Foundations of Learning

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Learning We believe that wonder and wisdom are worthy pursuits in every family (and every classroom), that they provide an overarching framework for life-changing, life-giving, and life-preparing education. #learning #homeschoolblog #wisdomwonderproject #teachinglittleones #teachingkindergartenFoundations of Learning

“WISDOM BEGINS WITH WONDER”

–SOCRATES

We believe that wonder and wisdom are worthy pursuits in every family (and every classroom), that they provide an overarching framework for life-changing, life-giving, and life-preparing education.  When they are woven into our lives, they have the power to shape our story in breathtaking ways. The daily practice of them, however, requires us to slow down and hold various paradoxes in tension, as we grapple with and embrace all that life brings our way.

This first paradox is captured by Socrates’ quote above. The journey towards wisdom is wonder? True, good, and beautiful knowledge can only be attained through awe, play, and questioning? This often seems counterintuitive. But as we know, young children learn so much through play and exploration. Their natural propensity to tackle new subjects and spaces with curiosity grows with them as they begin asking questions. Encouraging learning in this way, through play and curiosity, sets a foundation for loving learning in children and directs their course toward a lifelong pursuit of learning.

It is for this reason that our curricula respects the age of the child and teaches to their stage of development. This not only optimizes learning, but maximizes enjoyment by engaging and meeting the needs of the whole child. We draw on the classical trivium––grammar (first-fourth grades), rhetoric (fifth-eighth grades), and logic (high school)––stages of learning as it models a developmentally appropriate education. Though classically-inspired, we add our own twist, so that our curricula can fit in and pair with any educational approach.

But we knew that foundational learning begins even younger, which is why we started with our Preschool through Kindergarten. We like to call this stage the pre-grammar stage. Children at this age see memorization as an enjoyable task, so we attend to setting a strong foundation for reading, writing, math, poetry, and literature––with ample time for play and exploration. For example, in our Block Play units, each month centers around a picture book (we love reading aloud!) from which the lessons and activities stem. Here’s a fun example from one of our Junior Kindergarten Block Play units, based on Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. If you’re not familiar with the story, here’s a little summary: Armed only with a purple crayon and his imagination, Harold went for a walk one evening. Along the way, he goes through woods, over seas, and past frightening dragons until he finds his way home and crawls into his cozy bed at last. This story offers twists and turns that keep your children wondering what is going to happen next.

BUILDING ACTIVITY: Build a City Using Loose Parts. The materials you need for this activity are Harold and the Purple Crayon, masking/painter’s tape, a Sharpie, white school glue, construction paper, and various building materials, such as milk cartons, cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, cereal boxes, etc. You might also want clear packing tape. Gather all the materials, invite your child to join you, and find a place at the table to work. Bring out the book and open it up to the pages where Harold built a city. Talk about the shape of the buildings, windows, and doors. 

Invite your child to choose one of the boxes you have collected. Using masking tape, help them tape the top closed. Work with your child to decide on how they want to add the windows and doors to the box. Do they want to cut them out of construction paper and glue them onto the box or wrap the box in construction paper and draw the windows directly on the box? Offer to help with drawing if your child needs it. This activity provides your child with a wonderful opportunity to strengthen and develop their muscles that help them with fine motor skills. Once they are done with that first building, have them choose another box to use for another building. When that one is done, help your child tape them together with tape balls/loops or clear packing tape so they can start to see their city take shape. Let them continue to make city buildings out of the boxes until they are happy with the scene they have taped together. When they are finished, save this for your child to play with again later. 

We at WWP hold to the truth that every child (and every adult) is a born learner and should have the world of wonder and wisdom opened up to them.  We believe that all should have access to quality, life-changing educational opportunities regardless of personal belief systems. We also believe that together, we truly are better, and that diversity within our worldwide online community can only serve to enrich, grow and develop us all.

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Wisdom Wonder Project makes the power, magic, & mystery of learning accessible to the modern homeschool family. We offer homeschool curricula filled with rich and beautiful, hold-your-hand lessons that will spark wonder and wisdom in your children. Available as monthly and annual subscriptions, you don’t have to pay a lot for a great education. Accessible worldwide, wherever you are.

https://www.wisdomwonderproject.org/ (sign up for their daily newsletter here)

www.youtube.com/WisdomWonderProject

Foundations of Learning

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Foundations of Learning | The foundations of learning begin with bringing beauty into learning. In this episode, Felice Gerwitz and Lisa Ann Dillon discuss how the Classical education approach and Charlotte Mason can both be drawn upon when teaching children. | #podcast #homeschoolpodcast #wisdomwonderproject #classical #charlottemason #homeschool #hybridschool #coremath #singaporemath Foundations of Learning ~ Episode 401

The foundations of learning begin with bringing beauty into learning. In this episode, Felice Gerwitz and Lisa Ann Dillon discuss how the Classical education approach and Charlotte Mason can both be drawn upon when teaching children.

Thanks to our sponsor, Wisdom Wonder Project. Be sure to check out their YouTube channel with the Singapore Math video instructions.

Lisa Ann Dillon is a homeschool mom and long time educator at a Classical Academy hybrid school. She was able to teach part-time and home educate her children as well. She found in reading good literature that her son, then around two and a half enjoyed hearing her read. She explained that when given beautiful materials the “mind lights up,” and she pursued this avenue in teaching. (listen to the audio for details)

The foundations of learning were highly influenced by the Classical Approach and also Charlotte Mason’s gentle approach while keeping learning vigorous. Teaching age-appropriate materials during different stages allowed the children to achieve mastery. The Wisdom Wonder Project strives to light their fire to love learning and move into the direction of mastery.

In addition, Lisa Ann loves the Singapore Math curriculum and explained that the results are astounding. The program is very researched based. It is a more organic core of math that starts in a concrete manner. It always starts with something we can move with our hands and see visually. Singapore Math always addresses all the learning styles. The Wisdom Wonder Project has a series of math videos on their YouTube Channel here. They plan to add more and more levels. The vocabulary is different in teaching this method and the children catch on quickly. Lisa Ann explained that many parents have a fear of teaching math to their children because of a bad experience when they were in school. She called it “math anxiety.” She said one of the ways to overcome this was to pay attention to how your child learns, and to teach them the same way. Teach with concrete materials and children learn well in this manner. She said this hands-on approach works for children who struggle with dysgraphia and dyscalculia.

After years of teaching at the academy, Lisa Ann said many parents wanted to have access to these teachings no matter where they lived. Soon the Wisdom Wonder Project started. There are wonderful classes that can be used in the homeschool as well as supplemental activities for your children.

Foundations of Learning:

  • Time on the Sofa – bringing the children together to read aloud
  • Activities that are geared up or down bringing everyone together (Learning packets available connected to literature.)
  • Little Wonders kits are here
  • Beautiful literature feeds the child’s soul and they want to listen again and again.
  • Primary and Intermediate Stages coming soon.

Wisdom Wonder Project | #wisdomwonderproject #LisaAnnDillon

Important Dates & Pricing ~ Wisdom Wonder Project 

● We are launching our grammar school level subscription, Young Scholars, later this Spring for 1st-2nd grades (primary), beginning with our summer series.
● Also later this Spring, launching the Singapore Math video subscription for Kindergarten on our website. They are designed to watch 4 videos per week during the course of the school year (140 videos total! Length = 7-15 minutes). Right now, we have over 30 of these available for free on our Youtube channel (subscribe to watch).

  • We have a daily email with free lessons and resources for all ages, sign up for them on our website – here is a look at our archived emails.

Instagram: @wisdomwonderproject Facebook: /WisdomWonderProject