Well, the new year has started!  This is our first official year, paperwork included, as a private school here in California.  California doesn’t have homeschoolers.  Those who are homeschooling without the support of a public school system (like a charter school), file paperwork just like any private school here in the state.  So, we decided to have a name for our school.  It took us awhile to decide, as we wanted something we could use until they’re out of school.  We also wanted something meaningful to our mission as homeschoolers. It took us two days of lots of not so great ideas to come to one that, knowing us and our life’s goal of living the give way, should’ve been obvious to us. We settled on Wayfinder School, as we are constantly focused on find the right way to live and learn. As soon as we said it, we realized how perfectly it encapsulates our home. (And we couldn’t believe it took us so long to come up with it! Doh!) Core Phase Learning Plan We loosely follow many different educational philosophies, but I have really found a connection with my own beliefs about life and education with a philosophy called TJEd.  One of the components that resonated with me was the phases of a child’s development.  We are currently in the core phase with our kids. This is a phase where the emphasis is not on academics, but on developing good character through a number of ways, including work in the house, studying our core book, learning what is right and wrong, etc.   So, this is always our number one focus.  The academic plan listed below is completely secondary to these core items. Core Book Theme – Love Your Neighbor as Yourself Proverbs Study continued Monthly Virtues, Book: The Children’s Book of Virtues Life Skills Life Skills Journal Sewing [her choice] Cooking [her choice] Book: The Science Chef Manners Book: 365 Manners Kids Should Know Friendship Skills Book: Theme Book Series – Friends Girl Scout Daisys 4-H Club Household Responsibilities Watering yard Cleaning her room 3x a week Help empty dishwasher “Babysit” her brother when I need him out of the way 😉 Clean or help as directed when needs arise Academic Plan Wow! When I write it all out, it looks like so much!! I’m not sure if we’ll cover all this (we didn’t! LOL!).  But, she reads so much, and loves to learn about all kinds of things, that I’m pretty sure we’ll cover a majority of this.  And, these things can be anything from a 5 minute activity to a month of activities.  But, I’ve noticed that when life is full of other activities, the academic plan goes to the wayside, and I’m totally ok with that! We are focused on core behavior growths, not academics.  This plan is purely to give us a little structure if needed.  It also is a record for me of what she’s done.  You’ll notice a theme when it comes to media.  I was feeling a little need for some pop culture…not too modern, but when I started looking at music and looking up composers, I got so bored! LOL! It seems like that’s the kind of thing kids are supposed to learn, which is true, but it’s also true that my kids can learn it another year. 🙂 This is the plan for a first grade, six year old girl (oldest).  I put up a Learning Plan: Age 5, last year as well.  I feel like I always need to add a caveat to my plans.  Our focus is natural learning and delight driven learning, based on her interests as well as things I think she’ll be interested in.  We do not have any structured time for learning or use any pre-made curriculum, other than an outline like the one below.  We are firm believers that people are natural learners, born with an insatiable curiosity for the world and those around us.  My goal as a mentor is to provide lots of opportunities to satisfy that curiosity, within our own family environment. August 2017 – July 2018 Learning Plan Main Theme: Practice Makes Progress Not Perfect Character Goal: Stay Positive The generic plan for activities (all are optional.): Kids’ Classic Book Club description can be found here. Classic book refers to a classic book we are reading together that is not a book club book. “Places” is a geography study (One each month — related to readings or holidays or areas she may be less familiar with — may include reading books, flag, map, language, music/dance/art, activity, themed dinner, watching videos) “People” relates to short studies of a person (one a month — may include reading books,  watching videos, and an activity. ) “Events” is my attempt to keep up with important calendar dates that happen during the month (how often varies — may includes books, videos, and a few activities.) “Themes” can refer to a few days or a whole month of delving into a subject. (Generally chosen by me and her and include things like decorating the house, themed snacks/baths/meals/toys, and a number of related activities and books.) Specific Areas of Interest Throughout the Year Math Math Journal Book: Alice in Numberland Science Science Journal Social Studies Social Studies Journal Monthly Country/State Studies Studies Book: I Know a Place Book: Children Just Like Me Creative Expression Monthly Artist Focus Monthly Musician Focus August Classics Book Club: Adventure at the Beach Swiss Family Robinson Core Book: Books of the Bible and Proverbs 4:10-15, 4:18-22 Theme: Sun and Moon Important Event: Solar Eclipse Cooking: Salad dressing/dressings (Experiment: make mayonnaise, Three-Bean Salad, honey-yogurt dressing) Manners: Being a good host Music: Beach Boys and The Supremes Movies: Happy Feet, Swiss Family Robinson March of the Penguins Aristocats A Boy Named Charlie Brown Chapter books on her own Cam Jansen and the Secret Service Mystery Cam Jansen and the The Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones Cam Jansen and the First Day of School Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Television Dog September Classics Book Club: Magic Tree House #1 – Dinosaurs Before Dark Classic Book: Mr. Apple’s Family Core Book: Fall Holy Days Proverbs 4: 20-22, 6:6-10 Virtue: Courage and Perseverance Theme: Snoopy Theme: Fall and Apples Places: United Kingdom Artist: Charles Schulz Daisy’s: Juliette’s bridging ceremony Cooking: Eggs (Make: fried egg on her own) and grilled cheese Sewing: Shelf liner sewing Music: The Andrews Sisters and Cole Porter Movie: You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown The Peanuts Movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Dumbo Chapter Books on her own: Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn #2 Magic Tree House: Midnight on the Moon #8  October Classic Book: The Hoboken Chicken Emergency Core Book: Fall Holy Days Proverbs 4:23-27 Theme: Castles (mainly consisted of visiting a couple in Wales and England) Theme: Time (Did not end up doing anything for this.  Apparently, getting her a cute snap watch, like this, in the middle of a five hour drive, is enough to have her learn how to read a watch!  Natural learning at its finest!) Theme: Fall – Leaves Theme: Earth’s environments – forests and rivers Place: Germany Manners: Out on the Town Persons: The British Royal family Daisy – Good Neighbor Badge Sewing: Shelf Liner sewing Music: Air Supply and The Carpenters Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole Movie: Snoopy Is Getting Married Sing Lost and Found Chapter Books on her own: Cam Jansen and the Triceratops Pops Mystery Cam Jansen and the Mystery at the Monkey House Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride Mercy Watson Fights Crime  November Classics Book Club: Lottie and Lisa Core Book: Love Your Neighbor As Yourself, What does it mean to love yourself? Theme: Space Theme: Gratitude Theme: Fall – Pumpkins Theme: Thanksgiving (Pinterest Board) Place: Germany Artist: Pieter Bruegel Music: Barry Manilow and Barbra Streisand Cooking: Fiber (Experiment: bran muffins) Movie: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving This Is America, Charlie Brown: The NASA Space Station This Is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers Wall-E Parent Trap (original — we fast forwarded a lot!) Mary Poppins December Classic Books:Skating Shoes Story of Ferdinand Virtue: Responsibility/Work/Self-Discipline Manners: Family Time Artist: Mary Cassat (read Suzette and the Puppy, no art activity) Daisy’s – Outdoor Art Maker badge Music: Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon Movies: Ferdinand (new in theaters) Mickey Mouse Club (old ones) Snoopy’s Reunion Snow Buddies Chapter books on her own: Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds Barry, the Bravest Saint Bernard Tornado (Sick all month!! Into a couple weeks of January) January Classics Book Club: The Hundred Dresses Proverbs 6:12-15, 6:16-19, 6:23, 8:10-11, 9:10-11, 10:1 (got so behind on these!) Virtue: Compassion and Faith Theme: Animals Place: Egypt Manners: Body Basics Daisy’s: Model Car badge, Count It Up and Talk It Up leaves,  selling cookies, Journey 3 Cheers for Animals, World Thinking Day Badge, Robotics Badges (Apple store activity) Music: Abba and Bee Gees Movie: Air Bud (we stopped it right when everything was going great. LOL!) February Classics Book Club: Henry and Mudge (All 29 books)Artist: Monet Got pregnant and super sick!! February to July Things she did: Finished a couple sewing projects, started a cross-stitch Worked with wood with my dad.  Made: doll table, chairs and cradle, tool box, tug boat, dog house (which was more like a wood cube with no sides 🙂 ), carousel, birdhouse Math: tons of Lego, workbooks she picked, measurements for building projects, calendar, time, money Science: STEM Lego girls, mud play, bugs/outside stuff, baking/cooking with grandma, Ranger Rick, tons of books, gardening, watched three caterpillars turn to butterflies, Magic School Bus show Writing: letters, lists, workbooks, crossword puzzles, word searches, mad libs Reading: At least 10 picture books a day, reading “storytime” to her brother,  chapter books (I tried to have her leave the ones she read on my desk so I could put them down.)  I’m sure she didn’t get them all to me, but here are the ones I know for sure: The Secret Valley The Milly Molly Mandy Storybook More Milly Molly Mandy Ten True  Animal Rescues Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Corn Popper The Paintbrush Kid Mrs. Piggle Wiggle Mrs. Piggle Wiggle’s Farm Hello, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle The Littles The Littles Go Exploring The Littles and the Big Storm Cam Jansen and the Mystery of Flight 54 Cam Jansen and The Chocolate Fudge Mystery Cam Jansen and The Mystery of the Carnival Prize Cam Jansen and The Mystery Of The Gold Coin Cam Jansen and the Wedding Cake Mystery Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig The Courage of Sarah Noble Mary on Horseback Audio Books: I use Librivox for these.  All free and only classics that have no copyrights anymore. Bowser the Hound The Adventures of Johnny Chuck Mrs. Peter Rabbit The Adventures of Buster Bear The Adventures of Lightfoot the Deer The Adventures of Paddy Beaver The Adventures of Peter Cottontail The Adventures of Poor Mrs. Quack The Adventures of Reddy Fox The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse The Adventures of Sammy Jay The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel Read Aloud Books We Finished: The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories Art: books about artists or types of artists, painted, created her own crafts from her Childcraft book History: historical fiction and nonfiction, social studies activities in some workbooks, Bible stories, grandparents stories Imaginative play/social play: beach trip, family, doctor, explorer, teacher, librarian PE: running, climbing, swinging, jumping, jump rope, sandbox, trampoline, pool/water play, swimming, scooter, bike, walks, playground Bible: Officer’s servant (Luke 7:1-10), Solomon, Jesus Heals a paralytic (Luke 5:17-26 and Matthew 9:1-2), Passover and Days of Unleavened bread, Good Samaritan, Jesus feeding the crowds (Matt 15:32) Proverbs 10:2-5, 8-12, 14, 17, 19, 26, 31-32 Girl Scouts: 3 Cheers for Animals, Buddy Camper Badge, Game Board Challenge Badge, selling cookies, Pottery badge In the Kitchen: Cooks by herself (scrambled eggs and fried eggs), smoothies, simple cookies Things we didn’t get to this year (mainly … Continue reading Learning Plan: Age 6