Point of View on Curriculum at West River Academy

Posted on October 9, 2023October 9, 2023 by Monica Oliveros

Point of View on Curriculum at West River Academy

Posted on October 9, 2023

Undoubtedly, a curriculum organizes and greatly simplifies the student’s life. Having a guide of what to study according to age sounds logical since humans usually evolve similarly; we do so at different rates and depths. Find out how we view the curriculum at West River Academy.

The school, as we know it, came to solve a global problem: the massification of education. Only a few had access to theoretical knowledge just over a century ago. Time and time again, entire communities came to the same conclusion in different eras, which was inefficient in an increasingly connected and globalized world.

Humanity has continued to evolve, and this problem is in the past. More and more families know that they can ask themselves the individual question: “How do I study?” At first, it is just a concern, and sometimes just an unfulfilled desire: to be able to personalize your children’s education according to their interests and time. And this is where our point of view comes from.

Curriculum

In an adult-centric world, it is expected to believe that the adult should guide their children’s education. At West River Academy, we believe that adults should only act as a companion, mere observers at the service of their children. Why? Because it is the individual who knows his vocation, his talents, and his purpose. No matter how old he is.

Routines tend to develop naturally when our toddlers are not in school without an external entity dictating 100% of it. These routines are structured by the parents’ available time, the needs that arise within the family, and even shaped by the culture of the geographical location of each family.

Without realizing it, these routines are study plans. Observing that our children love art and buying materials so they can doodle everywhere or a plastic musical instrument to emulate what they play is a study plan since it is taught to them. It gives our children the opportunity to explore their abilities through play.

niños estudiando en su cocina con mantas

How does a child who doesn’t go to school study?

Then school age arrives, and we wait patiently for the institution to give us a list of materials and books, and we trust that the study plan or curriculum is appropriate for our children. It’s the way that worked for our parents and that worked for us.

As this process is foreign to our planning, we feel the impulse to create a curriculum outside of our children’s planning, acting as the institution that offers knowledge, which entails a period of uncertainty if what they are learning is sufficient. And then bombard our children with information. It’s much simpler than this.

The first year can be the most overwhelming, and doing so alone usually takes longer to unschool. When you sign up with us, you have one-hour personalized consultations. Also, we have monthly meetings with other families and monthly zooms with the WRA director, answering common questions, which makes the process much more bearable and faster.

In our article “Students who do not fit into the traditional education system,” we share several links to websites with study plans as support. At the same time, you can unschool your adult brain and create a study plan with the flexibility your children need to know themselves and achieve their individual goals at every stage.

Study plan and workload

This is why you will not find a pre-established study plan at West River Academy because we want to keep all beings from following another’s or the mass path. We only demand that you present to us at the end of the year report what the learning process was like, what you learned, and how it went from the family experience.

With us, you will find endless tools to assemble your study plan, whether planned or emerging as your son or daughter lives. Each family is different and knows what is best for each member. That is why we encourage natural education, whether respecting an entire period of 3 months in a single activity or diversifying several activities during the week. Observe with patience and trust. Remember it as a mantra: Patience and Trust.

BONUS: Books in English by E. D. Hirsch.

If you are still not convinced by natural education and want to be covered by what your children should know in each grade according to the traditional educational system, the author E. D. Hirsch made a collection of books that are currently only in English. These are titled like: “ What Your Second Grader Needs to Know,” and there is a book for each grade, from preschool to high school. You must replace “second grader” with the degree you wish to investigate.

We hope this article has been helpful to you and you have been able to answer your doubts about which study plan or curriculum to choose when unschooling. We invite you to read other posts on our blog to delve deeper into the unschooling topic.

Punto de vista sobre los Planes de Estudio en West River Academy

Posted on October 9, 2023October 9, 2023 by Monica Oliveros

Punto de vista sobre los Planes de Estudio en West River Academy

Posted on October 9, 2023

Sin duda, los planes de estudio organizan y simplifican mucho la vida del estudiante. Tener una guía de lo que hay que estudiar según la edad suena lógico, ya que los seres humanos solemos evolucionar de la misma manera, solo que cada uno de nosotros lo hace en ritmos y profundidades distintas. Descubre cómo vemos los planes de estudio en West River Academy.

La escuela, como la conocemos, vino a resolver una problemática mundial que es la masificación de la educación. Hace apenas más de un siglo solo tenía acceso al conocimiento teórico un número muy pequeño de seres en el planeta. Una y otra vez comunidades enteras llegaban a la misma conclusión en eras distintas y esto era ineficiente en un mundo cada vez más conectado y globalizado.

La humanidad ha seguido evolucionando y esta problemática quedó en el pasado. Cada vez más familias sabe que tiene la capacidad de hacerse la pregunta individual: “¿Cómo estudio?”. Al principio es solo una inquietud, y a veces solo un deseo no cumplido: el de poder personalizar la educación de sus hijos según sus intereses y tiempos. Y de aquí parte nuestro punto de vista.

Planes de Estudio

En un mundo adulto-céntrico es normal el creer que es el adulto el que debe guiar la educación de sus hijos. En West River Academy tenemos la creencia que el adulto solo debe actuar como acompañante, un mero observador al servicio de sus hijos, ¿por qué? Porque es el individuo el que sabe su vocación, sus talentos y su propósito. Sin importar la edad que tenga.

Cuando nuestros hijos no están en etapa de escolarización, se suelen desarrollar rutinas de manera natural sin que un ente externo dicte el 100% de esta. Estas rutinas se ven estructuradas por los tiempos disponibles de los padres, las necesidades que van surgiendo en el seno familiar e incluso teñido por la cultura de la ubicación geográfica de cada familia.

Sin darnos cuenta, estas rutinas son planes de estudio, el observar que nuestros hijos aman los colores y comprarles materiales para que hagan garabatos por doquier o un instrumento musical de plástico para que emulen que tocan, es un plan de estudios, ya que se le da la oportunidad a nuestros hijos mediante el juego a explorar sus propias habilidades.

¿Cómo estudia un niño que no va a la escuela?

Entonces llega la edad escolar y esperamos pacientemente que la institución nos dé una lista de materiales, de libros y confiamos que el plan de estudios o curriculum es el adecuado para nuestros hijos. Es la manera que le funcionó a nuestros padres y que nos funcionó a nosotros.

Como este proceso es ajeno a nuestra planificación, sentimos el impulso de crear un plan de estudios ajeno a la planificación de nuestros hijos, actuando nosotros como la institución que ofrece el conocimiento, lo que conlleva un período de incertidumbre si es suficiente lo que están aprendiendo para luego bombardear con información a nuestros hijos. Es mucho más sencillo que esto.

El primer año puede ser el más abrumador y al hacerlo solo suele tardar un poco más el proceso de desescolarización. Al inscribirte con nosotros tienes a tu disposición consultas personalizadas de una hora, reuniones mensuales con otras familias y zooms mensuales con la directora de WRA respondiendo preguntas comunes, lo que hace el proceso mucho más llevadero y rápido.

En nuestro artículo “Estudiantes que no encajan en el sistema educativo tradicional”, compartimos varios links de sitios web con planes de estudio como soporte mientras desescolarizas tu cerebro adulto y puedas crear un plan de estudios con la flexibilidad que necesitan tus hijos para poder autoconocerse y alcanzar sus metas individuales en cada etapa de sus vidas.

Plan de estudios y carga horaria

Es por esto que en West River Academy no vas a encontrar un plan de estudio preestablecido, porque no queremos encasillar a ningún ser a seguir el camino de otro, o el camino masificado. Lo único que exigimos es que nos presentes un reporte a final de año como fue el proceso de aprendizaje, qué aprendió y cómo le fue desde la experiencia familiar.

Con nosotros encontrarás un sinfín de herramientas para que armes tu propio plan de estudios, sea de manera planificada o vaya surgiendo a medida que tu hijo o hija vivan. Cada familia es distinta y cada familia sabe qué es lo que más le conviene a cada uno de sus miembros. Por eso aupamos a la educación natural, sea esta respetar un período entero de 3 meses en una solo actividad o sea diversificando varias actividades en la semana. Observa con paciencia y confianza, recuérdalo como mantra: Paciencia y Confianza.

BONUS: Libros en Inglés de E. D. Hirsch.

Si aún no les convence la educación natural y desean estar amparados de lo que sus hijos deben saber en cada grado según el sistema educativo tradicional, el autor E. D. Hirsch hizo una colección de libros que actualmente solo están en inglés, estos llevan por título: “What Your Second Grader Needs to Know” que en español sería algo así como: “Lo que tu hijo de segundo grado necesita saber” y hay un libro para cada uno de los grados escolares, desde preescolar hasta bachillerato. Solo hay que sustituir “second grader” por el grado que deseen investigar.

Esperamos les haya sido útil este artículo y hayan podido saciar esa duda sobre qué plan de estudios o curriculum elegir a la hora de desescolarizar. Les invitamos a leer otras entradas en nuestro blog para ahondar más en el tema unschooling.

A Graduate’s Journal

Posted on May 2, 2018March 16, 2023 by Rachel Nishikawa

A Graduate’s Journal

Posted on May 2, 2018

In our Graduation Program we not only want to hear about the curriculum you might be doing, but we want to know who you are, what influences your thought process and the person you are aspiring to be. Because in a society that has forgotten to value wisdom, curiosity and introspection, young adults who are nurtured in this way during the most developmental period of their life are an incredible asset to our world as whole.

Prospective graduate, Michael Heaton, delivers a reflective report of his personal growth and shares his thoughts as he navigates a trivial time in his life.

If I’m honest, I could call February my realization month. I read many books from prophets to philanthropists, philosophers to fables; everything. Many of them had different messages and sometimes they were conflicting. But the things I have learned have helped me to see where I truly am, where I will go if I continue doing what I am doing, and where I truly want to end up.

In the beginning of February I had a huge personal expense come up. The good news is that I finally paid it all off. But that whole month I felt totally broke. Which is not a bad thing to feel at my age because I don’t have a family or spouse depending on me. It just makes me realize how much growing I still have left before I am really ready for the real adult world. In a nut shell I’d say the beginning was humbling.

That works out perfectly for this type of education because it proves the old story of Socrates. Most people know about the young man who goes to Socrates and says something to the fact that he wants to learn from Socrates and be wise like him. Socrates then walks down to the beach and shoves his head in the water. The young man fights to come up to breathe. And finally when he almost drowns Socrates lets him up. Of course the young man is furious. Socrates responds calmly saying that once he wants truth and knowledge as bad as he wanted air, then he would teach him. That very desire that Socrates points out, is what I had in February. I got tired of settling for the life I had. My income seemed capped. My friendships, limited and self absorbed. My spiritual life, mundane and routine. My physical health, mediocre at best.

After I realized where I was at, I wrote some things that I wanted to change. I put up a white board where I can track my progress in different areas in my life to see what I needed to work on. Although I’m not perfect at updating it, it is in my room and I constantly look at it as I do my schooling. I’ve learned that if you want something to improve, you need to track it. The moment you do that, it becomes a priority. That has really helped me appreciate the gift of a day. There will never be a day like today ever again. And each day we are given, we trade for the things we think are important. Whether we are just killing time, or investing it, we can never get that day back. So we must use it wisely.

Previous to February, I often found myself bored, unfulfilled, and not where I wanted to be. If that continued, I’d follow the saying, “Some people die at 25, and aren’t buried until 75”. I don’t want that by any means. When I was bored and unfulfilled I also found that it effected my relationships. Not because people were all a sudden being jerks. But because I was focusing on myself so much more because I had nothing else to do. And lets be honest, none of us like a friend who is self centered.

Once I realized that my laziness was effecting who I was becoming, I decided to change. I started passing out flyers to expand my landscaping business in South Phoenix. I’m reading deeper into the words of God. I’ve tried to be less task oriented and play with those around me when they ask for my attention. When I think of old friends, I send them a text to let them know that I appreciate their role in my life. If I have down time, I invest it into my future. Just those simple things have revolutionized my life; not to mention my self confidence.

Now I know a lot of this could not be classified under math, science, or history. But I still believe that it is education. I believe that education is supposed to make life easier. Without knowing the things that I’ve just shared, life would be much harder. And if I could narrow down everything I’ve learn last month, I’d say this, success is never an achievement or trophy that we can attain and lock away for the rest of our lives. That is what you call a goal. Most people, including myself, think that success can eventually be achieved once we do this, or accomplish that, or face a certain obstacle. But the truth is success is only realized in the pursuit of your goals. The moment we stop stretching for what we want, and becoming a better person each day, we are no longer successful.

So thanks again for this program of credibility, and accountability. It’s helped me a lot already. Talk to you next month.

A Graduates’ Path to Self-discovery

Posted on March 16, 2018March 16, 2023 by Rachel Nishikawa

A Graduates’ Path to Self-discovery

Posted on March 16, 2018

The West River Academy Graduation Program students are a true testament to the philosophy that there is beauty in diversity. The young adults that we cross paths with have learned that it is okay to hit walls, question your identity, and feel imperfect. Because what you learn from that is how to bounce back, be authentic and embrace your uniqueness.

Marta Chan is an exceptional young woman in our Graduation Program Class of 2018. In one of her monthly report assignments, she reflects on a trip to Finland, growing up in Estonia and her journey to self-discovery.

“Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and the awful, it’s ordinary and mundane and routine… And it’s breathtakingly beautiful!” L.R. Knost has managed to put into words the description of how this month was for me.

I learned once again, that sometimes things just don’t work out as you planned. I thought I had already learned this lesson, but this month proved me wrong. Nothing seemed to go the way I wanted. I was really upset and irritated. But then, I started noticing all these unexpected little, wonderful things that happened in my life. I realized how I sometimes rush to get everything done and forget the reason why I’m doing these things in the first place. Writing my thoughts and feelings down into my journal, really helped me find some serenity and peace of mind.

One thing that was constantly on my mind this month, was my dad’s Chinese origin and his ancestry. It’s challenging for me to do family history from his side, because I do not speak neither Cantonese nor Mandarin Chinese. I’m learning the latter, but it’s rather difficult. It’s not so much the language that’s hard to learn but the notion and culture of the Chinese people. As I have learned more about their culture and traditions, I have recognized pieces of it in myself. I know my parents gave and still give their best in raising me and my siblings and I am really grateful for them, because they have allowed and encouraged me to become the best me. But at times I feel like I am disconnected from the Chinese “part” of me. When I was younger, I always tried to convince others (and myself) that I am a “true- Estonian”. And I remember being so upset when someone would point out that I’m “half- Chinese”, because it made me feel as if I’m incomplete and hence insufficient. But with time I came to realize, that’s not true! Rather than trying to define myself, I learned to know myself. Who I am? Who and What I love? What are my fears, my talents, my passions? What do I do to accomplish my dreams? These are the things that matter. These are the things that make me complete. Not perfect, far from that. But whole.

I learned that if we come to accept ourselves the way we are, it helps us move forward and better ourselves. The beauty in being a human is that we have both the ability and power to improve ourselves. Our backgrounds and situations do not play important roles in this. Our attitude does. My dear grandpa told me once: “A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t drive the car anywhere until you change it. And if you change it, you can go anywhere your heart desires”. I agree with him.

February Twenty-fourth officially marked the one-hundreth birthday of the Republic of Estonia. This gave me again a reason to dive into my family history and celebrate the people who built this country. Their sacrifices and diligence in hardships don’t cease to both amaze and impress me.

One of the highlights of this month was our family trip to Finland. We went there by a ferry. It was really cool to see the frozen Baltic Sea. All of the water was pretty much asymmetrical blocks of ice. Finland is really pretty! They have many lakes (about 168 000) and endless uninhabited boreal forests! But our first priority was to visit Helsinki Finland Temple. I believe it to be (along with the rest of the 159 operating temples our Church has) a sacred place and the house of God. It was wonderful to visit it and it really made me appreciate everything that has been created, even more than I did before. The time there also gave me a chance to rewind everything that has been going on in my life lately and steer myself back to where I want to be. In conclusion, this month I mostly analysed and studied myself. As ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said: “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”