the allLearners.org update

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Rob Houben

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🌊 This weekend, I was in Flow.

After years of shoulder and elbow injuries, I had almost accepted that windsurfing would remain something from my past.For a while, I went out occasionally — careful, hesitant, afraid to push too hard.But since this spring, I’ve been back.Fully. And this weekend, for two days in a row, everything...

Oct 28, 2025 influencing the circumstances

Why I stopped telling people what to do

Hi , When I first started leading projects and innovations, back in 2005 (I’m getting old, and I’m okay with that), I thought my job was to give direction, to tell people what to do next.It felt natural, even helpful. They even asked for it.But I’ve learned that just because people ask for someth...

Oct 21, 2025 ensure ongoing personal & collaborative development

Real buy-in Isn’t forced. It’s facilitated.

Last week, I shared a story about the importance of synergy over debate. That conversation started with a visit from Australian teachers and school leaders to my hometown, and a simple but powerful truth: If you’re pulling others forward, they will almost always resist. But if you shape the right...

Oct 14, 2025 influencing the circumstances

Stop pulling, start connecting

Have you ever felt like you’re constantly pulling people along? Students who need convincing that it’s worth putting in the effort.Colleagues who’ve been doing things the same way for years and seem unmoved by new ideas.Team members who nod politely but don’t really engage. I’ve been there. And I...

Oct 07, 2025

A Better Tomorrow Starts Small: Rebalance Routine & Intention

Last week I visited the Herman Broerenschool in Roermond. It is a special school for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities. During my tour with principal Nathalie Schotanus, I kept noticing the same pattern: rhythm and structure were everywhere, but always shaped around the in...

by Rob Houben — Sep 30, 2025 intentional

What if parents aren’t difficult, but just feel left out?

As a teacher, I dreaded calling parents. I wasn’t alone. Many teachers I worked with felt the same. And I still hear it today, from teachers and school leaders alike. There’s this growing sense that parents are getting harder to deal with. There are more questions. More pushback. More emotion. At...

by Rob Houben — Sep 23, 2025 important people strenghten the community

How to Intervene Without Taking Over

Last week I promised to share more about the HOW of intervening. You might remember the distinction I made: it’s not about “I need to intervene” but about “an intervention is needed.” But once you’ve decided an intervention is needed, there is another question I like to ask myself: when I organiz...

by Rob Houben — Sep 16, 2025 just in time support

Observing Before Acting

Recognize this?We educators are a bit like labradors: eager to help. Often too eager, if you ask me. I’ve been there. Back in my math teacher days, I’d notice a student struggling. Within seconds, I was at their desk explaining. The student loved it. Others saw it and asked me to help them too. T...

by Rob Houben — Sep 09, 2025

What we forget after the first week of school

It's September, and in the Northern Hemisphere, a familiar energy is/has been in the air as schools open their doors. Think about those first few days, especially with new students. We call them welcome days or induction weeks. We run icebreakers, team-building games, and more open-ended activiti...

by Rob Houben — Sep 02, 2025 freedom to experiment and research

My Mission, Our Journey - a new weekly update

Hi, As you know, I'm on a mission: to turn education into an experience that starts from and with the motivation of all learners: students, staff members, and your wider community. In the last couple of years, I've worked hard to establish a backbone for this mission - the allLearners Building Bl...

by Rob Houben — Aug 28, 2025

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