Parent Testimonials

Activate was a godsend for my son, who wasn't thriving in a traditional classroom setting. The program is intentionally tiny (20ish students) and engaging, with a focus on art and creative technologies (like music production and graphic design) along with the usual core subjects. Its designed for kids with learning differences *and* any kid. My son has made huge academic gains and no longer battles us about going to school. The director, Greg, is so passionate & dedicated. He clearly cares about helping each kid reach their potential. I can't say enough about this school -- I'm just sad it ends after 5th grade!

This is our 2nd year at activate and after struggling in PPS we found a school that works! Our kiddo is quite bright and has severe dyslexia and dysgraphia. At PPS the discrepancy made it so he couldn't function in the classroom with reading instructions and writing answers with 30 other kids in the room. Greg has put together the perfect environment for our kid with focused and structured dyslexia and dysgraphia teaching, including one-on-one time if needed. His writing has improved tremendously and his reading is getting better all the time. Outside of reading/writing, he also gets to work at higher level math, which he loves, because of the small class size. There is also daily art teaching which is great for dysgraphia kids and has really helped with his confidence. They are learning history that coincides with PPS curriculum. They are treated with respect and allowed to move around the class as needed. They take time to make and build things. They work with iPads and different apps and programming. They take field trips to the library and other places around town. All this is topped off with 1h outdoor recess every day, no matter the weather. Thank you to Greg, Brenna and Cork- you have made a huge difference in our lives. I don't know where we would be if we hadn't found Activate.

We are so grateful to be at Activate Studio. Greg’s expertise with dyslexia and dysgraphia, his calm and thoughtful demeanor, and his commitment to making learning interesting make the school a wonderful place to be. Our kiddo enjoys school, and has made solid, noticeable progress in literacy and handwriting in a just a few months after years of struggling with little results. It’s been a blessing to join Activate, and we’re so glad to be there.

Greg was tutoring my son prior to the school opening. With his help my son started to close significant gaps in his reading ability. When the school opened it made perfect sense for us to move him into the micro school. The past two years has been a true gift for my son. Not only does he now read with confidence, he enjoys it and reads chapter books for pleasure! The style of the school has also helped him build self esteem and understand that while he learns differently he is still a smart kid. I highly recommend this program to anyone but especially for parents of children that are feeling stressed out at school and starting to doubt their own abilities because their reading skills are not the same as their peers.

My son has attended Activate for two years and has absolutely loved his time there. Greg’s curriculum and teaching style is very engaging for the kids. My son has made close friends at Activate and looks forward to going to school every day. I cannot recommend this school highly enough. Activate is a wonderful environment for children to learn and thrive.

My child’s year at Activate Studio’s microschool was truly a gift. A unique opportunity to learn through exploration, group discussions and art. Greg knows how to make learning fun ... Breaking words down to their roots and discovering their true meanings was my child’s favorite Activate pastime. The small class environment fostered the development of close friendships among the students and the class as a whole had a family vibe.

Activate has been an amazing experience for our son this year. The hands-on projects and small class size have made learning fun. He is pumped to go to school in the morning.

I can say without hesitation that Greg's Activate program has had a positive impact on my daughter this year. At first I was unsure about the self-directed learning concept and I should not have been. It was obvious early on that she was more engaged in her work, excited about learning, having fun, and applying it all outside of class. I always look forward to hearing what Greg's lessons are each day and reading his regular updates to parents. The program has shown her that learning can be fun and set her up to get more out of future education. Great program!

Greg is a leader who dared to take our kids down the road less travelled during an unprecedented time in recent history. He showed up every day, taught hands on learning skills, and kept eyes on the kids when most needed. I am proud of his success in Activate and highly recommend it to any parent seeking an alternative learning environment for their child.

Activate how been a game-changer for our family. Our oldest son in thriving in a small classroom with one-on-one teaching. The workshop model of learning has also been a huge success, with our son so busy focused on a project he doesn't realize or isn't bothered as much by the hard stuff. And school does tend to be hard for him for a variety of reasons related to developmental disorders and homeschooling through Covid. I would highly recommend Activate and Greg to anyone looking for a small class setting where your kiddo will get one-on-one instruction, small group project experience and real world learning opportunities.

My son, Dean, is so excited to return to school this year. Greg has put so much thought and energy into Activate. The kids are learning in a way that makes so much sense. Dean is challenged and learning while truly enjoying himself. He looks forward to every Monday.