(I really apologize to my readers who come here for something other than homeschooling. But I post about my life, and that’s life right now….)As we finish up our year of Classical Conversations, I’m evaluating where we’re at and where I want to go for the rest of this spring, over the summer, and into the next school year. I also wanted to gather in one place the links to my main resources. This is mostly for my benefit, but maybe one or two readers out there will find this interesting or helpful.We are on “spring break” this week (though doing some light school work), and then we have three CC classes remaining. I’m proud of how we held it together last fall despite more than a month of illnesses, a new baby, and Russ losing his job. And we’ve done some really solid work the last couple of months.
The boys are all pre-registered for Classical Conversations 2011-2012. We are also currently registered with a distance learning program. They help pay for some of our non-faith-based materials and activities as well as administer the standardized testing which Levi was scheduled to take this year as a homeschooler (and has now completed).
I hope to keep up our current pace (minus CC, but adding in some resources) through the spring and then very light lessons over the summer, and picking back up in September when CC begins again.
It has come to my attention that my boys need to be kept busy and quite structured if I wish to keep the house (and its inhabitants) from being destroyed. Now that I look at my list, however, I’m not certain there is enough Dr. Pepper and chocolate in the world to keep me alive… (And, oh Lola, please be an angel toddler…)
Much of our work will be done together (with allowances for individual abilities and attention spans) unless otherwise noted.
LEVI ~ 4th grade
LUKE ~ 2nd grade
LEIF ~ Kindergarten
Classical Conversations (Cycle 3) (One morning each week for 24 weeks; includes social time and public speaking.)
Faith:
Bible Memory:CC Memorize John 1:1-7 (in Latin and English)
Sing the Word From A to Z until completely memorized, then A New Commandment (CDs)
(Finish independent Bible reading:
Levi: Day by Day Kid’s Bible
Luke: The Children’s Illustrated Bible (DK)
Leif: The Early Reader’s Bible)
Telling God’s Story
Passion Hymns For a Kid’s Heart
Hymns For a Kid’s Heart (Vol. 1)
(Luke: weekly hymns on piano)
(weekly patriotic hymns/songs)
(Christmas: The Handel’s Messiah Family Advent Reader)
Math:
Teaching Textbooks (Luke: 3, Levi: 4)
Supplement with Singapore workbooks (Leif: Singapore only)CC weekly memory work (skip counting/formulas/laws) (solidify memorization, practical application of formulas)
Science:
Christian Kids Explore Chemistry (finish)
DK First Human Body Encyclopedia (human body unit study)CC weekly science memory work (human body and chemistry)CC weekly science projects and experiments
Christian Kids Explore Physics
The Kingfisher Science EncyclopediaSupplemental books and DVDs
P.E.:
Swimming(mini trampoline)
Fine Arts:
CC drawing, tin whistle/music theory, fine art/art projects, composers/instruments of the orchestra
Monthly Fine Arts Study (one composer/artist/poet each month)
Piano lessons (Luke) (loving this piano book series!)
Language Arts:
IEW Writing (Luke: Primary Arts of Language Writing, Levi: TWSS/Student Writing Intensive A/Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales Writing Lessons)
IEW Poetry Memorization
MCT Poetry, Grammar, Writing, Vocabulary (finish Island level and move on to Town)CC grammar memory work (verbs, parts of sentences)
All About Spelling Level 2 (and 3)
Handwriting Without Tears workbooksTYPING (need a program…)
Latin:
Song School Latin (finish)
Prima LatinaCC Latin memory work
Spanish:
Spanish for Children A
Geography:
Maps & GlobesCC U.S. geography (states, capitals, mountains, rivers, lakes, features, and more)Continue map drawing and ‘blobbing’ continents (CC)(review CC cycle 2 geography)(history related maps)
History/Literature:
The Story of the World: Early Modern Times (finish) (with Activity Guide)
The Story of the World: The Modern Age (with Activity Guide)CC weekly history memory work (American history)
The Usborne Encyclopedia of World History (Luke)
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia (Levi)
DK Children’s Encyclopedia of American History
CC Veritas History Timeline Cards and U.S. Presidents (solidify memorization)Supplemental books and DVDsAssigned reading and read-aloud lists (Need to compile these!)
Lots of free reading
Review CC memory work from cycle 2
Leif:
“Grammy School” (one or two afternoons each week at Bambi’s house)
(reading, phonogram cards, handwriting workbook, math workbook, cooking/baking, crafts)