Can you believe that this is the 34th year that moms (and some dads and some grandmas) have been teaching Joy School?
What a joy (no pun intended) it is to meet so many Joy School moms and families as we travel around the country. I often say that only the best moms do Joy School! It takes some extra time and effort and organization but everyone agrees that it’s worth it! We can’t believe how many current Joy School moms now were once “Joy Schoolers” themselves… and can remember “Oh Boy, I’ve got Joy”, “Here Comes Gunny Bag” and “Snuggle Me Warm” from their childhood!
Since this is the time of year that many moms are thinking of organizing their groups for next year, a comment from a Joy School mom below has given us a good idea!
We are now running a new book give-away! This time we will send a vintage copy of Teaching Your Children Joy to the top ten best endorsements for Joy School. Please enter your comments on this blog and the winners will be announced on May 30th. Lindsay, you will be our first winner for your comments below so please send us your address through the contact us button on Valuesparenting.com.
“I love Joy School and the things it has done for my children and
wanted to thank you for your work in creating such a wonderful program.
Just the other day my 4 year old was telling me, “Mom, I want to make the
decision myself.” She had no concept of the word “decision” before our unit
on decision making. Now she uses the word all the time and has so much joy
in knowing and incorporating the concept into her life. This is the same
with all the other values and concepts she’s learned in other units. Thank
you, thank you!! It has been so rewarding to teach my children these things.”
Lindsay Clark
in Charleston, South Carolina
Please include the city you’re writing from. If your comment is selected we assume that we have your permission to use it in our information materials for next semester. We look forward to your comments!
I am writing from Reno, Nevada. I love doing Joy School with my kids it has taught me to be a better Mom and to enjoy life with my kids. It ha been a great blessing in our lives.
Thank you so much for the book!!! I've been wanting a copy to add to my other two, "Teaching Your Children Values" and "Teaching Your Children Responsibility." I'm thrilled and so happy to endorse Joy School to others. I'll keep spreading the word and spreading the "joy"!!
Sincerely,
Lindsay Clark
Charleston, SC
I knew that Joy School would teach my son many things about love, himself, and joy. What I didn't anticipate is the effect it would have on me! Each week I teach I experience feelings of love and tenderness urging me to nurture these young lives. It touches myheart to know that my son is learning in such positive surroundings.
Amanda
Corona, CA
I'm just getting started this year with Joy School and i know my 4 and 3 year old girls will love it! Before I became a mommy, I taught school and I can tell you that these lesson plans are comprehensive and fun. I look forward to each lesson more and more!
Thank you in advance Joy School!
Nellie
Yigo, Guam, USA
I have fond memories of the Joy School music from when I was little. I still can see my mom doing the "Gunny Walk" around the house as she played the song while we rushed around cleaning up before she got to our rooms! And that is just one memory. I think I still know all the songs and it has been 25+ years! I am going to be starting my 2 children soon with the Joy School so they, too, can enjoy the same music and program I did when I was young. I cannot think of a better way to teach values to my children than through a program that I have experienced and love!
Michelle
Cedar City, UT
Writing from Albuquerque NM:
I am a single mother of two wonderful little girls. Working 8 hours a day, my time with my daughters is too short, and extra, extra precious. I use many of the lessons, activiites, and teaching moments found in Joy School to help make that time the best it can be. I love the lessons we learn together, and the memories we are creating, with Joy School.
I have so many good things to say about our experience doing Joy School this year. I might best sum it up by saying it's been one of the best things I have done so far in my five years being a mother.
It is really rewarding to be apart of your children's learning. Not only did our children learn and grow in one year, but I felt a lot of growth in myself as well. I felt content knowing my kids were learning valuable life lessons that might have easily been untaught.
My boy is ready for Kindergarten in a way that many children are not. My little girl is already excited for another Joy School year with a new group. (who I've already recruited) And then I've got a two year old who will do it the year after that.
It's been a great year! And I would encourage every mom to give it a try. You will not regret it!
Thank you Eyres!
I am from Chicago. My experience with joyschool was with my siblings growing up since I have yet to teach it with my little boys. But I can remember it always being a happy place to go and I learned a lot of valuable life lessons with my older sister. I think Joy School taught me to love being me and to have a confidence and love for life that was essential for starting kindergarten without Mom around all day. Joy and the accompanying values can be a hard thing to instill in little people (or maybe preserve) but so essential for a happy life. Thank you!
Last night I sat watching a slide show/video from this past year of Joy School and could only think of the wonderful things my children have learned this year, not just from me, but from other Moms that I look up to. This is my second year teaching and this year we participated with two different classes so my boys could each be with their own peers.
I love that my four year old has been singing "We are a Happy Family" and I didn't teach it to him. That is not a value he will learn in public school.
I love that my five year old knows about responsibility, is willing to work and also understands consequences of our choices. Also things not specifically outlined for his public school next year.
While my two year old and 13 month old make for difficult teaching days sometimes, I am glad that they get to see their older brothers learning in our home and they get excited to join in now and then.
PLUS it won't cost me more to teach them these lessons. I love how affordable your program is and that I can use it for all four of my children at the price of one!
The structure you have in your lessons is so helpful and we sing so many of your songs in our home on days we don't even have Joy School (The Rule Song is one of many favorites)
Thank you for helping me make our home a 'Joy'ful place and letting me see how fun it is to teach my own children, thank you for helping me open that door!
Kati
Marana, AZ