Three years ago, Linville resident, Apryl Donovan had a dream. Today, her dream has become a reality.
Her love for children and learning inspired her to find a way to do both, in a way that assists homeschool families. That love for children, learning, and a caring heart, are what is the impetus behind her teaching.
Apryl’s learning center, Kelava Freedom, P.M.A. is a unique method that lets her students experience learning in a different and hands on way. P.M.A. stands for Private Ministerial Association.
Taking a child’s natural curiosity and leading them down paths of learning, helps complement a homeschool based method of teaching.
Based at Cedar Spoke Farm, classes are offered Monday through Thursday, from 10am-3pm. Students are able to attend part of the time or all the days, as their own schedules permit.
Field trips and hands on learning and doing are a big part of Miss Apryl’s methods. Each year works with a different theme. This year it is Time Travel Experiment, Agriculture in History. Each year includes experiencing foods of the eras, growing food, farming practices, ways of life, field trips to museums, hands on experiences. Math is covered, suited to the age of the student. For example, making a recipe, one has to use math to figure out the measurements. Food and craft activities have become two of the most asked about things in class!
Within this year’s theme, Apryl said, “We are just finishing up a 6 week component on ancient Korea. We are reading a story that is a novel for kids, kind of like The Magic Schoolbus, where a person in history appears, and a child has to help him get back to his time. It brings out a lot of facts about ancient Korea, which makes it a fun way to learn. They learned that 60+ percent of the apples grown in Korea are Fuji apples! So, we did an apple tasting the other day. They tasted 5 or 6 varieties of apples, picked their favorites and wrote about it. We bring in an activity that uses math, language arts, collaboration. There is always something they can work on in a group or in pairs and compare results.” While making recipes, the children would have to use math to make the recipe for 6 people, for example, if the recipe was only for 4. Ratios, addition, and multiplying come into play, exposing them to the different concepts used in daily life.
At this writing, an upcoming field trip was to the Highland County Organic Maple Farm, to learn about tapping trees and see how maple syrup is made. On the way back, they will stop at Mashita to have some Korean food.
Last year, was all about Indian food- “some of them tried it and some would not- it is all about the experience!”
The students have memorized all the Presidents, learning about their lives and the times in which they served. They have learned the names of all the states, and have worked through some of the books of the Bible.
The animals at Cedar Spoke Farm are a hands-on learning that the children love- care, feeding, and needs of farm animals. The creek on the property is a favorite place to explore, and get very wet- sometimes regardless of the weather! Finding fossils, salamanders, newts, pinecones, mushrooms, animal tracks and dens, are all part of the learning fun.
The classes are held 6 weeks on and one week off, for 36 weeks. Summer activities are offered 2 days a week.
Students range from ages 6-12, although there was one 4 year old, who attended with a sibling, and learned right along side the older children, at his own level.
Miss Apryl helps the children work together to achieve a goal, learn to grow independently, learn new skills.
A journal page is created each week with some of the activities, giving a good overview of what was done that week.
After every 6 week session, there is a celebration, where the parents can join in, and see what the children have been working on.
For more information on Kelava Freedom, contact Apryl below. At this writing, openings were available.
KelavaFreedomatCedarSpokeFarm on FB
540-246-3800
kelavafreedom@proton.me
