What’s in my personal curriculum basket this month & a few things I learned in September.
After writing about creating a personal curriculum, I realized I needed more structure in my own planning this fall.
I’ve done this type of learning practice off and on for years. Sometimes with careful planning and at other times more loosely gathered materials.
I’m thrilled to discover there’s a whole movement and community behind being intellectually alive and taking charge of personal growth. And I am excited to be a part of it. 😁
So let’s jump in to the details of my own personal planning for this month…
But, first…
📝Save these helpful posts for later =
[note: this post is NOT sponsored, I just want to share what I’m using and how].
Things I want to do just for my learning and enjoyment:
- take more long walks (preferably around tall trees)
- watercolor some nature scenes
- make pumpkin bread and applesauce
- deep work on some writing projects (details coming soon)
- listen to all my fall playlists and make new ones
- enjoy art in daily ways with postcard prints and masterpiece collection books (I plan to grab a few off the shelf to contemplate)
- take lots more commonplace notes!
- visit an art gallery and stare for a while – possibly alone as an artist date??
- write a few letters and send them via snail mail
- light candles that smell like cinnamon and pumpkin
- tackle learning the Teachable platform and writing related skills
So, what’s in my basket?
Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job By Jon Acuff — this book was a surprise find in a free library at a small town coffee shop. I had some extra time on a weekend away and really enjoyed reading and Commonplacing my notes on this one. I have read most of Acuff’s books and trust his perspective. {His audiobooks are hilariously read by him and contain a ton of extra thoughts and ideas. }
Atlas of the Heart — I did not get to spend time on this in September, but this month I’ve started reading (also enjoying the podcast with Brené Brown) and Commonplacing all my notes.
Art Appreciation — books and stuff from my shelves in the schoolroom to ponder and read slowly, just for me
- masterpiece collection books:
- Europe’s Top 100 Masterpieces: Art for the Traveler by Rick Steves
- The Usborne Introduction To Art – with The National Gallery
- my favorite picture study resource
- I also found cheap postcard prints on Amazon to leaf through and maybe send a few in the mail.
The Book of Alchemy(for Creative Recovery & Morning Pages) — I got this book as a celebration gift for myself for working through a large piece of The Artist’s Way as well as my reviewing previous notes. {I found so much creative gold in there! It inspired several new projects that I am excited to share with you all soon!! }
Fiction that I am excited about:
- Impossible Creatures (book 1) and The Poisoned King (book 2) by Katherine Rundell — My 10-year-old loved these books and so I plan to read them so we can discuss the characters and themes in more detail. He told me that since I just read books about a magical island these would be a perfect next read. {Who can say no to that excellent sales pitch? }
- I will also likely add a few audiobooks that are fall romance rom-com themed. I’m not sure what those titles will be yet, last year I read Laurie Gilmore’s The Cinnamon Bun Book Store and The Pumpkin Spice Café. 🎃🍂
Movies to watch:
In our homeschool US History lessons we are moving into the 1950’s. So Jim and I plan to enjoy watching classic movies set in that time period.
I am specifically excited about the ones that feel like the fall season.
- October Sky – set in October 1957, news of the Soviet Union‘s launch of Sputnik 1 reaches Homer Hickam in the mining community in West Virginia. Homer is inspired to build his own rockets despite the skepticism of his friends and family.
- Mona Lisa Smile – set in 1953, Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) accepts an Art History teaching position at Wellesley College. She introduces modern art and encourages discussion about what art is. Katherine also challenges her students to achieve more in life than what society is expecting.
- Dead Poets Society – set in 1959 at a fictional elite boarding school called Welton Academy. It tells the story of an English teacher (Robin Williams) who inspires his students through his unique teaching of poetry.
{I like adding to my own personal learning with this form of visual story telling. Plus good snacks! 🍿}
a book recommendation:
Burnout Recovery —Subtle Resistance: Practical Tips to Live Deliberately & Avoid Overwhelm — this book is for anyone who wants to make space for rest and personal growth but feels unsure of how to get there. It’s filled with solutions but also encouragement and understanding. Each chapter has reflection prompts and easy action steps. It is the guide I wish I had before hitting burnout. {I share that ugly story in Chapter 1 😜}
September Reflections:
This September I was reminded how much I enjoy sitting in a coffee shop or at a park and working on my commonplace notes. How much I love writing with a pen in a notebook just for me.
Reading Dear Writer by Maggie Smith was so healing and wonderful. I am not a poet but I applied her creative exercises to my non-fiction writing work and it was awesome.
I was also surprised at what I found in my Artists Way notebook from several years ago. Lists of fears and things I would love to do that I can now say I have done and no longer feel intimidated by. {yay, progress!! }
It also was calming for my mind to be mostly away from social media and the constant input of online material. When the urge to scroll hit me I would go to my basket and choose something to work on.
I do have one confession to make… I didn’t do much with sketching and watercolor. 🫥 I carried the supplies with me in my bag multiple places but the mood never quite hit me. I’ll admit I can still be intimidated by the mess and I don’t want to paint with others around me looking over my shoulder.
Overall I am very happy with what I spent time on and the progress I made. It was also extra motivation to do the work so I would have something to share with you all. 😉
I’d love to hear what’s working for you!
Share your personal curriculum ideas, rhythms, and tips in the comments so we can all learn from each other.
📒🍂 Happy October Learning! –
P.S. / a few notes:
This post by Tay Shabib inspired me to create a collage in Canva. I really enjoyed the process. I got a few more ideas of what to add to my list this month by looking through photos online and creating a mood.
Also here’s more on My Commonplace Notebook: what is it and how I use it
Does anyone have any cozy fall fiction they would recommend?
If this has been helpful please pass it on!