Calvert School Blog

Q: Calvert is a very parent directed teaching method. How do you divide your school time among multiple children?

My first grader has a box of “supplies” to keep him occupied when I am with his older siblings: Everything from coloring books to dominoes, to his Nintendo DS. His favorite thing presently is to do additional math practice – for which he gets a sticker reward for every additional page he completes. 10 stickers = a treat – a small cone from the ice cream man who drives through the neighborhood, or a dollar to spend at the dollar store. Sometimes he is content with a half an hour blowing off steam on the trampoline.

My sixth grader often hears me say – “what can you work on while I am working with…” – and I have been known to hand people a basket of socks to sort if they cannot figure out what to do…

Q: Can you provide some practical ways to adapt the Suggested Daily Schedule to accommodate outside classes–art, PE, coop, etc.? Q: Do extracurricular activities count as rewards or part of curriculum??

These questions are sort of related, so I am going to answer them together. I fit school around our planned extra curriculars, like Tae Kwon Do, or swimming or art. That goes on the calendar and is part of school – not a separate event. Obviously, that is not part of the time bank… If it is an extra curricular that is purely for fun – e.g. a special art class, then it can be a reward. However, if there are others that are dependent on our presence (for instance a team sport like soccer), then no, it is not a time bank reward.

Q: Do you have a common wake up time/ breakfast for the whole family? As my son ages he’s doing his best work later in the day, wanting to sleep in.

My kids, especially my teenagers would LOVE to sleep in… and IF they get their work done, they are welcome to… but I have been known to throw frozen marbles in the bed with someone if they don’t get up (marbles don’t melt, and they always roll toward you…) For the most part, even my 6 year old may rise and shine at his own discretion. But, they had better be finished with their morning routines and ready to start school when I am, because I am not going to make myself available to them all day, without fail. Academics at our house are finished for me by 4PM at the latest – if you are not done, you are on your own.

Stay tuned – lots more to come…