Parent Memo
Hey there friends-Beth Werkheiser here.
I wanted to share an idea with you (for those of you who know me I am always full of ideas). There is no pressure and no money involved. I simply have my own educational needs for next year and wanted to see if others have the same need. Perhaps some of you have your year and curriculum all planned out and you love where the Lord is leading. For that I rejoice with you! However others, like myself, need more accountability (for example: written narration and grammar) in providing a Charlotte Mason education for their children (mostly because I am old and gray and tired).
I am wondering if anyone would like to join me in forming a learning pod? Before you read further, I want to be clear that I have never done this before so it is a bit of a trial steeped with grace. Bottom line—I need my kids to get up, get dressed, and get school done so we can have the rest of the day.
Here are some practicals in no particular order:
-Learning pod would have to be considered a “work” day for students and parents. Its primary goal is not a social time (however that might happen) but a “let’s get some of the skills done while in community kind of day.”
-We would decide on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday to meet. We would meet from 10 am-12pm with the expectation that you would either get math lessons done before or after our time together.
-This would not be a drop-off (or you can designate a person to be with your kids). Home Educators would stay and rotate jobs. If there are younger children, then we would have to create a childcare rotation as well.
What would be left for you to do at home? In order to complete the Dictation /Spelling curriculum, you would have to do another lesson with your child at home. If you have a student who is still learning to read you would complete a phonics curriculum of your choice. You could also add more written narration from your choice literature and copy work.
The schedule of ideas are as follows:
Missionary biography: read, narrate, and discuss, pray and doxology.
Complete a written narration together.
Math Games (Right Start Math Games)
Dictation & Spelling Lesson (using Simply Charlotte Mason curriculum)
Century notebook
Grammar Lesson (Grammar Island and Sentence Island by Michael Clay Thompson) *this is the grammar book suggested by the Alveary.
Nature Journal art lesson.
I’m sure you might have questions. If you are interested in talking further about this idea, please me at 314-630-9434.
