth sharing.

First, they become kids who stop to think.

Who think, “Yeah, what do I think?”

Who think there are different ways of thinking.

Who explore what they think & find better thoughts.

Over time, kids who are used to sharing what they think...

1 year ago 0 0 1 0
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On an ombre background from yellow to pink, dark blue text reads: Kids who are used to sharing what they think become adults who think their ideas are worth sharing.

On an ombre background from yellow to pink, dark blue text reads: Kids who are used to sharing what they think become adults who think their ideas are worth sharing.

Why support kids' autonomy?

There are endless answers to this question (which I’m working to share with greater simplicity & clarity).

So as just one example: Growing kids' autonomy involves regularly asking them, “What do you think?”

Kids who are used to sharing what they think don’t JUST...

1 year ago 0 0 1 0
Dark blue text on a salmon background reads “On a scale of 1-10, how true is this statement for you?” Beneath this white text in a dark blue box reads “I want every member of my family to learn about themselves & each other, so that our house feels like a safe & supportive space to belong & be ourselves.” Iterative Autonomy handle & logo at the bottom.

Dark blue text on a salmon background reads “On a scale of 1-10, how true is this statement for you?” Beneath this white text in a dark blue box reads “I want every member of my family to learn about themselves & each other, so that our house feels like a safe & supportive space to belong & be ourselves.” Iterative Autonomy handle & logo at the bottom.

If you've only got a second, the first number that comes to mind is perfect.

1 = Not at all true
10 = Entirely true

If you have an extra minute, I'd love to know your thoughts behind that number...why did that number fit your experience?

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
3 Ways to Get My Freebies in a Flash          #makeyourfamilyateam #passporttoadventure #familytime
3 Ways to Get My Freebies in a Flash #makeyourfamilyateam #passporttoadventure #familytime YouTube video by Iterative Autonomy

Here’s 3 ways to get my freebies in a flash! This video previews what each step looks like and even points out where to click to find the information.

Please contact me with any questions.

Happy Questing!!

youtube.com/shorts/Uh1T6...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
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Iterative Autonomy LLC on LinkedIn: Why do we name things? Names are humanizing. They give us a sense of who… Why do we name things? Names are humanizing. They give us a sense of who we are. An identity to develop & evolve. Names can create connection. They tie us…

Why do we name things?

Names are humanizing.

They give us a sense of who we are. An identity to develop & evolve.

Names can create connection.

They tie us to ourfamilies & social groups & communities. A way to say we belong together.

Names can also…

www.linkedin.com/posts/iterat...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
Any Time is a Good Time to Make Your Family a Team #familyteam #familypractice #familytime
Any Time is a Good Time to Make Your Family a Team #familyteam #familypractice #familytime YouTube video by Iterative Autonomy

I loved being a classroom teacher & I can still remember the way I set up the school year.

I put a lot of thought into it while getting my degree, but even if I had realized halfway through the year that I wanted to change things up & become more of a team...

www.youtube.com/shorts/OOijA...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
Login • Instagram Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

Do you ever have team meetings with your family? Are they structured or impromptu?

I’m excited to share this example from The Emerson-Zaslofsky family to give you just one set of ideas from a real world family meeting.

This just might help your family get started.
www.instagram.com/p/DFWXZAIyT0...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
3 Reasons to Check Out My New Blog             #theinbetween #makeyourfamilyateam #iterativeautonomy
3 Reasons to Check Out My New Blog #theinbetween #makeyourfamilyateam #iterativeautonomy YouTube video by Iterative Autonomy

I know I missed the blog craze by about 25 years, but I’m pretty dang excited about mine 🤓

I'm a former teacher with decades of broad experience ready to be streamlined into thoughtful monthly posts that are also easy to listen to & browse.

Learn more about it here:
www.youtube.com/shorts/iFliG...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
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Iterative Autonomy LLC on LinkedIn: Melody@ Iterative Autonomy LLC on Instagram: "As a classroom teacher, I… As a classroom teacher, I started to realize just how subtly & persistently most educational settings erode kids' sense of autonomy & agency. Year after year,…

I started Iterative Autonomy LLC to give students their power back.

To encourage them to discover & evolve & own who they are AS THEY are growing up, not after they are grown.

Use this link to learn more about me, my company & my vision for IA family teams...

www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
Get the Make Your Family a Team Quest for FREE #connectioniskey #familytime #passporttoadventure
Get the Make Your Family a Team Quest for FREE #connectioniskey #familytime #passporttoadventure YouTube video by Iterative Autonomy

Picture your kid happy, engaged & feeling free to be themselves.

Now imagine yourself next to them equally enjoying the same activity.

The whole family is there and you notice that afterwards, everyone seems a little more connected & comfortable in their own skin...
www.youtube.com/shorts/S3RiV...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
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So far 2025 is already way too much.

But I don’t want to “check out”. That’s never been my answer.

I also don’t want to rush to conclusions or jump into actions that aren’t really my own.

Basically, social autonomy is hard.

And for me, connection is key...

www.instagram.com/p/DFOvu46PpN2/

1 year ago 0 0 0 0
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Make Your Family a Team — Iterative Autonomy Turn your family into a thriving family team with this inspiring guide! Discover fun things to do at home as a family team to strengthen bonds & foster autonomy.

Teamwork is a way to describe anything we do with other people.

A good team levels up the abilities of each member while creating space to belong & build personal identity around shared values.

Now imagine applying that same spirit to your family...

www.iterativeautonomy.com/blog/2025/1/...

1 year ago 0 0 0 0