The OpenEd Podcast Why These Teachers Let Kids Play 3 Hours a Day with Kristin Fink & Ginger Montezon | OpenEd
Sep 17, 2025
Discover how two innovative teachers transformed their approach by letting kids play for three hours daily. This radical shift fosters essential skills for future success while challenging the conventional education system. Learn about the four types of play that emerge in unstructured environments and the time it takes to 'unlearn' traditional schooling. Get practical tips for building play stamina and why less structured teaching might actually lead to better outcomes. Dive into this refreshing take on education and child development!
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How SCOLA Began After Burnout
- Kristin and Ginger started SKOLA after burnout and years of teaching, meeting on Saturdays to plan while working full-time.
- They opened SCOLA in September 2022 and grew from 16 to ~30–35 students across three teachers.
Clean Slate Guides School Design
- They intentionally started with a "clean slate" and let three priorities guide every decision: outside time, meeting students where they are, and social-emotional community.
- Those values shaped enrollment size, organizational structure, schedule, and pedagogy.
Undoing Traditional Schooling Takes Time
- Undoing traditional schooling habits takes months for every year spent in the old system; they planned ample time for change.
- Admissions and orientation honor that transition for students and families.
