Fun-Schooling For Every Grade

Today I’m excited to announce our “Fun-Schooling For Every Grade” blog series. This is something y’all have asked for time and time again. We are delighted to be bringing this series to you this school year.  

This will include what to expect regarding academic ability and developmental level every year. We’ll also look at common challenges in each phase and share tips. For each grade, we’ll discuss how to build a curriculum including what to expect for workload and schedule. Tips from other Fun-Schooling moms will help give you the POV of several people. The most popular journals for each grade and tips for using them will round out each post. 

A big focus for us at Thinking Tree is letting kids be kids. You’ll see a lot of room for play, nature, and wonder in these plans. We want kids to have plenty of time to explore the things they love and soak up their childhood. 

Remember– This blog series will be based on the average level for the grade/age. The bell curve is extremely important to remember throughout this series. Some children will fall outside of this average. We’ve chosen to homeschool for a reason- so we can customize our children’s education to their unique academic level and needs.

Students can go up or down several grade levels from these suggestions as needed. Virtually all our materials can be used by kids from reading age to teens (and adults!) For non-readers and early readers, we have level A-1 materials. Each student’s education is customized by choosing academically appropriate materials. 

How do I know what grade my homeschooler is in?

The general guideline is- age in the fall minus 5 = grade. For example, my son is 12 this fall. 12-5=7
If he were in the school system, he’d be in 7th grade. 

Sounds great, what’s the plan?

By far the top age we’re asked about it High School so we’re starting at High School and working our way down from there. Here’s the schedule for this series-

October ‘23- High School- College/ Advanced Academics Path
November ‘23- High School– Career/ Calling Path for those who will not need college
December ‘23-  Middle School– emphasizing choosing a major (and why it’s ok if they change it!)
January ‘24- 6th grade 
February ‘24- 5th grade
March ‘24- 4th grade– with an emphasis on the fact it’s often a step-up academically and in terms of independence 
April ‘24- 3rd grade
May ‘24- 2nd grade– with a focus on fostering more independence 
June ‘24- 1st grade
July ‘24-  Kindergarten
August ‘24-  Preschool

Eager to learn about a specific grade now?
Check out the grade-by-grade video series we did in 2022 in our Facebook group-

Concerned about gaps in your child’s education? Check out this post.


About the Author- Amanda Osenga is a Fun-Schooling mom in Columbus Ohio. She is also the social media manager and Virtual Assistant for Thinking Tree. Her family combines Thinking Tree books with the Charlotte Mason method using books from Ambleside Online and Wildwood Curriculum. In her free time, Amanda is an avid reader and loves to be outdoors.

Minecraft Month is Here- Save on all your favorite journals!

“Homeschooling with Minecraft seems too good to be true.” – We hear this from kids time and time again. It is our delight to offer Fun-Schooling journals tapping into kids love of Minecraft while covering all the major school subjects!

This month, we’ve put our most popular Minecraft paperbacks and all Minecraft PDFs on sale!!

You’ll find journals for beginners all the way through teens with this sale. Even a couple journals Moms love!

30% off– Paperbacks

50% off- PDFs

Our monthly theme sales last all month long. Take a peek at our upcoming themes for info on what’s coming soon. And make sure to vote for what you want to see on sale on the Facebook group.

Back to School Shopping–$10, $15, $20 Sale!

This great sale has been extended until August 15th! Something for littles all the way through teens…and some beautiful journals for Mom School, too!

$10 Sale Journals

$15 Sale Journals

$20 Sale Journals

Please note that we request for Amazon to mark down journals to a specific price for a certain length of time but they don’t always get marked down/ stay marked down the whole time. If there’s something you really want, make sure to grab it soon!

Celebrating Science & Technology

The Fun-Schooling theme for July is Science & Technology! Keep an eye out for sales on your favorite Fun-Schooling science journals!

Our 7 Subject Science Portfolio – Minecraft & The Real World is one of our best sellers, and covers Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, Physics, Technology and Zoology! Here is a review from Amazon:

“This is one of our favorite fun schooling journals! This is an all in one science portfolio which means your student will study various topics in science and compile a portfolio of all of their best work. This includes a section on botany, chemistry, geology, meteorology, physics, technology, and zoology. Once you’ve chosen your books that you’re going to read there are pages for summarizing your reading time, copy work, designing your science topic in Minecraft world, notetaking and illustration prompts, documentary reviews, diagrams, science experiments and observations, comic strip pages, vocabulary building prompts, Real world versus Minecraft world, coloring, geography and history, biography studies, audiobook time, nature study and drawing, biography studies, audio book summaries, AND occupation studies! What more can I ask for in a Science Funschooling Journal! I’m getting one for every child! Over 250 pages to show your research.”

Shop for physical Fun-Schooling science journals on Amazon here. Find a list of all of our themes for 2023 here. Some science PDFs that are discounted right now:

Celebrating 30 Years!

We are celebrating 30 years since the day two young teens admitted they were falling in love and agreed it was a lifetime kinda love.

Josh and I were only 15 and 16. It was July 3, 1993.

Today we got out the old letters and read them to each other. Next we loaded ten kids into the van and went to the fire pit where it happened.

We showed the kids a handful of letters from our teen years, and read them some exerts. Josh told the kids the entire love story from his point of view.

After visiting the beautiful wooded campus, at Horizon Christian Fellowship where we began our journey as a couple, we took the kids to Skyline Chili. This was the first restaurant we went to together (though that happened in Cincinnati). Every kid got a hat.

We finished the adventure at Trader Joe’s where we let each kid choose a treat to share during the Fourth of July fireworks.

What a beautiful celebration of the goodness and faithfulness of God.

This Weekend: Creative Healing Retreat – Tea Time, Gardening, Foraging, Pottery, Jewelry Making and More!

Saturday, July 8, from 10am-2pm I’m opening up Olive Branch Farm for a Creative Healing Retreat.
The Medical Tea Gardens and Permaculture Zones are their peak. Everything is a bit wild, but even the lush “weeds” have vast healing properties and are ready to process.

What is going to happen?
I’m going to have one on one time with each person who shows up to explore the specific benefits the plants and teas can have on your wellness, I’ll also spend time with you individually to brainstorm with you and answer questions about homeschooling or family issues that you may want to talk about.

While I’m having one on one time with each individual or couple or parent/child- the whole property and facilities will be set up for you to be creative, to serve, and to relax. Whatever brings you the most joy. What brings you peace and feels therapeutic? Find a couple hours here for that special time… from reading, swimming, painting pottery, helping with gardening and weeding, making jewelry or watercolors. Bring a camera and practice photography. Spend time with the horses…. Lunch will be provided.

The recommended contribution is $50 or 2 hours of volunteering at Olive Branch Farm.

This is for moms with babies, and for parents with children 9+ who can entertain themselves without getting into trouble. The day is not set up for ages 2.5-8.

All ages are welcome at 2:30pm to volunteer and at 4:30 to swim and relax, no more work!

If two parents come with the kids at 2:30-4:30 you may take turns volunteering and watching your kids swim and play.

Parents must watch their own kids in the pool area. Since we are trying to make this a productive day of cleaning and organizing the facilities it will not be helpful if a zillion kids are free-ranging like they do on co-op days.

All the details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/616371383379518/

Taco Bar at 5:30 (bring stuff to put in a tortilla)
Worship Night 6:30 all ages welcome. 

Summer Day Camp at Olive Branch Farm!

Do you have a child or teen ages 8+ interested art, music, dance, singing, voice, painting, improve, YouTubing, costumes, piano & acting?

Time: 11am-5pm

The Olive Branch Arts & Acting Camp would be Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for four weeks in a row starting July 18th.

The cost will be $75 per week. If you sign up for all four weeks the final week is free.

Let me know if you have a child ages 8+ that will be joining us! If I get 10 “yes” responses in the next couple days we will launch the camp.

Dates:

July 18-20

July 25-27

August 1-3

August 8-10

Since the camp is organized around a three day project each week, we can only accept participants who can commit to a three day week. Your kids can come for one week or all four.

Join this group to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/230250036494994/

What is a Core Journal?

(Guest post by Amanda Osenga)

What is a core journal?

A core journal covers multiple subjects (4-10+ depending on the journal) in one. It is a convenient way to ensure your Fun-Schoolers cover all the basic subjects without needing a million notebooks! Each page has a prompt for a different subject, such as “Math Time, Nature Study, or Copywork.” We also add in creative pages like “Create a Comic” and practical pages such as “Draw Your To-Do List.”

Most families use core journals daily, twice a week, or once weekly. Some families like to rotate a few core journals, while others like to finish one at a time. They are extremely versatile in how you use them- there’s no wrong way.

We suggest kids complete the same number of pages/day as their age across all their Fun-Schooling journals. For example, if a 10-year-old is only using a core journal, they would do 10 pages/day in their core. If they are using a core + a single-subject journal, they might do five in one + five in another, 8 in one and 2 in another, or any other combination to get to their ten total pages. A page is one side of the sheet of paper, not both.

Students combine books, podcasts, documentaries, and/or curricula with core journals. If a student has a core they love, they can repeat the same one again and again since they’ll use different materials each time! They’re a great way to document learning alongside a curriculum and for students to research their chosen majors.

We have core journals themed around seasons, interests, careers and generic journals without a theme.

A core journal is a perfect tool for when a student wants to study something we don’t have a journal designed for. They can print photos, add drawings, and dive deep into learning about anything they want!

Core journals for our youngest Fun-Schoolers teach letters, numbers, shapes, and other early skills. Once students can read, most of our cores can be used by any age and customized with age-appropriate learning materials. College students even like to use core journals to help them stay organized in school (especially the 10 Subject and 12 Subject Portfolio).

Lots of Moms like to use Core Journals for Mom School. We even have some we’ve designed just for moms!

See a page that isn’t relevant for your Fun-Schooling needs? You can easily repurpose it by putting a white address label, white tape, or whiteout over the prompt and write your own.

All PDF core journals are 50% off this month and many print core journals are on sale!

See a Flip-Through of the core journals here:

Come Pray

My daughter Anna Miriam Brown is the Author of His Story the Musical. Opening Night was Thursday, May 18th! Though it’s a Broadway Team putting on this show, the message of truth is loud and clear. People are moved to tears and are gathering in the lobby and outside the tent after the shows for prayer and reflection. People are saying that they feel God’s Spirit moving in a powerful way.

Our producer felt inspired by these moments to offer a specific time for prayer and reflection after the shows this weekend.

I had a personal connection with leaders at Upperroom Church, near by, and shared the idea, they were so supportive and excited about the idea, after bringing their youth group last week. We felt moved to collaborate with their worship team to lead worship with my daughter Anna on Friday night until around midnight- we will see what God does!

We also have a very special connection with Gateway Church and Anchor Church, so they are collaborating with us to lead worship on Saturday and Sunday nights!!!! It doesn’t matter who you are, what church you are part of, or if you are still your journey of exploring your own path and just want to experience this moment with us. All are welcome!

People are feeling like revival is in the air, and we are praying for God to bring an outpouring of grace, holiness, healing, rescue, reconciliation and favor upon this movement!

Pray that this tent is filled with His glory, and the glory NEVER ceases!

Josh and I will be there! Eight of our older kids will be there too. We are willing to pray for those who come who need a touch from God. We especially need to come together to pray for favor for this musical and for wisdom and courage for all involved.

Register for the event here to get your free tickets (value $35 – $200+ on Ticket Master):

http://hisstorythemusical.com/pray

Celebrating with Mom-School Bundles!

A BIG “Thank You!” to Amanda Osenga for putting together these Mom School bundles!!

These bundles are on a launch special for 20% off to celebrate all of our moms! Happy Mother’s Day! We hope these are a blessing for you on your Mom School journey.

Here are the new bundles-

🌸PDF Mom School Bundle- Code pdfMomBundle

🌹 Mom School- Paperback- Secular- Code SecularMomBundle

🌺 Mom School- Paperback- Christian- Code FaithMomBundle

Apply 20% off if you’d like to purchase multiple Mom-Schooling Bundles with the promo code “MomSchool2023”.

Click the images below for details on what is included in each bundle. Click here to see all of our Mom-School products and Sarah’s Teas!