COTTAGE SCHOOL
Fee: $100 (+ Curriculum & Books)
Community
The Cottage School at Honey of the Hive is a place where families school in community once a week, serve one another as the body of Christ and hold one another accountable in our profession as CM home educators. It's a place where students work through common curricula, delight in the same stories and characters, and share the same learning experiences. It's a place where friendships can blossom and grow, new discoveries are around every corner, and good habits are contagious.
Symbiosis. Mothers (or Fathers) attend Cottage School with their students because it operates on symbiotic relationships (this is not a drop-off school). Parents with formal year students need someone to love on, invest in, and fill up their Early Years children while they teach. Early Years parents need mentorship and want to see CM methods implemented as they prepare for the formal years ahead. Parents with multiple children in different Forms need opportunities to provide the best for ALL of their children. Everyone needs time together with other believers to sharpen one another in our faith and encourage one another in our homeschool journeys. Honey of the Hive is about building community and life-long relationships, and we want our Cottage School families to be genuinely seeking this community.
Learning Together. Our Cottage School has everyone follow common curricula for many reasons. It provides support and teacher training materials that range from paradigm shift to scheduling details. It cuts down on the amount of prep work we have to do as a group and help with decision fatigue as individuals. We choose curricula where experts are backing book and material choices with research, so we don't have to worry about the quality of materials. It helps us stay true to Mason's principles while preparing 21st century North American students so we can feel confident our students will be prepared for whatever path the Lord calls them to travel.
Being in the same curricula ensures accountability for staying on track throughout the year, and for filling out the broad and generous CM feast at home. While our choices provide resources to show how it is possible to spread the entire feast, an authentic Charlotte Mason education is much more a way of living than a boxed curriculum. We support and encourages families to only do what they can while maintaining peace in the home. Here are a few scheduling tips for balancing everything.
Symbiosis. Mothers (or Fathers) attend Cottage School with their students because it operates on symbiotic relationships (this is not a drop-off school). Parents with formal year students need someone to love on, invest in, and fill up their Early Years children while they teach. Early Years parents need mentorship and want to see CM methods implemented as they prepare for the formal years ahead. Parents with multiple children in different Forms need opportunities to provide the best for ALL of their children. Everyone needs time together with other believers to sharpen one another in our faith and encourage one another in our homeschool journeys. Honey of the Hive is about building community and life-long relationships, and we want our Cottage School families to be genuinely seeking this community.
Learning Together. Our Cottage School has everyone follow common curricula for many reasons. It provides support and teacher training materials that range from paradigm shift to scheduling details. It cuts down on the amount of prep work we have to do as a group and help with decision fatigue as individuals. We choose curricula where experts are backing book and material choices with research, so we don't have to worry about the quality of materials. It helps us stay true to Mason's principles while preparing 21st century North American students so we can feel confident our students will be prepared for whatever path the Lord calls them to travel.
Being in the same curricula ensures accountability for staying on track throughout the year, and for filling out the broad and generous CM feast at home. While our choices provide resources to show how it is possible to spread the entire feast, an authentic Charlotte Mason education is much more a way of living than a boxed curriculum. We support and encourages families to only do what they can while maintaining peace in the home. Here are a few scheduling tips for balancing everything.
TeachersOur lead teachers are parents who understand Mason's 20 Principles and have been implementing her methods. They are not experts, but they are just ahead of others new on the journey. We are all in this together! We offer parents opportunities to learn by watching lead teachers, through mentorship, at conferences, retreats, workshops and more. Of course, one of the biggest training opportunities we have is required participation in our Book Club, which walks us through Mason's original writings, especially if you are new to Charlotte Mason Education.
ScheduleBeing part of a Cottage School community means having a consistent schedule worked out and friends to hold you accountable and keep you moving. The Academic Year Schedule, Weekly Schedules, and Daily Rhythm of Forest School Days are decided by hive leadership. Location, time, and other details are determined by enrolled families.
During Cottage School days, we operate as a large family would at home, but with the benefit of multiple parents to give certain courses the small-group attention they need. Below is an explanation of how our Cottage School generally organizes classes, however we custom-schedule each academic year according to the needs of the students enrolled.
|
FEASTArt Artist Study Bible Current Events English Composition Grammar Penmanship Fairy Tales Poetry American Lit World Lit Recitation Shakespeare Geography Handicrafts Citizenship US History World History Ancient History Languages Latin Math Math Games Math History Music Music Study Piano Singing Dancing Natural History Nature Study Nature Lore Outdoor Work Gen. Science Lab Sciences Architecture Family Reading |
Field Trips
Field trips open our children's eyes to the great unknown, expose how our local community functions, and afford natural learning connections to their lessons in Art, History, Literature, Citizenship, and more. They are open to all Nature Club and Cottage School members as more relationship-building time with our greater community. This is a great place for dads or grandparents to join in and see what we do.
Commitment
Cottage School members are active in Basecamp, faithfully attend a CM Book Club, and participate in a reasonable amount of Mother Culture events. These requirements help keep the focus on building community. The membership fee covers school scheduling and administration, class organization, facility fees, field trip deposits, administrative fees, and other supplies and it is non-refundable. Families will be responsible for purchasing the curriculum, books, and supplies. We will order some supplies in bulk to keep costs down once enrollment is closed.
Cottage School membership includes Book Club and Nature Club membership benefits and members are eligible and encouraged to participate in the extra excursions and field trips.
Worker Bees. Every member is respected and valued, and everyone has a role in the Cottage School. Responsibilities are set up by level of experience to give new-to-CM parents opportunities to grown in their understanding of CM philosophy and teaching practices.
Cottage School membership includes Book Club and Nature Club membership benefits and members are eligible and encouraged to participate in the extra excursions and field trips.
Worker Bees. Every member is respected and valued, and everyone has a role in the Cottage School. Responsibilities are set up by level of experience to give new-to-CM parents opportunities to grown in their understanding of CM philosophy and teaching practices.
|
Cottage School Commitment:
|
Examples of Worker Bee Responsibilities:
|
We expect faithful attendance on Cottage School days. Please plan family vacations or travels during breaks.
Seasons. To everything there is a season, and Honey of the Hive is a place where we support one another as homeschooling families in every season of life. Babies happen. Illness happens. Hard times happen. Having committed members is important to keep things running smoothly, but we are first and foremost a place where our families feel supported and cared for, not isolated, in times of need. In the event that a family is weathering a storm, the Cottage School will keep on meeting and stay the course. Local hive leaders will work with that family personally on how to keep them connected and students involved. We want families to feel secure and confident that our students can keep on learning and growing together and our moms and dads are loved-on and cared-for well