COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an interdisciplinary exploration of home economics, focusing on equipping students with practical life skills to manage personal, family, and community life effectively. Topics include personal finance, cooking and nutrition, cleaning and organization, gardening, self-care, motherhood, event planning, waste reduction, conscious consumerism, and emotional regulation. Students will also learn to incorporate technology, such as ChatGPT, as a tool to enhance their planning and problem-solving capabilities, from meal planning to trip organizing. Additional breakout sessions and side quests will cover topics like California history, early years of the CIA, community activism, and the U.S. Postal Service.

Please find a link to registration and the syllabi below:

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. Master essential life skills such as budgeting, cooking, home organization, and event planning.

2. Cultivate an understanding of waste reduction, sustainable living, and conscious consumerism.

3. Explore how technology, such as ChatGPT, can streamline daily tasks like meal planning, trip organization, and creative problem-solving.

4. Gain practical skills for motherhood, including time management, parenting strategies, and creating nurturing environments.

5. Develop an appreciation for community history, activism, and civic engagement.

6. Understand how emotional regulation and mindfulness foster healthy relationships and personal growth.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Class Participation (20%)
   Active engagement in discussions, group activities, and hands-on workshops.

2. Projects (30%)

• Feng shui room redesign project.

• Gardening project: Grow a plant or small garden and reflect on its impact on personal well-being and sustainability.

• Event planning project: Plan a mock or real-life event with an emphasis on sustainability and inclusivity.

3. Journals (20%)
   Weekly reflections on conscious consumerism, self-care, gardening progress, and how technology enhanced their tasks.

4. Final Capstone Project (30%)
   A comprehensive plan integrating skills learned in the course to enhance personal, family, or community life while incorporating sustainable practices and technology like ChatGPT.

*Subject to change

UNITS AND WEEKLY TOPICS

Unit 1: Foundations of Home Economics (Weeks 1-2)

• History and evolution of home economics.

• Time management and goal setting for personal and family life.

• Introduction to conscious living: awareness of habits, consumer choices, and waste.

Unit 2: Personal Finance and Budgeting (Weeks 3-4)

• Creating a household budget and tracking expenses.

• Financial strategies for sustainable and ethical consumerism.

• Using ChatGPT for financial planning, expense tracking, and savings ideas.

Unit 3: Cooking, Nutrition, and Healthy Food Choices (Weeks 5-6)

• Basics of nutrition and planning balanced meals.

• Cooking techniques for various diets and occasions.

• Reducing food waste through meal planning, preserving leftovers, and composting.

• Technology Integration: Using ChatGPT for meal planning, generating recipes, and creating efficient grocery lists.

Unit 4: Cleaning, Home Organization, and Feng Shui (Weeks 7-8)

• Cleaning routines: eco-friendly products and methods.

• Decluttering strategies to reduce consumerism and maintain organization.

• Feng shui principles: arranging furniture, integrating plants, and reducing clutter for balance and harmony.

• Technology Integration: Using ChatGPT for cleaning schedules, decluttering tips, and designing home organization systems.

Unit 5: Gardening for Self-Care and Sustainability (Weeks 9-10)

• Gardening basics: soil health, seed selection, and plant care.

• Gardening as self-care: stress relief and mindfulness.

• Cultivating sustainable gardens: composting, water-wise techniques, and growing your own food.

• Technology Integration: Using ChatGPT for garden design ideas, plant care schedules, and troubleshooting gardening challenges.

Unit 6: Self-Care, Emotional Regulation, and Motherhood (Weeks 11-12)

• Building self-care routines that support emotional and physical health.

• Stress management techniques and mindfulness practices.

• Motherhood: balancing roles, managing time, and modeling conscious consumerism and healthy habits for children.

• Technology Integration: Using ChatGPT for mindfulness techniques, parenting tips, and creating family schedules.

Unit 7: Event Planning and Community Impact (Weeks 13-14)

• Essentials of event planning: budgeting, logistics, and waste-conscious execution.

• Hosting sustainable events: reducing waste and making environmentally friendly choices.

• Technology Integration: Using ChatGPT for event planning, creating checklists, and brainstorming creative ideas.

Unit 8: Capstone and Side Quests (Weeks 15-16)

• Capstone project: Create a personal or family life improvement plan that integrates sustainable and practical skills.

• Side Quests/Breakout Sessions:

• Early Years of the CIA: Leadership and strategy lessons.

• Community Activism: How to create local change through activism and engagement.

• The U.S. Postal Service: Its history, impact on community building, and modern challenges.

WHY I AM UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO TEACH THIS COURSE

With a multifaceted background that bridges practical skills, creativity, and cutting-edge technology, I am uniquely equipped to teach a modern and holistic approach to home economics. As a seasoned production manager, I bring years of experience in organizing, planning, and problem-solving—essential skills for teaching event planning, budgeting, and home management. My expertise in managing complex workflows also allows me to teach students how to integrate technology, such as AI, to simplify tasks like meal planning, trip organizing, and even creating sustainable household routines with the right prompts.

As the former president of the Santa Paula Society of the Arts, I have developed community-driven programs and events that prioritize sustainability, creativity, and connection. Recently elected to Library Trustee and Board President, my leadership in launching initiatives like the Santa Paula Seed Library demonstrates my commitment to teaching practical and environmentally conscious skills like gardening, waste reduction, and mindful consumption. These real-world experiences reflect my passion for empowering students to make informed, sustainable choices in their own lives.

I also bring a deeply personal perspective to this course. As a neurodivergent individual and homeschooling mother of two, I have firsthand experience balancing motherhood, professional roles, and creative expression. My ability to adapt to diverse learning styles and my commitment to fostering self-care and emotional regulation are key strengths that enrich my teaching. I use tools like AI daily to streamline homeschooling, design engaging activities, and plan family meals efficiently, showing how technology can be leveraged to save time and support creativity.

With a background in film and social justice from Mount St. Mary’s College, I have a keen ability to examine societal systems and inspire civic engagement. These skills enable me to incorporate community activism, historical context, and cultural awareness into the curriculum. Additionally, my experience as an artist, gardener, and cook gives me a hands-on, practical approach to teaching life skills that blend functionality with joy.

By blending my professional expertise, community leadership, and personal life experience with the power of technology, I offer students an innovative and forward-thinking perspective. Through tools like AI I empower students to unlock countless possibilities, from designing efficient meal plans and organizing trips to generating creative event ideas—all while promoting sustainability, mindfulness, and community connection. My goal is to inspire students to embrace these tools and skills to lead more balanced, intentional, and empowered lives.