Hi, I’m Laura!
I’m a mother, teacher, and founder of The Harmonious Classroom, based in beautiful New Brunswick, Canada.
I’m dedicated to alternative education & passionate about helping educators and homeschoolers create more harmony and connection in their learning environments.
A turning point came for me during my years as a kindergarten teacher, when I realized that traditional teaching methods weren’t working…not for me, and not for many of the children in my classroom.
I felt the burnout creeping in and could see the children growing more restless each day. The disconnect between myself and the students was widening, and it pushed me to ask: What if there was a more supportive way to show up for our children?
That question changed everything.
Through my own research, I set out to discover what children really need to thrive, and what educators are missing. I began to let go of the traditional teaching methods that I was taught in University. I explored the importance of connection, movement, and autonomy. I witnessed the pleas for connection through misbehaviour, the need for movement through constant fidgeting, and saw defiance that was really just a child’s way of begging for more freedom. The more I learned, the more I began bringing new practices into my own classroom. I began to let go of the need for complete control, and brought forward trust. Slowly, I watched myself & my classroom transform.
Today, ten years later, these values have guided me down a new path. I have co-founded a self-directed forest school, designed especially for the homeschooling community. Grounded in alternative education, it re-defines what school can be. Children are trusted as motivated, capable learners, and are the masters of their own education. By focusing on movement, connection and awareness, I have successfully created a learning environment where both myself and the learners can thrive.
One of my hardest lessons was learning to let go of control. I had always believed I needed to lead every moment, but I came to see that children can be the leaders of their own learning. When I finally stepped back and trusted them, everything began to change. Curiosity, creativity, and connection flourished in ways I hadn’t imagined.
This shift wasn’t easy. It required unraveling my own beliefs, expectations, and thought patterns around teaching. There were setbacks and moments of doubt, but learning to trust both my children and myself made all the difference. The biggest challenge was moving away from outdated models of behaviour management and instructional control, and instead learning to respond with intention. By giving children what they truly needed to succeed, a harmonious classroom began to emerge.
Today, I am grateful to share The Harmonious Classroom as a space for educators and homeschoolers who want to move beyond burnout and frustration. My mission is to help you rediscover your joy for teaching with a sustainable teaching framework that nurtures you and your students. If you’re ready to see your classroom, and yourself, in a new light, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.