What is Fun-Schooling?

Dear Inquisitive Unschooling Mom…

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment
Photo credit: https://www.joylilyphoto.com/

I’m the creator of the Fun-Schooling books. We are Unschoolers most of the time, but I am always introducing my kids to all sorts of content and we do projects and adventures together a lot. We also enjoy casual Charlotte Mason style learning in seasons where we need more structure. So I have been setting up a buffet of learning through the environment I create for my children to grow up in.

I created these books so the children could create portfolios of research, art, thoughts and discoveries about their passions, while incorporating some academic skill building at the same time. In my books I always focus on the spark of curiosity, the quest for knowledge, the joy of discovery, the adventure of going deeper, and the delight of sharing and using the knowledge and skills we have embraced. I also focus on collaboration and the natural process of nurturing the child’s drive to learn by example.

My role is mostly fulfilled by my example of being a curious, creative, peaceful presence as I pursue my own interests and create a wonderful family environment. We use our Thinking Tree Books after breakfast, chores and family devotions. Our daily time with Fun-Schooling books being open and used as a resource and guide for a learning journey is usually less than two hours, and most of the time the child is following learning prompts related to their passions and then coming back to the journal to document the learning in a way that feels more like journaling and scrapbooking.

Some of my books focus on specific academic skill building in areas of math, language arts and geography, for example. But I always reframe academics as an adventure in discovery or creativity. My math books are all therapeutic, (and fun), and are designed to give children joy and confidence with numbers, while healing some of the trauma. What trauma? All the trauma inflicted by the soul-destroying experiences in early childhood related to typical math problems that 90% of kids probably hate and dread. Most kids grow up thinking they are bad at math and writing. They feel ashamed, bored, and have this cloud of irrelevance surrounding all the monotony of standardized learning.

Typical learning focused almost completely on highlighting what the children missed, messed up, and failed in. They are always judged by the seven mistakes rather than the 1000 things they did well. Standardization in education creates a world of failing perfectionists who feel they will never be enough, never achieve their goals, never satisfy the people they love and respect. This is a sad cycle and our society pays the price, because “perfect” is an impossible illusion that we began striving for at such a young age. Women cry into their pillows every night all over the USA cause they can never be good enough… and it started with their first C- in first grade. They tried so hard and were so excited and curious about learning until they began to experience all the shame of small failures.

I failed 3rd grade, with a report card and little heart stained by Ds and Fs. At age 8 I felt doomed to failure and humiliation forever. I began to dream of a different world where kids like me could just play with animals, do school in the woods, build forts, bake cookies, make fairy villages, create museums, sell art, earn money, publish a newspaper and live in a giant cardboard box painted with daisies in the corner of the living room… and of course go to work with dad at the Space Center or help mom in her art studio. I dreamed a lot about a better way to learn and enjoy every moment of my childhood and my life. I decided I wanted to be a mom, and artist and run maybe a space camp where kids can pretty much go to space at the end of the experience.

The Thinking Tree books are a small part of my vision for creating an incredible life around my kids. But they help us dig deeper and document our learning journey while studying what we love, and a few things that we need. Thinking Tree Books also help a lot of people who live in restrictive states to build an impressive portfolio in an easy and joyful way to satisfy requirements. All our bundles are designed around the needs for grade level learning in charter schools in the state of California, so that even kids in that environment can Fun-School. I hope this gives you a little vision and understanding of what Fun-Schooling is and how it came to be. I wanted to give my 15 kids what I dreamed of when I was stuck in a desk doing third grade…again, imagining a different world. The good news is that I got to homeschool at age 13 and basically enjoyed a path of self directed learning based on my passions, projects and career goals! My parents let me do unit studies about ANYTHING I was interested in, and that was school!

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!!