And why am I excited about them?
Those two questions will be forever interwoven. I was a very poor student. If there was one comment I could count on seeing on every single report card it was this: “Steve doesn’t work up to his ability.” Why? Because school wasn’t interesting. It was boring, structured, mindless and frankly- pointless. I was bored senseless beginning in about first grade. The ONLY thing I remember finding interesting was learning to read. Beyond that school was mindless repetition.
There were only a handful of truly great learning moments- days when the light bulb of learning clicked on. Invariably those were days when I was turned loose with some basic tools and an open-ended learning objective. Suddenly the juices began to flow and I became lost in a world of creative learning, self-directed learning, spontaneous learning. I can still remember each of those days and the projects, discovery and knowledge that emerged from the fog of classroom boredom. Today I am an AVID learner, but that didn’t begin until after college. Only as an adult when I could take a subject and explore at my own pace, putting the pieces together as the story unfolded did I finally discover the joy of learning and the value of education.
Five in a Row was created to give children a less rigid approach to learning the content areas of education. (Note- Educators refer to two areas of learning; the skill areas and the content areas. Skill areas are basically the 3 R’s– reading, writing mechanics and math. Content areas are all of the other subjects such as history, science, literature, creative writing, fine arts, geography and more.) There is no substitute for drill and practice in a systematic, sequential regimen for the skill areas of learning. However, for the content areas it’s an entirely different story. Each content subject is a treasure to be opened and explored; savored by those who have a heart of discovery whether they’re 4-years-old or 84-years-old. There’s always more to learn about history, about geography, about science, etc.
Five in a Row provides a wonderful framework in which to do that important early-childhood exploration in these content areas of learning. Jane has developed a curriculum that provides you with all of the framework and structure you need to stay on target academically, while at the same time giving you and your children enough latitude to savor the true joy of spontaneous and inspired learning.
So what about FOLD&LEARN™s?
I told you that there were only a few memorable moments in my entire education where I was allowed to learn for the pure joy of learning–to explore and discover how amazing the world around me could be. I think those moments have been captured in a Five in a Row FOLD&LEARN™.
Each FOLD&LEARN™ provides your students with a treasure box filled with knowledge that a child can take out, explore and put together in 1000 different ways. The truly great toys–the ones children never outgrow are the ones that can be assembled in unlimited ways: Legos, Lincoln Logs, Constructix, Play-Doh, etc. These toys can become whatever the child wants them to become.
While every FOLD&LEARN™ is different, there are certain common denominators in every download. You’ll find relevant resources that help explore this week’s story or subject more deeply. There are games to play, artwork to look at, puppets to tell stories and much, much more. There are pages and pages of resources which your child can cut, fold, glue, paste, sort, stack, read, handle, talk about and share. HOW they put these resources together is up to them. There isn’t a right or wrong answer. There isn’t a template.
Some people have said, “How do I do a FOLD&LEARN™?”
That’s like asking, “How do I do a painting of a barn?” or “How do I make a model of an airplane?” or “How do I write a story about two girls on a train ride to Chicago?” There are as many answers as there are painters or builders or writers. The problem is that we ourselves have grown up in such a stilted, rigid learning environment that unless somebody tells us what to do we’re lost. “Read chapter three and when you’ve finished, close your book and put your head down on your desk until everyone else is finished. Then we’ll take the quiz.”
Huh? What’s THAT got to do with learning?
A friend told me a *WONDERFUL* story the other day about their young son. It seems the boys had found an L-shaped stick that fit perfectly in the hand the way a cowboy six-shooter ought to fit. They had made ‘bang bang’ sounds with the stick for months during the summer and fall and then the winter came. After five months of snow on the ground spring finally melted off the last of the winter covering and there, on the ground, was the stick. The five-year-old picked it up, turned it over slowly and wondrously in his hands and then aimed it: “Bang! Bang!” Looking up at his father joyously the boy said, “Yippee… it still works!”
I love that story. True learning takes place most effectively when you combine simple resources and tools with the creative mind of a child. That’s an unbeatable combination. But the truth is that most of us simply don’t have the time to gather the resources and tools that a child needs and so we settle for something far less inspiring: “Read chapter three and when you’ve finished, close your book and put your head down on your desk until everyone else is finished. Then we’ll take the quiz.”
A Five in a Row FOLD&LEARN provides the tools and resources that you and your child need to take many of the Five in a Row lessons from your manual and combine them with creativity to find new and unexpected learning treasures.
I WISH I had been taught the Five in a Row way. I would have had such a head start in my education. Instead, I had to wait until after college to truly begin to learn. And I would have given my eye teeth if someone had handed me a related FOLD&LEARN™ that went along with this week’s story. Some of the activities require parental interaction, guidance and supervision. Others are simply relevant resources that a child can sort, glue and talk about. And in that moment… in the sorting… in the gluing… in the talking… learning takes place. And perhaps more importantly a LOVE of learning is instilled in a young heart.
Jane would spend hours and hours gathering related resources for our children when she homeschooled. She would find every imaginable resource: artwork, articles, games, puppet shows, craft projects and so much more. But most of us simply aren’t Jane. So she’s gathered the learning ideas and concepts for you in Five in a Row and we’ve gathered the follow-up resources for you in each related FOLD&LEARN™. Together it’s a combination that can transform a child’s education.
Because you can print out each FOL&LEARN™ again and again, you can use it with each child and you can also let one child use it in several different ways. They can make a lapbook out of one set. You can help guide some directed learning activities with one set. And don’t be afraid to print out one or more sets and just hand them to your child (or children) on a project table along with glue, crayons, scissors, popsicle sticks, manila folders, typing paper, cardboard, etc. Let them figure out what they want to do with the resources. You’ll be AMAZED!!
And then… after they’ve gone to bed, print out one more set for YOU to play with and explore.
That’s the beauty of Five in a Row FOLD&LEARNs™. Unlike a book, you can use them over and over and over in 1000 different ways. You can pull them out with each of the next 4 children. You can combine them with one another in new and unexpected ways. You can use them in a structured way or you can let the children discover the joy of finding a stick that’s been buried under the snow for five months and learning that the stick still works!
Don’t expect to hand a child a FIAR FOLD&LEARN™ for the first time and necessarily see the magic take place. Children need several opportunities and they need permission from you to explore. The first time or two they’re waiting for the catch: What is it she expects me to do with this thing?!? Only after several encounters will they discover that you don’t necessarily expect anything of them. They really are free to learn on their own!
If you subscribe to the blog, you’ll be taken to all of the free FOLD&LEARNs™ upon confirmation! (If you have any trouble with this, send me a question via the Contact Us Form and I’ll help!)
Blessings,
**Please do not comment a request for the FoldNLearn link. Please use our contact form to send that request.**
Moments of Springtime Panic
I’ve seen the F&L and never really understood what they were. Thank you for this post. I just tried downloading one and can’t figure out how to get one. I’d love to check them out. Please help.
If you subscribe to the blog, when you confirm you will be taken to the site that has them all. There will also be a link at the bottom of each blog email you get.
Where would I find these wonderful Fold-N-Learn items?
Susan, if you subscribe to the blog, when you confirm you will be taken to the site that has them all. There will also be a link at the bottom of each blog email you get.
Are you planning on doing Fold N Learns for Beyond FIAR? (Please say “Yes”!!!)
Hi Tasha, there are FoldnLearns for Beyond, They’re just not free. 🙂 Go to The Beyond Five in a Row page or Digiatl Products page to see what’s available. (We don’t have samples, because they are in the same style and format of the others.)
I found some typos in the Fold and Learn I just downloaded. Is there someone I should contact that might be able to edit the documents to fix the mistakes? Thanks!
You can submit the details via our contact page if you’d like to.
I’m attempting to claim the fold n learns, and I keep getting an error message with my email. I know that I’ve been subscribed for months now, but I still can’t see how to claim them. Any help would be great! Thanks!
I sent you an e-mail, Natasha. 🙂
I tried to subscribe to the blog…but got an error that the “Mailing list is not active…”
We’re updating our list as we speak, Martha. I sent you en email with information. 🙂
Hello, is subscription to the newsletter the same as subscription for the blog? If so, I’ve never received a confirmation email after typing it in a couple of times. Is there any thing more that I should do? Thank you.
I have you manually confirmed, so you should be good to go now!
I have subscribed to the blog, and have confirmed, but I am not receiving any of the emails. What should I do?
I have manually confirmed you and you should be all set now.
I seem to be subscribed to the blog as I received the latest post but I cannot figure out how to download the fold-n-learns.
Kelly, check your email for the latest blog post from us. There’s a logo in the upper right corner you can click on.
Check your email for the latest blog post from us. There’s a logo in the upper right corner you can click on.
Thank you for this wonderful resource! I am going to print some of the cutouts onto iron-on paper and iron them onto felt for my felt board! Love these!
I’m subscribed to the blog, but lost the original email where I was confirmed to have access to the Fold and Learns. Would you please email me the link again? Thank you.
Check your spam folder (or promotions tab in gmail) for emails from melissa @ fiveinarow . com. (No spaces.) There’s a logo in the upper right corner you can click on. Add that email to your contacts to get the emails in the right spot from now on!
I have subscribed to the blog, and I get emails. I cannot find a link anywhere to the Fold & Learns! Where can I find them?
Click on the FoldNLearn logo at the top right hand corner of a recent email and you’ll be directed right to it!
I think I’m subscribed to the blog, but I don’t receive email updates. How can I get the Fold n Learns?
Check your spam folder (or promotions tab in gmail) for emails from melissa @ fiveinarow . com. (No spaces.) There’s a logo in the upper right corner you can click on. Add that email to your contacts to get the emails in the right spot from now on!
I’m on a mobile device and can’t figure out how to subscribe! LOL
You might need to do it from a computer, but go to the blog and look on the sidebar for the subscribe box. (It might go to the bottom of the page on a mobile device.)
I subscribed to the blog and got access to download the fold-n-learns, but now I can’t seem to find it and would love to begin using them. Can you help? Thanks in advance!
Check your spam folder (or promotions tab in gmail) for emails from melissa @ fiveinarow . com. (No spaces.) There’s a logo in the upper right corner you can click on. Add that email to your contacts to get the emails in the right spot from now on!
Hi, I subscribed to the blog a while back to get access to fold and learn. I have never received an email. I just tried to resubscribe and it wouldn’t let me. How else can I access the fold and learns?
Check your spam folder (or promotions tab in gmail) for emails from melissa @ fiveinarow . com. (No spaces.) There’s a logo in the upper right corner you can click on. Add that email to your contacts to get the emails in the right spot from now on!
Hi, I know I joined your mailing list, but I for the life of me can’t find the link to the fold and learns or any emails from you. Help.. Please..
Check your spam folder (or promotions tab in gmail) for emails from melissa @ fiveinarow . com. (No spaces.) There’s a logo in the upper right corner you can click on. Add that email to your contacts to get the emails in the right spot from now on!
Hi, Are there any Fold&Learn for the second and third Beyond FIAR units ?
Thank you
The Beyond FnLs are available for purchase on the Digital Products page.
Hello, I am having the same trouble trying to get to the Fold n Learn downloads. I subscribed to the blog post and confirmed…. now what? Thank you!
If you’ll send this request via the contact form I’ll get you hooked up!
I subscribed to the newsletter. Is that the same as the blog? I was not taken to a page to access these… can you assist? Thank you!
If you’ll send this request via the contact form I’ll get you hooked up!
Comment…Hi – I subscribed long ago but don’t think I get the emails. Can you check to see if I am indeed subscribed? I am doing volume 1 this year with my littles and would love to use the fold and learns!
If you’ll send this request via the contact form I’ll get you hooked up!
I have downloaded the free Fold & Learns and noticed that there is one for each book in Unit 1 FIAR, but only a few are available for Unit 2 and Unit 3. Are these others available somewhere for purchase? I did not see them in the digital store.
No, they’re not. We made them for the most frequently requested books, not knowing how many we would make. We don’t have a complete set. The Notebook Builder is what we created in order to foster a notebook of memories!
Is the Notebook Builder similar to the Fold & Learns? I am always hesitant to buy items when there are not any previews. I would love to see previews for some of the other resources on your site. I won’t buy anything until I see reviews or previews.
We have a Notebook Builder sample available. There is a link to it on the product page.
Is it ok to use the Fold & Learn activities in a co-op?
Hi Beth, yes…you can use the FOLD&LEARN’s in a co-op.
Thank you so much! Just wanted to make sure we weren’t violating copyright.
Can I request for the links to the fold and learns? Thank you!
If you sign up for the newsletter on the subscribe entry at fiveinarow.com you’ll receive an email with the link included.