Planning for the New School Year

What’s Ahead for the 2025–2026 School Year at Rataj Home Education

Welcome to a new year of learning, growth, and community! The 2025–2026 school year at Rataj Home Education kicks off on August 4, 2025, and runs through May 29, 2026. We’ve intentionally blended several educational approaches—including Montessori, Waldorf, Unschooling, and more—to create a curriculum that is practical, simple, and less overwhelming for families. Our goal is to encourage a genuine love of learning while supporting each student’s growth with hands-on projects, field trips, and a strong focus on real-life skills. Our core approach is holistic and flexible—drawing from nature-based, project-based, and child-led philosophies to meet each learner where they are.

Homeschool at the dinner table: learning, sharing, and growing together in a cozy family setting.

Note: The holidays and seasonal celebrations mentioned below are those our family observes as part of our own spiritual and cultural traditions. There’s absolutely no expectation that your family celebrates or learns the same way—please adapt, skip, or substitute as fits your own beliefs and needs! For those who want more in-depth resources or support for celebrating holidays, rituals, or spiritual learning, a Patreon site is coming soon with optional add-on materials and community discussions.

Semester Structure & Calendar Highlights

• Semester 1: August 4, 2025 – December 19, 2025 (20 weeks)
• Semester 2: January 5, 2026 – May 29, 2026 (20 weeks)
• Instructional Days: Monday–Friday, including field trips and seasonal Fridays (total 200 days)
• Major Breaks:
  • Labor Day: September 1, 2025
  • Fall Break: November 27–28, 2025
  • Winter Break: December 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026
  • MLK Jr. Day: January 19, 2026
  • Presidents’ Day: February 16, 2026
  • Spring Break: March 23–27, 2026
  • Memorial Day: May 25, 2026
  • Summer Break: May 30, 2026 – Early August 2026 (exact start date TBA)
• Seasonal & Family Celebrations: Lammas, Mabon, Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, and family birthdays & anniversaries.
  (These are our family's traditions—please celebrate or learn in the way that fits your family best!)

Pre-K & Kindergarten

• Focus: Play-based learning, nature walks, music, and movement
• Core Skills: Letter and number recognition, fine motor skills, social-emotional development, early science with nature tables and seasonal crafts
• Special Activities: Storytime with seasonal tales, family rituals for the Wheel of the Year, gardening, and lots of art

1st & 2nd Grade

• Focus: Building early literacy and numeracy
• Core Skills: Phonics, sight words, basic addition/subtraction, calendar work, handwriting, and journaling
• Special Activities: Daily reading time, hands-on science (weather, plants, animals), simple history through family stories and values, and regular music/art

3rd & 4th Grade

• Focus: Independence and practical skills
• Core Skills: Reading fluency, multiplication/division, cursive writing, introduction to research projects
• Special Activities: Life skills (cooking, basic sewing, gardening), local history, earth science, and more independent work with checklists and Google Classroom

5th & 6th Grade

• Focus: Deeper subject exploration and self-management
• Core Skills: Fractions, decimals, introductory geometry, essay writing, research skills, science labs at home
• Special Activities: Cultural studies, science experiments, field trips tied to history/science, and seasonal celebrations
• Note: Fifth grade sees a shift toward more independent projects and less integration of seasonal activities into daily lessons, but those are still celebrated as a family and community

7th & 8th Grade

• Focus: Critical thinking, oratory, and personal responsibility
• Core Skills: Pre-algebra/algebra, literature analysis, formal essays, science labs, and research projects
• Special Activities: Public speaking, independent study blocks, community service, and leadership roles in family rituals or group projects
• Note: Eighth graders will prepare for high school with transcript building and career/vocational exploration

9th–12th Grade (High School)

• Focus: College/career prep, real-world skills, and mastery learning
• Core Skills: Algebra, geometry, higher-level math, literature, science with labs, history, and electives based on student interest
• Special Activities:
  • Financial literacy and budgeting (monthly shopping projects)
  • Driver’s ed (manual and video instruction)
  • GED/PERT practice for graduation readiness
  • Community engagement and leadership
  • Senior project or capstone (optional)
• Graduation Requirements:
  • Mastery of the overall curriculum 
  • Declaration of Independence recitation, and basic knowledge of current amendments
  • All coursework completed and documented
  • Demonstrates mastery of essential life skills for adulthood (such as financial literacy, independent living, communication, and responsible decision-making)

For All Grades

• School Year: August 4, 2025 – May 29, 2026 (40 weeks, 200 school days)
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 10 am–4 pm; Fridays for field trips, seasonal learning, and enrichment
• Curriculum Sources: Earthschooling, education.com, abcmouse.com (youngest), Google Classroom, Flippity, YouTube, Khan Academy, and more
• Spiritual Focus: Wheel of the Year, Chalice Circle, Soulful Home, Asatru holidays, astrology, and family rituals
  (These are part of our family’s journey—please adapt or skip as fits your own path!)
• Assessment: Monthly mastery checks (80% required to advance), with progress reviews at the end of each semester
• Accommodations: Individualized supports for ADHD, ODD, sensory needs, and other learning differences
• Record-Keeping: Assignments and grades tracked in Google Classroom, with privacy protections in place

Field Trips, Seasonal Activities & Family Traditions

• Every Friday, students participate in hands-on learning:
  • Nature hikes, museum visits, science centers, and local history tours
  • Seasonal celebrations for Pagan holidays (Lammas, Mabon, Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha)
  • Community service and social activities with church, library, and co-op groups
  (You’re welcome to join in, adapt, or create your own Friday traditions!)

Progress Reviews & Family Feedback

• Monthly check-ins and two-semester reviews keep everyone on track with minimal paperwork
• Family meetings offer kids a chance to share what they’ve learned and give feedback

For Parents: Build Your Own Google Classroom

We encourage families to take an active role in customizing their homeschooling experience! Parents are welcome—and encouraged—to build their own Google Classroom setups. You can freely copy our class structure and adapt it for your own children. This makes it easy to personalize lessons, track progress, and maintain privacy for your family.

If you need tips or support on setting up your own Google Classroom, resources and tutorials are available. Our goal is to empower you to manage your homeschool journey with as much independence and flexibility as possible!

Looking Ahead

We’re looking forward to a year full of growth, connection, and discovery. Here’s to a magickal 2025–2026 school year at Rataj Home Education!