The Idea

After twelve continuous years of homeschooling, this year I mixed it up a little!

Last spring, I sat down with two fellow homeschooling-mom friends, and we confessed that we were all a little burnt out. Our middle school kids were needing more structure and academic richness than we really had the energy to provide, and they were also seeking community with other students. 

From that reality, we hatched an experimental plan to work together to teach our middle-schoolers this year. 

I’ll spare you all the detais of what we are specifically doing each week and just say that our eight kids are now spending about 75% of their school-time together. They are receiving group instruction for math, writing, grammar, literature, and choir….and its been really great. 

There have been lots of bugs and kinks for work out, and we are still working them. But what I have learned so far is that I enjoy teaching this age student in a group setting, and our kids are thriving in the academic community that has been created.

So out of this experience has come the question:  Might there be sufficient desire among other families of middle-school students to support a full-day, multi-age, teacher-led classroom with a Classical-Education flavor…potentially beginning next school year? 

On this blog, I’d like to share my ideas of how this could practically look, and then gage the interest level before pursuing it further. 

At a glance, here is the general idea:

What: 4-day per week, 8:30-3:00 day class for 9**-14 year olds. Teacher instructed core subjects using a classically inspired curriculum.  

**Within the Classical Education model, the “Logic Stage” starts roughly at age 10 and continues to about age 14.  Some models begin the Logic Stage at age 9.  I would consider a 9 year old in this program, provided that they meet some very specific academic and social readiness criteria.) 

Where:  Located in Mt. Shasta

Cost:  There will be several participation-fee options, starting at $225 per month per student and going up to $550 per month per student. Cost will depend on whether or not parents wish to enroll their student in Golden Eagle Charter School or opt to work as regular support-staff in the classroom.  In some cases, participation fees may be waived completely in exchange for working additional support-staff hours.  Participation fees include all classroom instruction, evaluation, record keeping, curriculum and school supplies. 

What it will take:  This proposed model is based on the participation of 20 students.  In order to pursue the idea further, I will need commitments to participate from 20 students no later than April 1st, 2018. 

I’m planning to send a series of emails to further flesh out this idea. My hope is that you can evaluate your personal interest level, as well as help spread this information to additional families who may benefit from such an option.  

In upcoming emails, I’ll explain why I’m focusing on middle school, what educational philosophies I embrace, the curriculum I would choose to teach, how to know if this may be a good fit for your child, and how it might practically work financially.  

Please feel free to reply back with your comments or questions to shawnabarr@sbcglobal.net!  I value your input, even if you do not have kids in middle school or if this option is not personally for you.  Also, please feel free to forward this information to anyone in your sphere of influence who may want to hear more.

Thanks so much! Hope you are enjoying this gorgeous fall! 

Shawna

“Look on education as something between the child's soul and God. Modern Education tends to look on it as something between the child's brain and the standardized test”.                                              --Charlotte Mason