As 2022 kicked off, I was determined to bring a bit more structure to CRA. We need to ensure that we are continuing to make progress towards math goals, engage in writing and grammar, and continue to explore great literature. Novel studies seemed to be causing negative opinions of reading for E prior to break so a change was warranted before a fear of reading reemerged. During the break, I researched new curriculums and put plans into place to shift our focus. Yet, one thing I held constant was the conceptual plan. E depends on that conceptual plan and I’ve come to realize it is mostly the “note” that I put at the top that he craves. It is almost like a love letter from me to him and he seems to embrace its content like a hug on Monday mornings.

2022 Spring Curriculum Underpinnings

• Beat Academy 2

  • Selecting 5 questions a day which I recreate using E’s favorite fonts and the CRA template. We complete the 5 questions together as a joint activity so that he sees I struggle just like he does. Note that I moved down to level 2 but he has completed Book A in 2 weeks so we will approach level 3 before end of year.

• Affective Jacob’s Ladder 3

  • Selecting specific books based on ladder goals and one activity per goal. Reading books aloud without pressure, discussing social-emotional learnings.

• Transformations in Stories and Arguments

  • Working through the curriculum, recreating content to minimize repetition. Reading books aloud, discussing content, allowing E to leverage his technology and creative skills for deliverables of his own choosing.

• All About Spelling 2 & 3

  • Completing the final units of level 2 and moving into level 3. Continuing to do spelling in nature across multiple modalities.

• Fine Motor Skills/Strengthening

  • Daily strengthening activities for hand and pencil grasp

• Grammar Island

  • E was taken by Grammar Island - learned half of the parts of speech in 2 days. Will continue with the series as long as he is interested. Already diagramming sentences.

• Zoid Math

  • Enrolled in Level 2, will watch lessons to teach myself how to teach E but will not expose him to class or recordings

• Logic

  • Completing logic exercises weekly as activities in connection to obstacle courses in the basement gym

• Philosophy - Big ideas for Curious Minds

  • Continuing study of philosophy as E seems very engaged in the content

• Visual Motor

  • Exploring E’s visual motor abilities and sharpening any areas of growth

• Regulation:

  • ZenTangles, Journaling, Drawing, “A Zillion Picture Books”, Nature photography

Talent Development

• Adobe Illustrator Font Making Workshop (asynchronous)

• Glyphs Sans Serif Font Class (video)

• AP Computer Science with Swift (Mom & Edison Online Course)

• Investment 101 (anti-Christmas fund)

• The Moon is Weird (video series)

• Secret Life of Trees (online lectures)

• Entrepreneurship (asynchronous course through MyCTD)

• Weekly Social Meetings (PG Teen in our area)

• Teach Someone Fonts (Parade Tutor, weekly)

• Innovation, Technology, Design (… in progress, Stanford/Harvard)