Whole Child Garden

At Whole Child Garden we tailor the curriculum to meet each child where they are.

Lessons always include reading, math, science as well as emotional and physical exercises to make sure our minds and bodies are growing in all areas.

This student is working on how to write questions using words like who, what, when, where, and why. It's amazing to see them get curious and start forming their own thoughtful questions! 🌟

Here's a hot tip, parents. If you involve your children in grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking, they are more likely to be open to trying new foods. 🙌

We have been learning about how fruits and veggies are grown and even planted our own edible gardens. Planting an edible garden is a great activity that teaches kids the value of healthy eating and what plants need to grow. 🪴

Other things this activity teaches that you might not have thought of is patience, resilience, and responsibility.

Plus, it's just really fun to get our hands dirty while learning new things! 😆

Art doesn't always have to be on a canvas. 🎨

The kids had a blast with this activity painting their very own flower pots. These colorful pots will look great in our backyard classroom! 🪴

Thinking about homeschooling this year, but need a little variety to supplement your curriculum?🌞 Take a look at Whole Child Garden, perfect for ages 4-8!

Enrollment is now open! 📚🌿

At Whole Child Garden, we believe in nurturing every aspect of your child's development. We believe in balanced learning that seamlessly blends academics with the joy of play.

At Whole Child Garden, your child will enjoy:
✨ Comprehensive Whole-Child Development: We prioritize every facet of your child's growth, from social-emotional skills to literacy, math, and science.

✨ Multi-Age Engagement: Our inclusive learning environments encourage diverse peer interaction, fostering a rich learning experience for all.

✨ Immersive Outdoor Play: Hands-on experiences in nature deepen your child's connection to the world, leaving them energized and content.

✨ Fun Curriculum: By blending our curriculum with play we ensure your child excels academically while finding joy and fulfillment in their education.

DM us to secure your child’s spot or to learn more. Let's make this school year a season of growth, exploration, and boundless fun! 🌱

(Limited spots available.)

Playtime! We incorporate a lot of play into our curriculum at Whole Child Garden. 🪴

Play has a whole bunch of benefits like cognitive development, social & emotional growth, and physical health & development.

This is the well-rounded educational experience we like to provide to our students every day!

Kitchen classroom day!

There are a lot of valuable lessons that can be learned from helping to cook such as:

✔Science
✔️Math
✔️Following Directions
✔️Teamwork

And much more!

This was a very fun and messy science experiment we did last week to go along with our study of the weather.

Step 1: Fill a jar with water and top with shaving cream.
Step 2: Slowly add food coloring on top, and once it becomes heavy, it trickles through the shaving cream cloud like rain. 🌧️

The water droplets within a cloud go through a similar process in that they combine until their weight is heavy enough to fall from the clouds as precipitation.

Let me know if you try this one at home!

Free time! Our curriculum incorporates free time to break up learning times to keep the kids focused and engaged. This also helps develop important skills like working together, dexterity, creativity and much more! 💡

🎉Happy Parents' Day! 🎉

Whether you're a working parent balancing career and family, or a stay-at-home parent managing the household and nurturing your little ones, YOU ARE AMAZING!

Whether you homeschool your children, providing them with a unique and tailored education, or you entrust their learning to wonderful teachers 📚, YOU ARE AMAZING!

Whether you're a crunchy parent, embracing organic foods and natural products, or you let your kids eat fries 🍟 off the floor because, hey, they're still going to grow up just fine, YOU ARE AMAZING!

Parenting comes in many forms, and every parent has their own style, challenges, and triumphs. Today, we celebrate all the love, effort, and dedication you put into raising your children. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. What matters is the love and care you give.

Thank you for everything you do. You are appreciated, you are valued, and you are doing a fantastic job. Happy Parents' Day! 🌟

🌟Take a sneak peak of our outdoor learning space. 🌟

There's lots of space here to run and give the kids' bodies the exercise they need to fuel their brains. These are all the ways we use our outdoor space:

🪴Outdoor classroom for our academics
🪴Free time to explore and play
🪴We grow herbs to use in some of our recipes like mint lemonade
🪴We study flowers & use them for art projects
🪴Last week we made a snailery
🪴AND SO MUCH MORE!

🌟Come as you are!🌟

Take a sneak peak around our indoor classroom! We have lots of spaces for learning and play.

One thing to know about our teaching style is we never stay in one place or on one lesson too long. Young children have short attention spans and learn easier in spurts.

We also rotate the toys to keep playtime fresh and engaging, sparking creativity.

Different surroundings, toys, and tools are used in the curriculum at Whole Child Garden. 🪴

This week we created a "snailery," and it's a great activity you can try at home. 🐌

Step #1 - Choose any glass jar with a little soil and some moss or leaves at the bottom. Add a shallow dish of water to one side. The soil and moss should be kept moist.

Step #2 - Place the snails in this and give them fresh leaves or pulpy fruit.

Step #3 - Observe and learn!

So easy. With all the rain we've been having, snails are easy to find this time of year.

If you try this at home, share pictures with me! 😃

Reading, writing, and 'rithmatic! 📚

Some of our students have been working on consonants this week.

Instead of trying to make all students fit into the same mold, our unique approach to education is to meet each child where they are. This helps foster the love of learning at a young age.

This is also the reason why we keep our class small.

→ We have a few open spots. DM me for more info if you're interested! 🌟

Did you know that the tuition fee at Whole Child Garden includes lunch and snacks? 🍇

And all lunches are well balanced with fresh fruits and veggies, protein, grain, and dairy.

Full tummies give the body fuel for learning and activities. 🙌

What direction will you take this week? What adventures or explorations will you seek out?

Have a great week all! 🙌

Here are some of our clay creations from last week's art lesson. I love watching their creative shine and the masterpieces their imagination comes up with!🌟

Who remembers using an abacus in school?! 🙋‍♀️

I don't think they use it very much in schools any more, but this tool (and others like it) help kids understand addition & subtraction in a tangible way.

It helps them focus and makes learning math interactive and fun. (And we can use all the tools we can get to make math fun! 😆)

One of the advantages of homeschooling is not being tied down to a desk all day. Letting kids study anywhere fosters a flexible and comfortable learning environment, enhancing their focus and creativity.

It empowers them to find their best learning spots, whether it’s a cozy corner or the kitchen table. This adaptability encourages a positive attitude towards studying and helps them thrive academically. Happy, smart kids is our ultimate goal! 📚🏠✨

What's your or your kids favorite learning location?

At Whole Child Garden we integrate physical activity into the curriculum. Usually we try to spend lots of time outdoors, but when the weather is bad, we do it indoors.

Adding movement into the day:

✅Boosts academic performance
✅Enhances mental well-being
✅Promotes physical health
✅Develops motor skills

We're big supporters of a balanced education that nurtures both mind and body! 🌟👟📚

Welcome to a new week learning and growing! 🌱

If you've been wondering how Whole Child Garden can enhance your curriculum, please DM us. We'd love to get to know you!

I love hanging the kids' artwork up. It makes them feel so proud, and I like celebrating their creativity! 🎨

How do you display your child's artwork at home? Any fun tips on how to keep it organized?

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸

This is the day we commemorate the passage of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It's a great time to teach your children about the founding of our country.

Here are a couple of simple crafts you can do with materials you probably already have lying around the house.

Looking for 4th of July events in East Texas this week? Check out this big list of events.

In the comments, share any events you know that are going on!

Celebrate Independence Day in Tyler – EGuide Tyler TX Check out these fun July 4th Events! To list your events, click the Add Event button below and create an account. It’s always FREE!

It's International Tell a Joke Day! 😂

Did you know that learning jokes is crucial for a child's development?!

Telling and learning jokes enhances language skills by introducing new vocabulary and complex sentence structures. It also fosters social skills, as sharing jokes encourages interaction and helps children understand social cues and timing.

Additionally, humor aids in cognitive development by stimulating creative thinking and problem-solving abilities. Not to mention the obvious advantage laughing has on a child's emotional well-being and a sense of joy! 😁

What's your favorite joke?

Hi! I'm Lillie Brannen (Mrs. Brannen).

I have been homeschooling my children for 3 years.

I am a founding member of a local pre-school co-op and have been planning and executing group lessons for students ranging from 2- 8 years since August 2022.

I graduated from Austin College in Sherman, TX with a BA in English and was in the Austin College Teacher Program studying Early Childhood - 6th grade education.

I have lived in Texas, England, India, Louisiana, and Missouri.

I love spending time outdoors, cooking, reading, and gardening.

I worked as a chef for a private school in Dallas before starting a family.

I believe that learning should be fun, and I would love the opportunity to help foster the love of learning in your little one!

Send me a DM if you'd like more information about the Whole Child Garden program! ✉️

Sir Isaac Newton was the first person to explain how a prism bends sunlight, allowing us to see all of the different colors. 🌈

Prisms make learning about light and colors interactive, visual, and engaging, fostering a deeper understanding of fundamental scientific and mathematical principles.

Plus they're just super fun to play with! The kids loved this lesson! What are some other fun science experiments we should do?

We love homeschooling because we love having flexibility in our educational journey. I started Whole Child Garden to help other families be able to provide an alternative educational experience for their children as well. This is a nurturing space for children to learn and grow.

What do you love about homeschooling?

Nothing like mud pies to start the week off right! ☀

Happy Monday, everyone!