Alveary 101 - From the Alveary Team
We are in an exciting time of the year. Many of you are in different stages of your school year right now. Some may be wrapping up the previous year, others are planning out the upcoming year. And among you, some members are brand new to Alveary. You may be feeling the overwhelm that comes with starting a new curriculum while planning a new year, so here are some simple steps to keep in mind as you plan out your year and get accustomed to Alveary for the first time.
Be sure to utilize the Reflective Practice Plan Book.
As you start planning, this is a great time to think through what you would like the upcoming year to look like, the changes you want to implement, and habits you want to focus on. If possible, don’t skip this step, and get started before you start Term 1. You can find the Reflective Practice Plan Book in the “Before you Start” section of your Dashboard.
Start with a schedule.
We also highly recommend starting with a schedule which is why this is in Step 1 of your Dashboard. We have many tools you can use to help you get started with a schedule for your year. Here is an Office Hours recording walking you through some of our planning tools.
Decide which subjects you plan to teach and order books.
The Program is an amazing resource to find all of the information about each course and the books and resources being used. This is in Step 2 of your Dashboard. Make sure you thoroughly read through the Program for your student's grade level as you determine what subjects you will be combining and which you will not and any other considerations you need to make. Here is an amazing graphic to better understand the Program:
Get your Lesson Plans!
Once you have created a schedule and started ordering books the fun part begins. It’s time to download your Lesson Plans. There are multiple ways to access the Lesson Plans. If you upgraded your membership to Alveary+ you can access your lesson plans directly in Syllabird. You can print your lesson plans, or order printed versions that will be delivered to you. You can also keep it simple and use the digital versions right from your device. Do whatever works best for you.
Be sure to start your year off right by completing each of these steps. You’ll also want to make sure you read through the information at the beginning of each Lesson Plan to better understand how to prep that course for the year. There are often quick links where you can find resources that will be used throughout the course and you may also find “extra helpings” with further resources and tips to get more out of the course.
If you follow these steps, you will be in a great spot to get your year started. But there are still many other great tools and resources for you to explore. Be sure to check out each step in your Dashboard for all of the additional tools or resources you can utilize. And don’t forget to head over to the Hive to connect with other members, share ideas and schedules, and get encouragement for the upcoming school year!
We hope your planning is going well, let us know in comments below where you are in your planning!
Notes
1. Foundations Course: Deepen your understanding of relational education in our Foundations Course. Sign up for weekly emails or find it on your dashboard under Resources.
2. Latin: Are you registered for the Alveary-Exclusive Latin class with Magistra Reed? This is a great opportunity for students new to Latin whether they are 7th graders or highschoolers. Sign up for this optional online course through the Program (Step 2 of the dashboard). Both Level 1 and Level 2 will be offered this year.
3. Office Hours: We are taking a break from Office Hours for the month of July because of summer and the conference at the end of the month. We are excited to bring you some fresh ideas and conversations beginning in August. Please note that we are moving our meetings to the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 3:30-4:30 pm (EST).
4. Book Discussions: Mark your calendars for our upcoming book discussions! We will be discussing A New Book for Little Historians on 8/7. Then, we will be discussing Rembrandt is in the Wind: Learning to Love Art Through The Eyes of Faith on 9/4. Head to the Hive to RSVP to these events!
