I've just returned from a family vacation to the redwoods and I'm ready to jump in with both feet getting ready for school to start. There's a lot to do but it's coming together and I've got a plan. I'll share that with you today.

The Calendar

We've got three weeks before school starts and here's how I'm using them.

this week -- my last week of curriculum planning

• week 1 -- Europe leading to colonization
• week 2 -- the colonies
• week 3 -- the revolution
• week 4 -- the French Revolution

Things I'm thinking about:

Balancing Depth and Breadth

I like to teach history through biography and they are great for going deep with the content. To study someone's life and learn how that person's life influenced the world and formed the world you live in today is a really powerful thing, but it's easy to get stuck on one person's story and not cover the breadth of content that is needed.

My plan for this block is to tell one or two biographies in a given week and use the in-between days for covering the gaps and moving through the historical content. I also plan to use my students' reading to give them more in-depth views, as well.

Social Learning

I share some of my thoughts about social learning, why I'm not naturally drawn to it and why I'm trying to turn that around and give my students more experiences of social learning.

Shameless Self-Promotion

Here is the form to receive the main lesson book evaluation form (see blog at www.awaldorfjourney.com).

My Record-Keeping and Feedback Course has just gone live and I'm really excited to keep it affordable so more people can realize the value of giving feedback to parents and students. You'll get lots of pdf downloads and some audio recordings of my thoughts about how to give parents and students feedback throughout the grades.

Enrollment in my Curriculum Planning E-Course comes to a close at the end of the month. If you're feeling like you could use some guidance in planning your year, this course is for you. It lays out all of the things you need to think about in putting your year together and I think you'll find it really valuable. I'm also happy to include three mentoring hours. I'm determined that you'll get what you need out of this course, so don't hesitate to email me if you've got any questions -- [email protected]

This week's Calendar of the Soul verse:

I feel strange power, bearing fruit

And gaining strength to give myself to me.

I sense the seed maturing

And expectation, light-filled, weaving

Within me on my selfhood's power.