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Secular Homeschool Tutorial

Create a neutral space for homeschoolers to play 2 learn together.

$100
pledged of$16,000 goal
1
0Days Left

Project Description

The local homeschool community needs a secular homeschool tutorial. Together we can build one.

Homeschooling is on the rise. The US Department of Education estimates there are 1,770,000 families currently homeschooling in the United States. Modern homeschool families want their children to have opportunities to learn in the presence of their peers. As parents, we all need a place where our children can spend a portion of their time repeatedly learning with the same children in order to develop a sense of community and personal relationships. Places that provide this kind of program for homeschoolers are called "tutorials". 

Have you ever been in a situation where your kids were participating in an awesome program that got ruined because the program had something embedded in it that was a part of a different religious point of view that you hadn't intended to expose your children to? I have, too.

Depending on where you live, there may be many choices of tutorial or only a few. In our local market, there are many tutorials but all of them are faith-based. This presents a problem for parents who want the tutorial experience for their children but who would prefer to leave the spiritual teaching to their private life. Hence the need for a secular tutorial.

Art Play Learn is a special kind of education services company.

Our values focus on student-centered, active learning strategies that often include integrations and small class sizes. An integration is a blended learning activity that introduces and practices skills and knowledge from more than one subject at a time. The most famous kind is "Arts Integration". At Art Play Learn, we do not limit ourselves to integrating art and academic subjects, but instead, integrate any and every combination of subjects you can imagine.

Art Play Learn is lead by Meredith Kaunitz, a veteran educator and professional actor.

With 25 years of teaching experience, a curiosity about Neurology, Psychology, and Cognitive Science, and exposure to a wide variety of teaching strategies, Meredith has become a thought-leader in education. Developing and implementing new teaching strategies, Meredith has become a popular teacher and sought-out education consultant. She developed an Infant and Toddler Enrichment Program that continues to draw caregivers who want to give their children the best play-based, brain-building opportunities available. Courses include:

  • Baby Sign
  • Moving Storytime
  • 4 Visual Arts classes
  • Intro to Music
  • 3 Dance classes
  • Spanish for Babies, and
  • Science for Toddlers.

Subsequently, Meredith has developed a distance-learning program, including 4 levels of Japanese (for 8-12 year olds, and for teens) with 2 writing supplemental classes, that has garnered the attention of over 600 families. She enjoys a 4.5 star rating for all of her distance learning classes overall with many classes at a 5-star rating. Teachers across the country have purchased Meredith's original curricula for use in their own classrooms. Meredith is uniquely positioned to create a neutral space for local homeschool families to learn together in using active learning techniques.

The roadblock to establishing this tutorial is a lack of affordable, appropriate space. We have identified the perfect space to move into. It is affordable, safe and ready to use. We just need to raise a little bit of money to use as a down-payment to secure our mortgage. We have bankers who are motivated to get us a mortgage if we can raise the necessary down payment.

Will you help us provide a safe, neutral space for our children to gain social skills while they learn?

 

Updates

The Campaign FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Why is it important to have a "Secular" tutorial? Couldn't families just use one that is faith-based? 

Many families prefer to separate academic learning and religious teaching. Other families are not Christian and do not want their children to be confused or to feel like there is something wrong with not being Christian. Having a neutral environment allows people of all kinds of faiths, as well as no faith, to come together, enjoy learning and feel comfortable.

  • Where is the space?

The space we are looking to buy is in a commercial condominium office park. It is centrally located in Bowie, MD, just off of Route 301 South.

  • What is so special about this space?

The space we want to buy is affordable which is important in order to keep the price of the tutorial reasonable so that as many families as possible can afford to join us. It is a first floor end unit which will help us sing, dance, jump, and stomp without annoying neighbors. It is also set up with one large open space that will allow us to move freely without bumping into each other. This is really important because we use a lot of movement-based activities and projects in our curriculum. Having an office space that is broken down into small offices is just not practical. It comes with all of the furniture we need, as well as a security system with an intercom, a commercial grade copier and a commercial grade poster printer. It has a bathroom and a kitchenette.  Basically, it is what the Real Estate industry refers to as "turn key". We can turn the key and use it immediately. This means we will not have to raise more money to make the space useful or to purchase equipment.

  • Why do you need to buy? Why not just lease/rent a space?

Having done much research, I have not found anything available at our price point that is configured in a useful way or is able to be reconfigured to meet our needs. The space we are looking to buy breaks down to under $1/sqft per month, whereas other spaces are in the $30+/sqft per month range.

 

 

Heather Hanko
12/10/2018
Monetary Contribution
$100
Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

Thank you SO much for caring enough to give without expecting anything in return. I assure you you have our deepest gratitude!

1 Supporter
Select this reward
100.00 USD
Backer Tote

CUTEST Market bag on the market! Perfect for all of those little things you need to take with you.

Send us a picture of you with your tote and we will publish it on social media so everyone can see the impact of your choice to be a backer.

5 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Brain Builder Promoter

As a Brain Builder Promoter, you will gain:

  • A social media shout-out showing everybody how you are actively promoting brain building, and
  • Access to one of Art Play Learn's signature online resources

Spanish for 3-6 Year Olds

A roadmap of activities with materials to create an immersion-style experience for you to enjoy learning Spanish with your little one while rocking out to fun songs, playing together and moving, moving, moving. Can be used by caregivers who speak Spanish well and by those who do not speak any Spanish at all.

OR

Story, Sign & Song

Perfect for new parents who want to build baby's brain while giving them the tools to communicate BEFORE they develop the skills to do so verbally. Children generally start to articulate verbal language earlier when they have signed as infants.

Unlimited supply

0 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Problem Solver

As a major thank you for being our problem solver, you will receive a some problem solving assistance of your own in the form of one-on-one virtual educator coaching with Meredith Kaunitz. Bring any question, obstacle, or frustration to a video chat and Meredith will coach you to at least one potential solution. Classroom teachers in public or private schools, Day-Care teachers, Pre-school teachers, Homeschool Co-op teachers, Homeschooling/Unschooling parents!

10 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
2,500.00 USD
Education Advocate and Benefactor

As an official Education Advocate and Benefactor, you will receive some serious support to affect your own community!

Get help finding a potential solution to your institutional education issue- step by step.

We will:

  • talk about the issue,
  • research potential causes,
  • brainstorm potential solutions,
  • create an action plan,
  • (if necessary) design, administer and deliver a petition.

Make a difference in 2 communities at once!

5 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Helper Kudos

We will publish a public "Thank you" on Facebook with your name to let everybody know that you are a helper.

0 Supporters
Select this reward

About the Entrepreneur

Bowie, MD
Created 1 Campaign
Social Good

Rewards

Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

Thank you SO much for caring enough to give without expecting anything in return. I assure you you have our deepest gratitude!

1 Supporter
Select this reward
100.00 USD
Backer Tote

CUTEST Market bag on the market! Perfect for all of those little things you need to take with you.

Send us a picture of you with your tote and we will publish it on social media so everyone can see the impact of your choice to be a backer.

5 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Brain Builder Promoter

As a Brain Builder Promoter, you will gain:

  • A social media shout-out showing everybody how you are actively promoting brain building, and
  • Access to one of Art Play Learn's signature online resources

Spanish for 3-6 Year Olds

A roadmap of activities with materials to create an immersion-style experience for you to enjoy learning Spanish with your little one while rocking out to fun songs, playing together and moving, moving, moving. Can be used by caregivers who speak Spanish well and by those who do not speak any Spanish at all.

OR

Story, Sign & Song

Perfect for new parents who want to build baby's brain while giving them the tools to communicate BEFORE they develop the skills to do so verbally. Children generally start to articulate verbal language earlier when they have signed as infants.

Unlimited supply

0 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Problem Solver

As a major thank you for being our problem solver, you will receive a some problem solving assistance of your own in the form of one-on-one virtual educator coaching with Meredith Kaunitz. Bring any question, obstacle, or frustration to a video chat and Meredith will coach you to at least one potential solution. Classroom teachers in public or private schools, Day-Care teachers, Pre-school teachers, Homeschool Co-op teachers, Homeschooling/Unschooling parents!

10 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
2,500.00 USD
Education Advocate and Benefactor

As an official Education Advocate and Benefactor, you will receive some serious support to affect your own community!

Get help finding a potential solution to your institutional education issue- step by step.

We will:

  • talk about the issue,
  • research potential causes,
  • brainstorm potential solutions,
  • create an action plan,
  • (if necessary) design, administer and deliver a petition.

Make a difference in 2 communities at once!

5 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Helper Kudos

We will publish a public "Thank you" on Facebook with your name to let everybody know that you are a helper.

0 Supporters
Select this reward