Compass Chronicle
Options Program | Winter 2019
Welcome to 2019!
We hope that your 2018 was wonderful and that 2019 is off to a great start.
As we wrap up the first semester, it is an opportune time to reflect on how your school year is going so far. What has your scholar particularly enjoyed learning about? What do they want to explore more? What changes in your schedule might you need to make? In which areas do you need more support? It is often at this semester point when families feel the need to change things up a bit – maybe a different routine, new learning center classes, an addition to the current curriculum, or even just a new agenda book. We value homeschooling as a collaborative effort, so please share your thoughts with your Educational Facilitator. We are here to support you in this!
Please join us in our Options reflection of this semester via this newsletter. You will find examples of scholars participating in hands-on activities to learn and demonstrate their knowledge in math, reading, technology, science, and more. We introduce you to one of our remarkable families and an amazing Educational Facilitator. We also share about some exciting new vendors that are available to you.
We hope you enjoy reflecting as we look forward to a fantastic 2019!
Kristy Smith, Director of Options Learning
Table of Contents
- What's New?
- Family Spotlight
- Staff Spotlight
- Vendor News
- Vendor Spotlight
- Scholar Work Samples
- Counseling, Engagement, and Exceptional Scholar Services Newsletters
- Share your Story
What's New in Options?
In late November, several learning coaches and EFs came together virtually for an Options Roundtable to chat about integrating subject areas, such as math and science or social studies and language arts. Thank you to those who participated to help this not be so intimidating! We encourage you to join us for our next Roundtable discussion early next month where we will explore the topic of building a homeschool community for your family. If you have a topic for a future Roundtable discussion that uniquely applies to our Options scholars, please send it our way!
With the approach of the end of the semester come report card connections. Educational Facilitators have extended their regular discussions with learning coaches and scholars on the wonderful things that they are learning about and the progress they have made to deeper reflections on the learning that has been accomplished over the course of the semester. The implementation of our new proficiency grading scale for TK-5th grade scholars is proving to be a great fit!
Finally, our new Lead EFs (Melissa Collier, Sharlie Walker, and Susan De la Peña) have collaborated to revise and revamp our Scholar Study Team (SST) system to better support struggling scholars. We have a wealth of information on strategies to share with families who need ideas for anything from difficulties with reading to struggles with fine motor skills.
FAMILY SPOTLIGHT
Learning Coach Seta Y. and her scholars, Elizabeth, Evan, and Sean share their experience at Compass
CCS: We know that often with our scholars that each day is different, but what would a typical day look like for you and your scholar?
LC/Scholar: We start the morning with independent reading time. Then I read aloud to them. I read a variety of texts like art, science magazines, fiction, myths, legends, etc. Once a week, we do a Growth Mindset activity. Then we move on to math. After a break, we move on to Language Arts. Here we do the Brave Writer program, and I have included spelling and sometimes worksheets. Later, we add either a science lesson, history lesson, art lesson, or music lesson depending on timing. Then the children move on to independent work like typing, cursive, and an online reading comprehension program called Read Theory.
CCS: What has been your greatest joy in schooling your scholar at home?
LC/Scholar: Going out into nature or on field trips.
CCS: Share a challenge that you have experienced as a learning coach and how you have worked to overcome the challenge.
LC/Scholar: My challenge is getting my kids to believe that even though there may be challenges in their learning, there is nothing that they cannot accomplish without determination. That is why we do a Growth Mindset activity per week.
CCS: Why did you decide to school from home with Compass Charter Schools?
LC/Scholar: I think that home education is the best way to educate your children, and Compass Charter Schools makes it even easier. Every child learns at a different pace and Compass Charter gives me the freedom to differentiate learning how I see fit.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Sharlie Walker, Lead Educational Facilitator, took some time share about her job and her journey with us!
CCS: What is your job title and what are a couple of the things you do at Compass Charter Schools? How long have you worked for this organization?
SW: I have been working at Compass Charter Schools since February of 2015, almost 4 years. I started as an online middle school math teacher with Compass, then I transferred to the Options program in November of 2016 as an Educational Facilitator. Currently, I am a Lead Educational Facilitator. With this new role, I train and support new EF's, plan park days and help prospective families with questions regarding the Options program.
CCS: Tell us your “why” for doing what you do here at CCs?
SW: I truly enjoy helping and supporting home school families on their educational journey. Building relationships with our families and staff is part of my why as well.
CCS: As an educator, is there a piece of advice you’d like to share with learning coaches or scholars?
SW: As an educator and first year home school mom, my one piece of advice is less is more. As homeschoolers, we tend to overbook ourselves and scholars with too many extra classes and curriculum. I have learned to minimize too many activities and focus on learning.
CCS: Do you have a hero, mentor, or role model who you look up to, or a quote that is particularly meaningful to you?
SW: Actions speak louder than words. My mother has always said that and it so true.
CCS: What do you and your family like to do during your free time?
SW: I love to travel to new places. My husband, daughter (5 years old) and I like to travel in our motor home. We are always looking for places to explore so if you know of some great camping sites, please share them with me!
VENDOR NEWS
Crafty School Crates has joined the Compass vendor list, and they offer creative lessons in crafting! Each crate provides hands-on learning experiences for kids, with no parent prep! The crates are designed to complement any curriculum choice, or serve as a stand-alone unit study. They include everything needed to create, so no need to shop for anything! A team of homeschooling parents, working parents, and teachers give you the best quality in every crate!
Mariah Gage began Crafty School Crates as a homeschooling mom. Being a parent of 7, she saw that her kids were really missing the hands-on crafts while learning. Yet, trying to plan and shop for supplemental activities for her children's curriculum was a tedious and time consuming chore, which often was neglected. As she talked to other homeschooling families, they had expressed the same desire to be able to offer their child more hands-on activities without all the stress of planning and shopping for the supplies. From that desire, Crafty School Crates was born.
Each Crate offers a new learning experience! They have included it all, the glue, the paint, the book, even the writing samples have been created by our team specifically for each crate! We have included portfolios so your child can create a lasting memory book of their writings and art, and we have included fun crafts to be displayed in your home.
According to Mariah, “What families love most about our crates, is the variety in age range that is offered. Our literature crates are perfect for novel studies for older kids. They can read the book, answer writing prompts and engage in multiple hands-on activities to engage them in the book. Our two most popular crates for the younger grades are the Young Learners Seasonal Crate and Animal Science Crate Series. Those two crates are perfect to meet standards and have fun while learning. Families who love learning together love our History, Geography and Science Crates, and our Astronomy Crate and Ancient Civilization Crate have flown off the shelf. Our crate selection is rapidly growing in order to meet the needs of families and their learning needs.”
Learn more about Crafty School Crates on their website.
VENDOR SPOTLIGHT
Be a Maker Club
One of the only dedicated makerspaces for children, Be A Maker Club is a new service vendor located in Upland. Following a hi-tech and high-touch philosophy, Be A Maker Club uses technology with a hands-on approach to making. Families with parents or other members who are active DIYers or children who are constantly tinkering are drawn to this makerspace. The most unique thing about what Be A Maker Club offers is that children can pursue making their own ideas and designs. The staff at this makerspace act in the role of facilitators helping children make what they want to create.
Be A Maker Club was born out of a necessity for a makerspace devoted to kids. The owner, Zef Neemuchwala, brought his idea to fruition when he started making things at an adult makerspace and his children were told that the equipment was too dangerous. He could not find another children's makerspace locally, so he decided to open one.
All of the classes at Be A Maker Club are hands-on because children learn by making and doing. The most popular courses are 3D printing and CNC with digital woodworking. Classes are offered on a rotating basis Monday to Saturday, and trial classes are only offered on Sunday. Check out their website and flyer, or give them a call at 323-686-2324 in order to register for a class or find out more details.
SCHOLAR WORK SAMPLES
Addy H. is a second-grade scholar who uses Right Start Math for her math curriculum. In this photo, she is demonstrating how she uses manipulatives such as an abacus and a math balance to work on multiplication facts.
Eighth grade scholar Jansen H. does some impressive work with coding for his Technology Elective course. The program shown in the work sample is part of a competition that GitHub had for the month of November. Jansen participated in the meetup twice a week, where he learned to work with a team of engineers artists and product managers to get the project done.
TK twins Gracie and Ryder completed a novel study on Charlotte’s Web along with their older sibling. As part of their unit, they created these awesome handmade spiders and webs, and colored in the Charlotte’s Web book covers. They did a great job!
3rd grade scholar, Finn, shows his OCLC science class a lab demonstration of inertia as they explore Newton’s 1st Law of Motion. With a quick strike, Finn hits the pie tin, the paper towel roll falls, and the egg safely lands in the beaker of water below. This is such an exciting lab to watch inertia in action!
1st grader Moses studied the Civil War era with his OCLC classmates. After learning about key figures during the Civil war, Moses carefully drew a portrait of Abraham Lincoln., He added details to make the figure reflect Lincoln’s iconic look and character.
SHARE YOUR STORY
Continue to Counseling, Engagement, and Exceptional Scholar Services Newsletters
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