Happy New Year! (in ancient Rome)

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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