Week three is here! In week three we are learning about pine cones and other seed pods as well as our brains. We’re also investigating balance and learning about the Autumnal Equinox.
This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links provide us with a small commission at no cost to you when you use them to purchase goods.
In week two of our early fall journey, we are learning all about leaves and about our heart and lungs.
This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links provide us with a small commission at no cost to you when you use them to purchase goods.
Here is a list of all our regularly used school supplies. Recipes and ingredients for Kitchen Time and Sensory Time are listed at the bottom of each week’s page along with any other specific items we needed for that week.
This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links provide us with a small commission at no cost to you when you use them to purchase goods.
Continue reading
We are celebrating the arrival of fall and the beginning of a new school year! This six week unit focuses on Trees and Our Bodies. The first week we are learning about the different parts of trees and about our skeletal system.
This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links provide us with a small commission at no cost to you when you use them to purchase goods.
Our ancestors were master storytellers. For many of them, the oral transmission of knowledge was the only way they had to passed down all the things they had learned to their children. They also were master makers, in an age before you could run down to the local Target for anything you might need.
For 3 year old Kai, we will create a school and home rhythm based around these two most human things: telling stories and making things. To do this, we’ve pulled ideas from Forest Schools, Montessori philosophy, inspiration from Reggio Emilia, and Charlotte Mason’s works. Our plan is to spend time in nature, learn about our world, deepen our connection as a family and have fun.
We’ve had a wild, busy month here at casa de la Craftsman. First, the nice camera took a dive and unfortunately had to go in to get fixed. Sadly, this happened before I took loose parts pictures, so the loose parts series is on hold until I can take pictures of all the pretty things!
We also had some good wildness around here. We made an offer on our first house! The inspection is this week and if all goes well (cross your fingers for us) we will be homeowners. The house is a little bit of a fixer upper, so there should be some remodeling post in our future. I’m definitely going to try and paint the bathroom tile, and if I can get the spouse on board, I’m going to do concrete counter tops as well. So check back for remolding posts in a month or two.
We’re also gearing up for our first academic term of homeschooling, and we’re co-hosting a micro boarding gaming convention (i.e. 30ish semi-local people playing games all weekend).
What are you guys up to today? Any one else too busy?
If you missed the Year 1.5 Summer Term post, check it out for some background on how we homeschool.
Fall will be the beginning of our academic subjects. I decided to keep a slower pace this first year, and wait for a foreign language or any other additional subjects until next year. History, Geography, Math and English will be the only subjects we do every day. Everything else in on a weekly or ad hoc looping basis.
A lot of these resources are available online for free. I linked to hard copies because I dislike digital books, especially when reading Charlotte Mason style.
Fall Term (September, October, November)
We’ve got a whole lot of things going on, and some big changes on the way. During this time, it’s especially important to keep on rhythm with Kai. She doesn’t understand exactly what is happening or why and she doesn’t have enough words to express her discontent at all this change. I hate change, too, kiddo, so I know how you feel (even if I don’t hate this change. I’m challenged by it, and maybe even overwhelmed a bit, but I’m also looking forward to having Kit with us for the year).
I’m also trying to expand our outside time. I recently started reading Charlotte Mason’s own works, instead of what others have written about her method and even with all the encouragement Waldorf has given us to go outside, CM has inspired me to do more. Right now we spend 2-3 hours outside a day, and apparently everyone is getting into the outside game, even WHO declared kids should be outside for at least 3 hours a day this week. Continue reading
We’ve been a little crazy around here as of late. Lots of changes, lots of rebalancing and rethinking, lots of preparation.
I handle that with excessive planning, back up planning and excel sheets. Thus, I planned out our homeschooling year while sitting around waiting in offices and cars.
This our summer plan crafted around Kit, a six going on seven year old who is a weak reader and Kai, a hyper almost two year old. I’m going to post the rest of the year as well. It’s an eclectic plan, mostly based around Charlotte Mason style short lessons. Our history cycle is a hybrid CM/Classical style, there is some Waldorf influence in the areas of pre-writing, handwork, and art, a lot of Reggio play based ideas, and probably some stuff that’s just me. I pulled from lots of programs, curriculum, and Instagram ideas, all listed at the end of the spring term post. Continue reading
This Craftsman Life 