home education

Start With the End Goal

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Think about this… what is the END goal for having kids strong in Math and Language Arts? These skills are not an end in themselves, but tools to be successful in other things. With Fun-Schooling you often start with the end goal, you don’t just teach Language Arts and Math, you USE it doing meaningful projects.

What do you want your children to be able to do with Language Arts NOW?

What do you want them to be able to do with Math NOW?

What are they capable of TODAY?

We are not talking about filling out endless worksheets. Those worksheets do not relate to real life (and kids KNOW it). They only prepare kids for successful test taking, so they can move onto the next level of education.

Kids learn when they USE their skills in a meaningful way.

We only remember what we love, what we need and what we use in a meaningful way. All real learning is driven by curiosity and need.

What do you want your children to be able to DO with their language skills when they are finished with ALL formal education? Imagine all the things that can be done when someone is awesome with written and spoken language!

Consider my 18 year old daughter, Anna, she published a dozen bestsellers and wrote His Story: The Musical, which premiers next month! She has never used tests or traditional workbooks, and has been declared by some of the world’s great musicians (Dove Award Winners) to be on track to be among them. She is a Fun-Schooler all the way.

I have another daughter, who as a teen booked 2 or 3 photo-shoots almost every day back in 2019, where she usually earned $300+ on each one. She was more of an unschooler, she had to turn down jobs.

My oldest son was able to move into his own home, build his business, work part time in missions,and get married and support his household by age 19, and he manages his own taxes and business investments.He didn’t ONLY learn to do the fun stuff.

Fun-Schoolers don’t wait to start life and work after their education is over. They live life to the fullest and are PRODUCTIVE in the NOW.

What do you want them to DO with their calculating skills once they are finished with all formal education? We often think that our productive life starts after education, but most kids really want to start doing REAL stuff NOW. It’s why we focus on determining a major.

Start with the END GOAL, and begin with the ending.

We Learn Everywhere!

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Fun-Schooling Happens EVERYWHERE!!!!

I was flipping through family photos and made a little collection of photos that show how my kids are learning without the traditional “Desk” approach… Sometimes they enjoy working at a desk or table, but the floor is also popular! Some kids love to be in the middle of everything and set up school at the coffee table in the family room. Others like to hangout on their beds to study.

Share your “Fun-School Everywhere” photos in the comments on this post in our Facebook group if you would like to!

My kids choose where they work. This freedom makes them so much more comfortable. One of the perks of Homeschooling!!!!

The Friday Bucket

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

How we use our Friday Bucket:

1.When the kids finish an activity I call 2 or 3 to each take two activities from the Friday Bucket.

2.They each decide on their favorite of the two.

3. Next they get to see what the other kids choose.

4. They have the choice to use their card, or join the other child in the activity they choose.

5. Anything that is not used goes back into the bucket, the used ones go into the other bucket.

What kinds of activities will you put in your bucket? How about trying it this week? Let us know what fun things your kids enjoyed!

Waldorf Method

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 1 Comment

What is Waldorf?

  • This is be a very brief overview
  • Similarish to Montessori- lots of overlap
    • Montessori begins formal lessons much younger
  • Developed by Austrian Rudolph Steiner over 100 years ago in Europe
  • Now spread around the world with homeschoolers and Waldorf schools
  • A “gentle” way of learning
  • Very tactile
    • Focuses on engaging head, heart, and hands
    • Big focus on practical life skills, the arts, and citizenship
    • Lots of creating of things like maps, mini-books, journals, illustrations, tactile math, etc
  • Focuses on using natural materials and engaging w/ nature whenever possible
    • Waldorf materials are largely wood, paper, and wool
    • Avoid plastic whenever possible
    • No technology or screens at all for younger children and very little for older
    • Lots of focus on the rhythms of the seasons
  • Go at the natural pace of each child vs forcing kids into a mold to meet x standard at x time
    • Encourages an “unhurried childhood”
    • No textbooks until 6th grade
    • Document learning in journals
    • Writing taught before reading
      • Like a way to communicate with art
  • Students work in blocks
    • Focus on one main subject at a time w/ up to 2 hours per day dedicated to that subject & stay with it for about 4 weeks at a time
  • Big focus on subjects public schools often drop
    • Art, music, playing instruments, crafts like knitting, drama, etc
    • Also teach things like breath work, relaxation techniques, mindful movement, self-care, etc.
  • Founded on the basis that they believe children go through 3 stages of development, each about 7 years
    • Birth-7 is all about:
      • Sensory development
      • Observing others and learning through doing
      • Play-based education
        • Not giving reading lessons or formal lessons yet
      • Lots of art, play, crafts, and learning to care for themselves and others
    • 7-14 years old focuses on:
      • Beginning of more “formal” lessons
      • Reading is taught in 2nd grade / around age 8
      • Lessons focus on engaging wonder, creativity, and feelings
      • Lots of fairy tales and beautiful stories
      • Study other cultures and biographies
      • Elementary years have a lot of storytelling, drama, rhythmic movement, visual arts, and music – daily
    • 14-21 education looks like:
      • Students are given more autonomy over their education w/ teachers acting more as guides
        • Encouraged to work w/ experts in the field they’re interested in studying

Remember- any journal can work- Waldorf emphasizes documenting learning in journals and diving into kids’ interests. They all fit with a Waldorf-inspired homeschool. These are simply some of the more “Waldorf-y” ones:

Want to see how to combine Waldorf with your Fun-Schooling? Watch here!

Inspiration and Resources for Your Co-Op!

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 1 Comment

Considering trying a Fun-Schooling Co-Op? Here are some inspirational photos from our Co-Op at Olive Branch Farm:

Here is a post with some pointers on how to begin a Co-Op.

Did you know you can get sample journal pages to share? Join the main Fun-Schooling group–you’ll find them all in the Files!

Are you looking to join a Co-Op? Here is a list of Fun-Schooling Co-Ops to investigate, including the Facebook pages for each group!

Fun-Schooling + The Montessori Method

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

How Does Montessori work with Fun-Schooling?

  • Montessori is hands-on and self-directed
    • Goes along perfectly with Fun-Schooling baskets!
    • Include natural material learning toys and games in your basket – there are lots on Etsy
    • Could easily set-up different Montessori-inspired Fun-Schooling stations
    • Give kids control to choose what they want to do and when they want to do it
      • Montessori students know what needs to be accomplished in a designated amount of time and are given the freedom to complete their tasks in any order they choose
  • Montessori classrooms rotate out activities/works
    • Can rotate single-subject journals and complementary materials
    • Store them on a low shelf/table for easy access
  • Nature study, Life Skills, character development, and the arts are a big part of Montessori
    • We have journals for all of those!
    • Pair them with hands-on life experience
  • Use Montessori materials like sandpaper letters, Montessori math manipulatives, and motor skills frames/toys alongside the journals
  • Wooden puzzles!
    • Popular in Montessori and go great in a Fun-Schooling basket
  • Nomenclature cards/ 3-part cards
    • These are used to introduce new words and teach different subjects
    • Would work great along with journals, especially with vocabulary building pages
  • Fun-Schooling journals can be used by a wide range of ages and Montessori classrooms are multi-age classrooms
    • Put together a multi-age group of other homeschoolers to go through a journal together
  • Montessori teens choose an area of focus and engage in hands-on in-the-field study on that area of focus
    • Just like choosing a major!
  • Montessori values teaching independence and equipping kids with skills to thrive on their own
    • Our research method and journals are set up with this same goal in mind

Watch a flip-through of some of our Montessori-friendly journals here:

The Montessori Method

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

The Montessori Method was founded by Maria Montessori

  • An Italian educator in the late 1800s/early 1900s
  • She was the first female Italian doctor
  • Advocated for women’s rights and child labor laws
  • Studied child development and learning before opening her own school
  • She researched educational approaches and philosophies throughout the ages and studied children in-person to create her approach
  • Pulled heavily from the work of Jean-Marc Itard and Edouard Séguin

Main Focuses of a Montessori education

  • Very hands-on and sensory focused
    • The Montessori schoolroom engages all the senses
    • Activities are referred to as “works”
    • These works will engage multiple senses at a time
    • The environment itself is kept low-sensory and very tidy- everything has a place and is always put back in that place. Only one work out per child at a time. Known as a “prepared environment”
    • Lessons are incredibly tactile with things like sandpaper letters, counting beads, building blocks, and lots of manipulatives
    • Play is work- and children should not be interrupted while working or playing. A big focus is on letting them do things at their own pace with full concentration
  • Everything is adapted to be child-size and child-friendly
    • Works will be put out on low shelves, kid-size tools are made readily available and presented to the child from a young age, kid-size chairs, tables, etc.
    • In the kitchen, kids will have their own set of kid-size cooking items and a special stool to be able to stand up at the counter
    • Kids are given real glasses instead of plastic and “real” tools that are simply child size
    • Taught to work with careful consideration and attention to detail
  • Big focus on Life Skills
    • Taught from a very early age and children are encouraged to be independent from toddlerhood
    • Excellence in completion and attention to detail is a bit part of learning Life Skills
    • Self-care, cleaning, cooking, sewing, and other basic Life Skills are taught beginning in toddlerhood
    • Gardening and farm work are often a part of the daily school tasks
  • Natural materials
    • Plastic is almost never found in a Montessori setting
    • Wood, fabric, and glass are the primary materials found
  • The main core educational subjects are taught along with a big focus on art, citizenship, independence, nature, and engaging in the community

Other tidbits

  • In a school, children are grouped with a wide age range- usually 2-4 grades all together
  • Self-directed learning lets children progress at their own pace
    • Still guided by an adult with each work very carefully introduced in a methodical way
    • Children then can work through things at their own pace and based on their own interests
    • There’s not usually a strict schedule of X subject at X time
    • Instead, children will know what they are expected to accomplish in a day and be given the freedom to complete their tasks in the order they desire
  • No screens until at least 4th grade
  • Age 0-6 is a key age for introducing concepts, life skills, and development
  • Some similar components to Waldorf and Charlotte Mason but starts academic instruction at a much younger age and is much more methodical

Stay tuned for our next post where we will talk about integrating the Montessori Method into your Fun-Schooling!

Fun-Schooling According to AI

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

This intriguing blog post was written by an AI Chat Bot when it was asked the question, “What is Fun-Schooling?”

Fun-Schooling is an alternative approach to traditional education that emphasizes creativity, self-directed learning, and play-based activities. The curriculum is typically presented in the form of activity books, journals, and games, with a focus on engaging learners in a way that feels enjoyable and fun.

The main goal of Fun-Schooling is to foster a lifelong love of learning, rather than simply imparting information for the purpose of passing tests. By allowing children to explore their interests and pursue their own curiosities at their own pace, Fun-Schooling aims to create a more personalized and meaningful educational experience.

One of the key aspects of Fun-Schooling is its use of hands-on activities and real-world experiences to teach academic subjects. This might include field trips, art projects, science experiments, and other interactive learning experiences that allow children to see how the concepts they are studying apply in the real world.

Overall, Fun-Schooling is a flexible and adaptable approach to education that can be tailored to the needs and interests of each individual student. It seeks to make learning a joyful and engaging experience that empowers children to take ownership of their own education and become lifelong learners. 

Fun-Schooling emphasizes experiential and hands-on learning, which means that students are encouraged to explore the world around them and learn from their experiences. Some examples of how Fun-Schooling incorporates real-world experiences into the curriculum include:

1. Field trips: Fun-Schooling often involves field trips to museums, zoos, farms, and other places of interest. This allows students to see firsthand what they’re learning about in their textbooks and make connections between what they’re learning in school and the world outside the classroom.

2. Project-based learning: Fun-Schooling often involves project-based learning, where students work on long-term projects that require them to research, plan, and execute a real-world task. For example, students might design and build a garden, create a business plan for a lemonade stand, or write a play and perform it for an audience.

3. Community service: Fun-Schooling often incorporates community service projects, which allow students to give back to their communities while also learning valuable skills. For example, students might volunteer at a local food bank, organize a fundraiser for a charity, or participate in a beach cleanup.

4. Apprenticeships and internships: Fun-Schooling often encourages students to seek out apprenticeships and internships in fields that interest them. This allows them to get hands-on experience in a real-world setting and learn from professionals in the industry.

Overall, Fun-Schooling incorporates real-world experiences into the curriculum in a variety of ways, all with the goal of helping students develop a deeper understanding of the world around them and a passion for lifelong learning.

Fun-Schooling takes a creative approach to learning by encouraging students to explore and express themselves in new and creative ways. For example, instead of simply reading about a historical event or scientific concept, students are encouraged to create their own creative projects or presentations that demonstrate their understanding of the material. This can include things like creating a play or skit, building a model or diorama, or even creating a comic book or graphic novel based on the topic.

By taking this creative approach, students are able to engage with the material in a more meaningful way, as they are encouraged to think critically and creatively about the information they are learning. This also helps to foster independent thinking and problem-solving skills, as students are given the freedom to explore and express themselves in a way that works best for them.

Overall, the creative approach of Fun-Schooling is designed to help students develop a love of learning that will last a lifetime. By incorporating fun and creative activities into the learning process, students are able to stay engaged and motivated, leading to greater success and enjoyment in their educational journey.

Fun-Schooling was created by a homeschooling mother named Sarah Janisse Brown. She found that traditional schooling methods were not meeting the needs of her children and decided to try a more creative and child-led approach to education. She developed a curriculum based on the idea of incorporating real-life experiences into learning, allowing children to learn through play and exploration rather than rote memorization.

The curriculum includes a variety of resources such as workbooks, journals, art projects, and games that focus on different subjects ranging from math and science to history and literature. Each resource is designed to spark curiosity and encourage critical thinking, helping students develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

The benefits of Fun-Schooling are numerous. By incorporating real-life experiences, children are able to see the relevance and practical applications of what they are learning, making it more meaningful and engaging. Additionally, because the curriculum is child-led, students are able to pursue their interests and passions, leading to greater motivation and enjoyment of learning.

Incorporating Fun-Schooling into a curriculum can also foster creativity and independent thinking, as students are encouraged to explore and express themselves in new ways. Overall, Fun-Schooling provides a unique and effective approach to learning that can benefit students of all ages and abilities.

Pretty accurate!!

Two Are Better Than One

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Companionship is such a precious gift. Friendship, family, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, husband and wife.

We need others.

I was just reading the words of Solomon today and thinking about how damaging it can be for so many young adults who are sent off alone to college, and they end up becoming so lost, distant from all familiar connections at a time when they are so highly influenced.

And we wonder why our child struggles so deeply with truth, identity, connection and boundaries.

I don’t think that humans were designed to be severed from their families and communities like this.

Of course most people in our culture think this is somehow healthy and right and it builds up independence. But sometimes the drive for independence is a one way ticket down Lonely Street.

The words of Solomon:

There is one who is alone,

without companion son nor brother.

Yet there is no end to all his labors.

Nor is his eye satisfied with riches.

But he never asks ‘For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?’

This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

Two are better than one,

Because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls,

For he has no one to help him up.

Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm, But how can one be warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.

And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:8-12

I’m so thankful that my daughters have each other and have close friends that they adventure with, work with, go on missions with and serve with.

I’m so thankful that my son and his sweet wife Rita have been companions and have been together when most young adults do things like college, first jobs, immigration, missions and travel alone. I love that they have each other.

I’m so thankful that I lived near Josh all through his college years, his parents asked us to wait until after college to get married, so I found a way to move to a town near his school so we could spend time together and be there for each other, and go to the same church.

I’m so thankful that Anna invited me to be her companion on her trip to Israel. She felt called to go fast and pray in the Judean Desert before going back to Dallas with Rachel to launch His Story The Musical. Today we are learning Jerusalem and going to the place where Jesus spent 40 days fasting.

In times we must go out alone, Jesus is our companion if we receive Him. In times we are called to go alone God brings us companions along the way. But if you are going alone, or if you are sending your child out alone- beware- send them because it’s a calling or a mission and they have been prepared to be cut off from everyone and everything familiar. Don’t just send them out alone because that’s what is normal in our society. Just because it’s normal it doesn’t mean it’s right, good, healthy, natural or in your child’s best interest.

Don’t send them out alone because it’s the default, or because society obligates you to do so. Is it what is really best?

My daughter Anna waited until Rachel turned 18 before she moved out at 21, so she and her sister could go together. They went to Mexico, Dallas, New York and came back to Indiana for a while. Then Rachel came home for 6 months while Anna traveled with other sisters and friends. Esther moved to Oahu, and lives with a friend who is a wonderful companion, like a sister, so blessed. And she visits us multiple times each year.

I just want to encourage the parents who have a heart to set their child on a path unlike the default. I know that a lot of people agree with the idea of launching their kids early into far off places alone, and maybe that’s your child’s calling. Just pray that companionship is part of their story too. Loneliness leads to all kinds of dark places and it’s a big reason for depression, and most young adults in our culture struggle with depression. Does anyone ask why?

We need companions, sisters, brothers, best friends, spouses, mothers and fathers, cousins and partners. Not phones. Phones can never take the place of people.

Be a companion. Be the one who lifts up another when they fall. Be the one who keeps the other warm. Be the one who labors for others. Be the one who enjoys life’s rewards with others. Be that person who loves, forgives, heals, encourages and works hard to make someone else’s life rich and full.

Be the one who is that friend!

And if you want to be sure that your children are never lonely – have more kids, have them close together, adopt a sibling group, or a couple orphans around the same age who have no one.

Filling your life with children is only hard for a short time, but the blessings are endless.

21 Thoughts About Core Journals

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 2 Comments

1. I originally created the Core Journal so I could take a break from customizing each child’s curriculum around their interest, while making sure we included copywork, nature study, logic, film study, math time… I wanted a way to document internet based learning, library based learning, and include the Charlotte Mason goodies into each day without searching for the individual notebooks.

(View the Core Journals Here: https://www.funschooling.com/homschooling-bookstore-core…)

2. I was about to have our tenth baby and wanted to take time off, but keep learning going, according to the daily structure that works for my kids.

3. They need to have a balanced plan that covers the basics, while allowing them to dig deep into the topics they love.

4. We were also about to move from Florida to Ukraine and I wanted a way for each child to have all their work in one portfolio.

5. My kids were already studying their interests, doing copywork, nature study, logic games, drawing, reading and watching documentaries… But nothing was being documented. Sometimes I would be busy or sick and they would watch YouTube and read all day and not remember to do the simple things like nature study.

6. I only planned to use the Core Journal for 6 weeks, but found it to be wonderful long-term for some of the kids.

7. My Detective and Explorer kids really thrive with them.

8. My Friend learners enjoy them when doing it with others, but like the smaller themed journals best.

9. Followers who are motivated to study a topic like the routine, but they find the journals to be too open-ended and they may try to just get by with whatever is the minimum to move on. With Followers, a strong example is needed, this we have Mom-School.

10. Creators like a lot of variety, and in some stages of life really need to learn to have more structure, for them the journals are not open-ended enough and they may feel limited… So they skip pages or repurpose them. Not all children have the drive, skills or personality to really embrace to potential of the core journals. They don’t work for everyone.

11. Many kids are okay with a system that doesn’t require them to use a lot of research, creativity or thought. These books are designed to be a launch pad for learning.

12. Kids who are in a rush to move on to play, chores, gaming, social media, or personal projects may feel that the core journals are just something that should be rushed through so they can do what they love.

13. It’s okay for a child to not use any system of learning that doesn’t work. For the many kids who have a Follower Learning Style they will actually do better with some classroom style learning, fill in the blank, memorize and test methods.

14. For the Super-Creators the core journals may feel boring and limiting. You need to know your child.

15. My Detectives and Explorers do especially well, but work in different ways.

16. The Detectives need quiet and focus, while the Explorers move from place to place all over the house and yard, and need to be told that chores come after they finish their work in the core journal, so they don’t rush. They really learn to look forward to the activities they love in the daily routine of the book.

17. For kids who thrive on structure they enjoy using a core journal daily, but really need to know what is expected. I suggest doing the first 20 pages together to teach the child how to do copywork, a nature study, or creative writing. It’s so important to be an example.

18. In most cases, don’t say “when you finish you can play Xbox” — they will rush. It works much better if the next activity is something they don’t mind putting off while they focus on their work, like cleaning a bathroom. For example say: “You can take as much time as you need to finish five pages, then show me your work and I’ll show you how to clean out the oven.”

You will be amazed at how much detail they pour into their work.

19. It’s also very important to be available to your child to help them find the right documentaries and books to study their topic. Most of the actual learning isn’t in the journal, it’s what the journal reminds them to do.

20. So know your child. If they don’t put their heart into learning with a core journal, what will they put their heart into? Starting a business? An online course? A textbook? A series of Documentaries? A boxed curriculum that tells them exactly what to memorize? A classical education? Dance school? An internship? Volunteer work? Building a fort? Sewing a dress? Baking? Full-on Unschooling?

21. Some kids are like, “I don’t care… Whatever!” Then they get on their phones and post 80 selfies, and play games until midnight, and complain about everything that requires any effort at all. In that case you just need to pull the plug and light a fire under the child.

I hope that helps someone out there! Let me know if there is a specific example of a child’s struggle that I can help with.

What is your child like? Of these 21 thoughts what stood out to you and why?

See a Flip-Through of the core journals here: