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The Gilbertine Institute (A0363) is a registered charity and non-profit organization which operates an associate private school, The Gilbertine Academy (S2338). WISDOM Home Schooling is a registered trade name of The Gilbertine Institute, which supervises and supports home education programs. The society board, campus, home education administration and staff are wholly supportive of home education.
According to the Home Education Regulation, The Gilbertine Institute is the "person" or society which is responsible for the operation of the accredited private school that supervises and supports parents' home education programs. In practise, The Gilbertine Academy supervises and supports home education programs through the WISDOM Home Schooling department.
Alberta Education Resources:
Your Education Program Plan (EPP) is your most important document. It defines your home education program, assures your authority, and prevents imposition of provincial testing. Your plan is flexible, and you may change it at any time in the year. Your current (or revised) plan must be approved by your facilitator and kept on file in the WISDOM office.
In order to give your facilitator time to review your plan, suggest additions, and approve your plan, please provide it to them no later than the end of August.* If you need assistance to meet the Aug 31st deadline, please let us know. A suitable Education Program Plan (EPP) can be discussed and developed with your facilitator. *NOTE: This deadline is for returning WISDOM families only. Brand new families have some grace time to work on a plan draft and go over it with a facilitator.
Please follow the Checklist to be sure that your plan meets the requirements of Alberta Education. Click here for a visual guide. (Refer to the Notification Form, Part D.)
Your plan should be based on Alberta Education's Schedule of Learning Outcomes. These outcomes are to be achieved by the end of grade 12. Remember S.A.M. when you plan: Keep your plan Simple, Achievable, and Measurable.
Program Plan Template:
You may customize the following template Word document to suit your child. If you prefer, you may create a plan of your own design, or one you've found elsewhere online, ensuring that you include all elements from the checklist.
2025-2026 Education Program Plan Template
Download as:
Microsoft Word | Apple Pages | Google Docs*
* Once you've opened the Google document, go to File > Make a Copy in the menu to create your own editable copy in Google Drive.
Suggestions of ways to state various Instructional Methods, click here.
Sample Education Program Plans:
- Grade 1
- Grade 5
- Grade 9
- Grade 10
- Thinking of obtaining Alberta High School Credits? Microsoft Word Format Google Docs
Plan Approval and Revision:
Note: if you don’t have anything to add or delete in your child’s EPP, these instructions will not apply to you! However, it is normal for families to change their plan throughout the year as new opportunities and/or curriculum ideas come up.
- A facilitator needs to review and approve your plan before your enrolment will be complete. Our team prefers that plans are submitted no later than May 30. The facilitator confirms that your plan meets the requirements set forth in the Home Education Regulation. After your plan is accepted, applicable funding will be available (when the new school year begins). Without an approved plan, enrollment is not complete.
- Your plan is a living document, and may be modified at any time. Throughout the year, we need your current plan in order to support any reimbursement or purchase order, particularly in cases where you may with to claim resources other than books and curriculum. Please submit any updates before submitting an expense claim. Update your plan when there is an addition or deletion of a subject or the addition of a non-book resource within an existing subject. Examples: update if you went on a field trip not listed in your existing plan and want to submit receipts for the student admission. Update if your child starts learning French using Rosetta Stone, which you just purchased and wish to claim for reimbursement. However, you don't need to update if you're replacing one resource with another of the same kind. There's no need to update if you simply change from Saxon math to Math U See, for example – it’s all math.
Attention WISDOM families!
You are invited to attend a Family Gathering in your area (or more than one, if you wish). These events are a great opportunity to visit with other WISDOM families, facilitators, and Parent Advisory Council members.
While our Spring Socials and Information Sessions are open to the public, Fall Socials/Gatherings are for WISDOM families only, giving us a chance to get to know each other as fellow home schoolers.
Click on an events link on the right for details and to register for these free events.
WISDOM FAMILY CAMPS
Family Camps are an important part of the WISDOM experience. Sessions are led by qualified instructors, but beyond learning together, time is built in to each camp for home schooling parents and children to connect and share with each other. Respect, generosity and community are essential elements of WISDOM Camps.
To Register for any camps or to see what camps are currently taking registrations please click on this link, and check the list on the right.
Families are required to have at least one parent participate with their children. If your family is coming with younger children who cannot participate, it's important to have two parents attend, or to arrange with another family to swap out participation with older children and minding younger children. Each event will have slightly different needs, so let us know if you have questions about how much involvement is needed.
Please note whether or not meals are included in the price, and plan accordingly. Having you provide some or all of your own meals helps us to keep camps as affordable as possible. Potlucks are a great way to get to know fellow campers and are often part of an event.
Register early. Many camps fill up quickly and have limited space, so pay close attention to registration deadlines. Please register as soon as possible, and no later than any posted deadline. This allows us to plan for the needs of the camp in advance.
- You may use an internal purchase order if you have funding available and if you register for the camp before May 21. Many families wait to send in receipts until they have booked all of their camps and workshops for the year so that funding is used first for registrations.
- WISDOM accepts Visa and Master Card, as well as Visa Debit. We will issue a receipt which you could then use to claim funding for applicable charges when funding is next released.
- You may pay by e-transfer to wisdombilling@gilbertineinstitute.com.
- WISDOM accepts cheques, made out to The Gilbertine Institute or to WISDOM Home Schooling.
Remember, an event can't run without sufficient numbers to offset costs. Because we don't charge much more than absolutely necessary to cover costs, we must have a minimum number of participants registered.
Cancellation: If we have to cancel an event due to low registration, we will refund your money. However, if you cancel within two weeks of a scheduled camp or event, your money can not be refunded. Without the necessary funds, your last-minute cancellation may otherwise close down an entire event.
QUESTIONS? Please contact the WISDOM office. We look forward to helping you. 780-741-2113 or email events@wisdomhomeschooling.com
WISDOM's office staff pause at 3pm each day to lift up our families' needs in prayer. Join us in praying for our families, staff, facilitators, and other intentions. You can find our current calendar of intentions, provided by the Parent Advisory Council, below.
To order print copies mailed to you free, please email office@wisdomhomeschooling.com or call the office at 780-741-2113.
New! Faith, Family & Home Schooling - Volume 1
A collection of articles to encourage families of faith to include faith activities in their homeschool day (and week) and to encourage faith to grow in our hearts.
FOR FATHERS - Volume 1
The success of a home school depends greatly on a unified approach by both parents. When a father is supportive of, present to and engaged in home education, children show a marked improvement in motivation and achievement.
FOR FATHERS - Volume 2
This booklet is full of encouragement and tips for the Home School Dad. Most articles are written by home school dads FOR home school dads! Why not order one for yourself or to share?
NEW! Fun Home School Activities with WISDOM – Volume 1
A collection of fun activities through the year for WISDOM families with children of a variety of ages. Activities include recycling, Lego, connection, space, summer (and Canada Day), winter and ice, nature, speech therapy ideas, art extras and more.
GAMES THAT BUILD THE BRAIN
Studies show that board games are also very educational and healthy for our brains! Increases in memory and math skills, as well as preventing or slowing down cognitive aging, are becoming obvious benefits to playing board games. In addition, some games are designed specifically for educational purposes.
HIGH SCHOOL - Volume 1
Home schooling our child through high school is often challenging, and most parents feel at least some insecurity about achieving their goals. WISDOM's mission is to help you hold on to your vision, and to home school all the way through high school. These inspiring and encouraging articles were previously published in The WISDOM Family Magazine and have resonated with parents so much that we offer them again in this compilation.
If you have questions about home schooling through high school, including what methods and options are available to you, please don't hesitate to let us know. We are here to help.
HIGH SCHOOL - Volume 2
Home schooling through High School can be tough, but it is totally doable and totally worth it! This booklet has a second batch of encouraging articles and inspiration for home school parents.
HOME SCHOOL ENCOURAGEMENT - Volume 1
There will be times when you wonder if you can keep on home schooling your children. Home schooling our children can be draining, messy and overwhelming, but it is also a commitment, a delight and worth all the time and energy it takes. Read this booklet once, twice or whenever you need to, and have a spare copy to give to a home schooling friend when needed.
HOME SCHOOL ENCOURAGEMENT - Volume 2
As if Home School Encouragement Volume 1 wasn't encouraging enough, we have now added Home School Encouragement Volume 2. There are days when home school parents can feel discouraged and drained. This booklet is full of encouraging articles to raise your spirits and help you to stay the course. (Have one handy to share with a friend!)
HOME SCHOOLING LITTLE ONES - KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE 1
In Alberta, Home Education is officially recognized by Alberta Education when the student is 6 by December 31 of the school year. It is mandatory to enroll your child in a school or home education program if they are 6 as of September 1st. However, if you are reading this, you just might be wanting to get going on home schooling now. And that is a wonderful thing!
Home education is a natural extension of the parenting you are already doing with your young children. Organized play, reading with your child, counting, and identifying objects, arts and crafts - and other things that engage them and cause them to think - all of these are an important part of their early childhood development.
There is no government-recognized home school program for pre-school and kindergarten in Alberta, but don't let that stop you. You can be as organized or as spontaneous as suits your home and your child's unique needs but let the ideas on the pages ahead inspire you.
MARRIAGE & HOME SCHOOLING
Along with home schooling and loving our children, staying happily married is one of the best things for parents to do. This booklet focuses on encouragement and tips for the married couples among us.
MEDIATED LEARNING
WISDOM Home Schooling offers parents an effective method of interaction that can help all learners, regardless of learning or behaviour difficulties, age, or background. The parent is the best person to help a child make progress in their learning. The mediational method develops optimism in the child, opens a greater desire to learn, and stimulates enthusiasm to work to a place of success. Find out more here.
NATURE STUDIES
Enjoy nature with your children. All these articles were written by home school parents or graduates and encourage us to enjoy the outdoors often. One of the best parts about homeschooling is encouraging our children to move!
NOTES TO MYSELF
Marlane Noster is WISDOM's co-founder and Events Director. She and Ken began homeschooling in the late '80's and continued to then home educate all 6 of their children through high school. Marlane writes for the WISDOM Family Magazine under her column, "Notes to Myself", allowing you into the inner dialogue of a hard-working home schooling mother. We've chosen some of her best-loved articles for this booklet.
ON BUILDING NOAH'S ARK
Noah had never built an ark before. Much like Noah, we step forward in this parenting and home schooling journey, working with our whole focus and having faith that all with come to fruition in due time.
Ken Noster, founder and Principal of WISDOM, is a passionate supporter of home education and of parenting our children wisely. He and his wife Marlane home educated their 6 children through high school and now reap the rewards of many great conversations as they reverberate through to the next generation. They continue to assist, educate, and advocate for home schoolers in Alberta and beyond, with a mission to build culture through the support of home educating families everywhere. Ken writes for the bi-monthly WISDOM Family Magazine under his column On Building Noah's Ark. We chose some of our favourite articles for this booklet.
PARENT READING LIST
We also have a great parent reading list, where you will find some excellent resources about education and specifically home schooling.
PLANNING AND PERSEVERANCE (FOR THE HOME SCHOOL PARENT)
The key to effective home education depends a lot on planning. This resource is full of tips to help you plan well for all stages of teaching your children.
RECORD KEEPING FOR THE HOME SCHOOL PARENT
Staying organized is often one of the biggest challenges in a busy, homeschooling home, and it's even more important than we sometimes realize. This booklet gives you practical tips for effective record keeping, written by home schooling parents who have faced these challenges.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOLUME 1 AND VOLUME 2
Georg & Gayle Beinert have been on WISDOM's Parent Advisory Council for many years, serving with enthusiasm and love. Their passion for home schooling is enhanced by their passion for science and technology, and they were instrumental in bringing Science and Technology events to WISDOM families around Alberta. Georg's articles make up Volume 1 and 2 of the Science & Technology booklets.
SPECIAL NEEDS – Volume 1 and 2
These booklets have an assortment of articles by a variety of authors with many ideas, tips, and encouragement on home schooling your special needs child.
SPELLBOUND
This booklet shares information and the facts about the impact of screentime on the brain. It is an important read for all parents. It also includes WISDOM's recommendations regarding Screentime for Children.
STUDENT READING LIST
This booklet is a hidden gem of great worth among the WISDOM booklets. It has poetry, book suggestions, and MUCH MORE for younger ages, intermediate ages, and upper ages of children. It is a wonderful resource to have on hand and to leaf through each year while planning read alouds or assigned reading for older children.
This is a comprehensive student reading list recommended for grades 4-12. This is only a guideline, as you may find that your grade 2 student, for example, enjoys some of the same books as an average grade 4 student. These books are excellent for reading individually or together as a family.
Please note that this list of books for students was compiled on the recommendation of home schoolers, and that we at WISDOM have not personally read them all. While we believe them to be consistent with a good ethical worldview, if you do find anything in this list to be objectionable, please let us know at your earliest convenience.
TEACHING THE STRUGGLING READER
Find tips and encouragement for working with children who are struggling to read.
There is even more support for teaching reading through WISDOM's "Reading & Math" Mediated Learning Workshop.
YOUR HOME SCHOOL VISION
What is your vision? What is your Why? What is the essence of your home school? This is a great foundation booklet with articles on why and how to home school - that all depends on your vision for home schooling your children.
To order print copies mailed to you free, please email office@wisdomhomeschooling.com or call the office at 780-741-2113.
When families face difficulties, they are encouraged to seek the assistance of their Facilitator or other WISDOM Staff. In the event that more help is needed, or a situation requires more intensive support, WISDOM has an in-house Family Mediational Consultant (FMC). This service is part of WISDOM’s Mediated Learning Program.
She will draw from her education and experience and use a mediational approach to assist you in getting to the root of difficulties and working toward solutions.
Michelle can walk alongside families and provide mediation as they work to achieve:
- Problem solving
- Resolution of family and marriage difficulties
- Solutions to home schooling and parenting challenges
- Conflict resolution
- Reduction of discouragement and burnout
- Transitions from addictions (some forms of addiction require intervention beyond WISDOM's service)
This service is offered by donation, though financial appeal may be made.
For more information contact Family Mediational Consultant, Michelle McLay at: 587-588-8839 or by email to mmclay@wisdomhomeschooling.com
Support
WISDOM includes a wonderful network of support. From your facilitator to your PAC to your local support group there is a range of support opptions available to WISDOM families.
Your facilitator is your homeschooling resource and is available to answer your questions throughout the year. Click here for biographies and contact information for each of WISDOM's facilitators.
The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of homeschooling parents. As well as helping set WISDOM's direction and policy they are also available to support and help other families in their homeschooling journey. To contact a member of WISDOM's Parent Support Council near you, click here.
There are also local support groups located throughout Alberta. Most of these are regional co-operatives of families who arrange activities and meetings together. Find our most current list here.
WISDOM also has available a Social Networking List (a group of families who share their name, city, phone number and email addresses with each other for the purpose of finding WISDOM friends across the province). To join contact our office by email office@wisdomhomeschooling.com or phone 780-741-2113.
Another resource available to you is the Home School Legal Defense Association. Click here for their website.
Please access our current Vendor List of Canada Wide suppliers who accept purchase orders from The Gilbertine Institute. Below are a few more popular suppliers that are not on the PO list. Thank you for your patience while we improve the website.
alberta suppliers
Ashley's Learning Resources
Grande Prairie
1-888-269-8882
Canadian Home Education Resources
Calgary
1-800-345-2952
KidSource
Calgary
1-877-259-4567
Science Is...
Calgary
403-547-4422
canadian suppliers
Anchor Academy
Salmon Arm, BC
1-888-917-3783
Boreal Science +
St Catharines, ON
1-800-387-9393
Donna Ward - Norwood Press (Canadian History/Geography)
Woodstock, ON
519-456-0470
EBS Educational Books
Surrey, BC
778-395-3965
Heritage Resources
Manitoba
204-745-3094
St Francis Books
Cannington, ON
705-432-8420
united states suppliers
A Beka
1-800-874-2352
Alpha Omega Publications
1-800-622-3070
Bob Jones University Press
1-800-845-5731
Catholic Heritage Curriculum**
1-800-490-7713
Kolbe Academy**
707-255-6499
Our Lady of the Rosary School**
502-348-1338
Rod and Staff Curriculum
606-522-4348
Seton Home Study Program**
540-636-9996
Son-Light Curriculum
303-730-6292
**Carries Catholic curriculum