If you're a homeschooler you are probably already familiar with Pam Barnhill and her podcasts. Listening to her interviews with experienced homeschooling parents over the years has frequently provided the necessary encouragement and inspiration I needed to keep going with this challenging lifestyle and educational approach. One of her podcasts, Your Morning Basket, is about an approach to whole family learning that is really similar to our Calendar Class practice. So back in December when we were in Lebanon Pam invited me to share what we do with her listeners and the podcast is now available on her website. Hope you enjoy listening to the conversation! 

​ ​https://pambarnhill.com/ymb50/

Did you know that March used to be the first month of the Roman calendar? It really makes more sense to begin the new year with the Spring Equinox in March rather than in the bleak midwinter of January! The month of March was named after the Roman god of war, Mars, because it was the month when wars were resumed after pausing for winter-time hibernation. Later on the month of February was added as a time of purification to prepare for the undertakings planned for the new year and then January was added as a month to honor the Roman god of endings and beginnings, the two-headed Janus. 

So to celebrate the old Roman new year, I'm posting my simplified and more organized plan for our homeschool to keep me accountable for the new resolutions I've made!

Our School and Family Culture Formation Plan

Summarized categories of our studies

1. Story Studies (Read-alouds and narrations- oral, written--using journals and notebook binders-- and storytelling theater narrations for our favorites)
2. Our Book of Days: Calendar Class Curriculum
3. Programs and/or mentors to track skills acquisition progress in math, science, studio art, musical instruments, physical disciplines, Arabic, Italian, English

Practices

1. Our daily routine cycle of prayer, eating, studying, cleaning, and leisure; our daily studies categories of calendar class, academic skills work, common arts skills work (Kitchen Classroom, chores, homesteading tasks, etc.), story studies, tea time arts appreciation, family hearth ritual.
2. Apprenticeships and mentorships, workshops and tutorials
3. Keeping journals and reference and notebooking binders for our academic subjects- history, math, science, languages, geography, book narrations, copy-memory work, art, etc.
4. Visual and performing arts lessons and practice: piano, Lebanese instruments, American, Lebanese, and Italian folk dance, ballet, juggling and balance, pantomime, facepainting and masks, storytelling, singing, studio art
5. Multilingual, multidisciplinary story studies, oral and written/illustrated narrations, and storytelling theater performances of our favorites
6. Regular use of the Book of Days, the Four Season Family Guidebook and related group studies (Russell Kirk Reading Group, scouts, theater, science co-op, etc)
7. Our own bank accounts and balance books
8. Our own family businesses: the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal, Roots in Rome LLC, The Kirkos Caravan Cottage School, Cafe, and Troupe- art, illustrated books, audios, catering and dinner theater performances including storytelling, dance, music, circus skills, and  kitchen band

Methodology

1. Receive the lesson, ideally through a story or a hands-on experience engaging all the senses.
2. Reflect on the lesson through contemplation, conversation, copy-memory work, research and creation of notebooking pages, or journal entries.
3. Respond to the lesson, ideally through a storytelling theater narration, an original illustrated book, a presentation, or an act of service inspired by the lesson.

Supplies
*A home supplied with holiness, great books, art, music, food, friends, nature nearby
*Calendars: annual wall calendar, annual agenda calendar book, perpetual calendar books
*Binder for reference material and notebooking subjects, quality art and writing supplies, loose paper and journals, computer/ipad and speakers

Seasonal Studies’ Interdisciplinary Methodologies

*Homesteading with a focus on growing, preserving, cooking, and serving healthy, gourmet food presented beautifully (culinary arts)

*Storytelling Theater with a focus on presenting creative narrations of our studies of the four cycles of life in each month and each season

*Combining Homesteading/Culinary Arts and Storytelling Theater through our catering of monthly-themed Dinner Theater and the seasonal Four Feasts events at our homes in Remus and in Rome including our own Kitchen Band parade and dabke performance/instruction for dinner guests

*Book-making with our own original stories and illustrations based on our studies; Our family cookbook; Our Book of Days: Calendar Class Curriculum ; Four Season Family: A Guidebook for Celebrating the Four Cycles of Life and Shaping Your Unique Family Culture
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*Gift basket making with our own artwork, crafts, books, calligraphy greeting cards, preserved food or drink, and CDs with our own recordings of stories and songs

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Here's what we're up to this month! I'll report back to you via video at the end of the month to let you know how it all went and what surprises and providential learning opportunities popped up.

March Studies 2018

Overall Themes: Lent, Spring
Liturgical Cycle: Lent
Sanctoral Cycle: Francesca Romana, Rafqa, Patrick, Joseph
Human Cycle: Apprentices (ages 0-25)
Natural Cycle: the beginning of Spring at the Equinox

Events and Celebrations
*Confession and Divine Mercy Chaplet at Santo Spirito Church
*Pilgrimage to Santa Francesca Romana casa and basilica on the 9th
*St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th
*Parish feast for fathers and mothers on the 18th
*St. Joseph’s Table on the 19th (party at monastery)
*Spring Feast on the Spring Equinox and World Storytelling Day on the 20th

Activities
*Lenten Plan: fasting, alms, prayer, confession and spiritual direction, Friday stations of the cross, decorating eggs, making baskets, pretzels, whole wheat bread, My Path to Heaven Coloring Book, research origin of stations and Holy Week traditions, make Easter greeting cards
*Art Project: watercolor still life of flower arrangements
*Homesteading/Nature Study: eggs, seeds, gardening, maple syrup
*Storytelling Theater: Spring Feast play

Interdisciplinary Place Studies: Rome

Copy-Memory Work
*Italian, English, and Arabic proverb or poem of kids’ choice related to themes
*Wisdom quote: “The relationship between apprentice and mentor is one of the most beautiful and most sacred relationships. In sharing his wisdom with his apprentice, the mentor discovers even more wisdom to share.” ― Charbel Tadros
*Hymn: The Glory of these Forty Days
*Song: Ci vuole fiore
*Lullaby: little chicken legs/Coscine di pollo
*Stories and Other Readings: Little House books, St. Joseph, St. Patrick, movie about St. Rafqa, The Sword and the Stone, Persephone, Howard Pyle stories (March birthday), Before I was Me, Le Quattro Stagione, CM Motto explained for children by Dawn Garrett, Lent for Children
*For parents: 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families and Kids, Parenting with Grace

Resources: Catholicculture.org, oldfarmersalmanac.org, The Teacher’s New Almanack, Lent for Children by Jennifer Gregory Miller, Lent and Catholic Solemnities Morning Time plans by Pam Barnhill

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February used to be one of the more depressing months for me, but now that we've established these annual traditions to celebrate in our homeschool and family life it's actually become one of my favorites. It might also have something to do with the fact that February is definitely the first month of Spring in Rome, with the almond trees in full bloom around the feast of St. Valentine (which is why one of his symbols in the almond tree). Despite the daily suffering of Spring allergies that those blossoms bring, February has become a month to celebrate hope, renewal, and love.

February 2018 Studies

February Events:  Groundhog Day (2), Candlemas (2), Abraham Lincoln’s and Julia Nelson’s birthdays (12th), Feast of St. Valentine’s Eve/Martedi Grasso (13), Pilgrimage to his relics at Santa Maria in Cosmedin (14), Valentina’s Birthday (21), Carnevale 1-13 February, Lent from 14 February on, President’s Day (19)

Themes and Topics for Readings: St. Valentine, Valentine’s Day history and traditions, Carnival, Lent, The Four LOVES- storge, philia, eros, agape
http://www.cslewis.org/resources/studyguides/Study%20Guide%20-%20The%20Four%20Loves.pdf

Place Studies (Integrated Studies--Geography, History, Art, Music, Natural Science, Language, Anthropology, Philosophy, Theology, etc): ROME

Special Saints: St. Valentine and Cyril and Methodius (14th), St. Marun (9th)
http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/history-of-st-valentine.html

Prayer/Hymn: Ubi Caritas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubi_caritas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R448WVra9ww

Memory Work: memorize a poem you like about love or write your own for recitation at the February Feast on the 13th! Memorize U.S. Presidents for Presidents’ Day

Song: 1 Corinthians 13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbnJRbj_Vcw

Crafts/Activities: make Valentines cards/decorations using Sacred and immaculate hearts image from Trinita dei Monti gate, Carnevale costumes and events during Carnevale Romano

Copy Work: 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13    New International Version (NIV)13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

With February right around the corner, I'm looking today at the template for our monthly studies and the "minor feast" that kicks it all off (this name is a play on the "major feasts" of the liturgical calendar; our own major feasts are the ones that kick off the new season). Here is a collection of ideas for the celebration. Next, I'll share what our studies look like for the month of February. 

Minor Feast Template

Date: Around the first of every month

Agenda: tea party with lessons and workshops in the liberal and common arts related to our monthly themes and the four cycles of life in the month and season

*Light the seasonal candle and say the monthly grace and prayers for milestones of family and friends that month, sing litany of special saints of the month

* Serve the special themed drink and treat of the month or season, or something related to our monthly studies

*Play the monthly memory work or themed music in the background, reveal the monthly collage-still life and any other art study of the month

*Reading of an overview of what we are studying that month in the four cycles of life-- liturgical calendar, special saints, history and biographies, nature lesson and study. Talk about any special themes, crafts, events, etc. of the month

*Recitation of monthly multilingual memory work: prayer, hymn, poem, quote/proverb, word, storytelling, dance lyrics

*Update family journals-Book of Days, Stories We Shared, Family History…

*Sharing of memories, traditions, stories, etc. associated with the month

*Do a craft or homesteading lesson

*Go for a monthly nature study stroll with journals

*Do a folk dance indoors or outdoors



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Time has not been on my side so far in this new year, which brings me to today's posting of our January Studies, now already more than half way through the month! Well, you know what they say- "Better late than never!" This particular proverb has comforted me throughout my life! Happy New Year, friends, and may your days be long and prosperous. 

2018 January Studies

Themes: Time- linear, cyclical, eternal, temporal...

Virtue: build up the habit of self-control through games and daily challenges, watch and discuss the Great Courses video on the science of self-control

Four Cycles of Life in the month
Liturgical: month dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus
Sanctoral: Elizabeth Ann Seton, Anthony of the desert, John Bosco
Human: Sages; Tony and Cordelia’s birthdays
Natural: orange and grapefruit harvest and related recipes, winter nature study, make fire cider and study other natural health remedies to boost the immune system

Readings: “All About Time”, “The Thread of Life”, myths of Janus, Christmastide tales, January in “The New Teacher’s Almanac”, New Year traditions from around the world in The Farmer’s Almanac, the life and work of St. John Bosco (video on formed.org)

Hymn: O Domine Deus (with related biography research of Mary, Queen of Scots)

Multilingual Copy-Memory Work:
The Jesus prayer
Only for Today prayer by St. John XXIII
Time quotes, proverbs, poems (kids’ choice)

Activities: Create the 2018 Family Annual Agenda, make Janus masks and a storytelling theater production of the Janus myth, make a clock cake with oranges, juggling video and practice with students

Field trips: the Janiculum hill and the cult of Janus