20 and 2

This week, we are beginning our second 12-week term here at Ambleside Classical! Here is a list 20 Things coming up this term, in no particular order, and a list of two things we are switching and ditching. ; )

20 Things About Second Term - All of a Kind Family. The Guilded Age. Earthquakes. Oliver Twist. Marie Curie. Rocks & Minerals. Capitalism. The Wizard of Oz. Plate Tectonics. Monopoly. Inferno in Chicago. Properties of Magma. Arctic Explorers. Henry Ford. Volcanoes. Hawaii's last queen. Conservation. The Teddy Bear President. The Great War. Rilla of Ingleside.

Switch and Ditch #1 - Elementary Greek is not working and dh and I have decided to ditch it for this term. Instead, we will be switching to Prentice-Hall's Inside Earth in that slot. At end-of-term assessment, I discovered that my dd needs additional science reinforcement with the Cyber-Ed Science we are currently using. I also believe that we need to devote more days to science at this level in order to synthesize all the science vocabulary. A once-weekly block for science was great up until now, but at this point dd seems to need more days for science. Another good reason for adding more science is to exercise the mind. Though not in the same way as Greek, science can stretch the mind and exercise it in logical thought. Science for Greek seems like a good switch for us at this point.

Switch and Ditch #2 - A planned Language Arts switch this term is Total Language Plus in place of Christian Light. We will be using the Where the Red Fern Grows guide, and this will be our first run with this curriculum (I am not a big fan of literature analysis and guides until middle school, when a student has entered the Logic stage). The TLP (Total Language Plus) guide includes comprehension questions, vocabulary, spelling, dictation, special project choices and writing ideas each week. Many of the exercises call for making judgements and exercising Biblical principles. It looks moderately difficult, and it is going to ask my middle schooler to THINK, however painful that may be. : )

I plan to alternate traditional grammar instruction with a literature guide each term. My dd is very solid on parts of speech and sentence diagramming, thanks to her background in Shurley and CLE. I dream of the day we will eventually drop grammar as a separate subject after 8^th or 9^th grade! From then on, we will be able to concentrate on composition, essay writing, and literature analysis. But I am digressing....

Our new schedule for Term 2 looks like this:

Age of Extremes or The Uncommon Heroism of Theodore Roosevelt

Wise Up! Bible or Heaven For Kids

CLE Math

Phy-Ed & Music (alternate composer study, folk, hymn)

Total Language Plus

Poem-A-Day

Earth Science or Book Basket Reading

Fridays will still have a hands-on focus with science activities, geography, notebooking and choice of Total Language Plus projects.

Have you switched or ditched anything this year? How is your homeschooling going?

Middle Ages and a 2-Year Plan

I am the type of gal who likes to have both short term and long term plans. It's helpful to begin with the end in mind, and it keeps me from being willie nillie in my buying decisions. The other thing is that I don't feel pressured to focus on every subject every trimester, or even every year. With a long term plan, I know everything will be covered eventually, Lord willing.

For the last few weeks, I have been looking at what is on the horizon over the next 2 years, for 7th and 8th grade. Our time periods will be Ancients and Middle Ages, so I have been tweaking plans and looking at curriculum. I have looked at Winter Promise, My Father's World, Tapestry of Grace, Sonlight 6, and TruthQuest. For science, I am looking at Prentice-Hall Science Explorer or Rainbow Science.

In the end, I prefer to 'do my own thing' and know that spending a lot of money on a prepared history/literature curriculum will be a waste of money in the end. After spending some time window shopping, I have decided to stick with an Ambleside Online/TruthQuest blend for now. It's been working for years, so why change it? I like to modify Ambleside by using the AO subject headings and plugging in books that will work for my family.

The TruthQuest commentary is wonderful, and I like to have the increases flexibility on book or spine choices that TQ offers. I don't need a schedule so much as options and choices. I have finally hammered out the rought draft of my internet-linked schedule for 8th grade. This will combine TruthQuest Middle Ages and parts of Ambleside Year 7. I plan to have dd use the links to complete history spine reading right from the computer. In the past I have always printed out the e-books, but I think she is old enough to read from the computer. In fact, I think she will enjoy it!

My schedule has spine readings, required reading, and optional extras. Required reading will be done slowly, over the course of each term, Charlotte-Mason style. I have found great advantage to this in terms of mulling over the ideas presented and letting the mind soak up all the characters and ideas in the book. There is also a "less is more" philosophy reflected in the fewer books chosen: only 2 are required each term. The rest will be student-selected from TruthQuest choices.

If you want to take a look, I will share my 8th Grade Middle Ages Schedule in PDF and Open Office. Let me know what you think. Also, I am looking for more videos set in the Middle Ages, so please let me know if you have favorites I have not listed.

Happy planning!

Fall Earth Science Plans Revealed!

This fall we plan to cover Earth Science and some Astronomy, in addition to our general science meanderings. Currently I teach science at a co-op, so these plans are set up for multiple ages, grades 1-8. There are only enough lessons to cover a semester of course work. In addition to these plans, I will include topics of personal interest to my dd and topics related to history/geography. Another route to go would be to teach a second semester on weather, environmental concerns, and oceans.

I like to coordinate resources, and then pull from here and there to come up with "my own thing" that suits my teaching style. Science is one of my favorite subjects, so it is important to keep the love of the subject alive in my students, rather than dwelling on how many minute facts per minute I can cram in.

A balance of vocabulary (I think of science as having it's own language), scientific literacy, and hands-on inquiry works best for me. To fall into a ditch of either reading only or hands-on only is not best practice. The kids need a framework to 'hang' their inquiries on. We can balance both, while keeping the students' natural curiosity intact. Too much drilling and testing too early can kill that.

An excellent source of science assistance can also come in the form of a good software program, such as Plato Science by CyberEd. You can see a demonstration at the FAQ page at Homeschool Buyer's. This program does instruction, virtual experiments, application questions, and testing on each topic. If your middle school-age child likes to work on the computer, this product is great! I would supplement with an experiment book that can be enjoyed by the whole family, such as an appropriate VanCleave or TOPS.

I'm sure this won't be a surprise, but I am not a fan of workbook science. If direct instruction is absolutely not an option, I would consider signing up for a science/nature study class or buying some good software to balance science reading. Making time for hands-on inquiries is essential -- I don't consider it an "extra" from about 5th grade and up. Hands-on science doesn't have to be done every week - but so much of the *joy* of science is in the "doing." Make time for it somewhere in your schedule. Keep your family together in science so that you can question, experience, discuss and read together! A schedule like mine would be one resource toward that end. Science products designed to facilitate families with a range of ages learning together include the Christian Kids Explore series, Apologia Elementary, and Great Science Adventures.

Consider blocking off one day a week, or a few weeks in your semester to devote to hands-on science. Spend the money and buy kits so everything is handy. If science is lacking at your house, consider starting a short term (6 weeks or so) science co-op with a friend so you can encourage one another and share the work!

Science for me is about asking questions, attempting to answer them through experimentation and demonstration, while teaching "the language" of science. A little imagination sure helps, too. I would rather cover fewer science topics and cover them WELL. It is so rewarding to see those eyes light up! All it takes is a little planning ahead and a bit of room in my schedule. Science is a real joy - and worth the extra effort.

Exploring Earth & Space 2008-9

Topics

What are the Physical Features of the Earth? What is the lithosphere

What are faults in the lithosphere? What are Earthquakes

How are Mountains Formed?

What is a Volcano

What are Igneous and Sedimentary Rocks

What are Metamorphic Rocks?

What is Soil

What are Earth's mineral resourc

What is weathering and erosion? How do glaciers affect the land

How do rivers shape the land? What special features do rivers form? (Younger: What are the special features of a Forest?) What are caves? (Younger: What do we know about the African savannah?) What are tsunamis, hurricanes & the Ring of Fire? How does ocean movement alter coastlines? (Younger: What do we know about polar regions?) What are the features of the ocean floor? What do we know about deserts?

Merry Christmas to me! I just put the finishing touches on our rough draft for 2008 fall term. We have used some CM principles, some helpful ideas from Ambleside Online, and mixed them together with what works for OUR family. I still have to choose some Fine Arts components, but here is what I came up with so far.

Download SCHEDULE (PDF)


Blank SCHEDULE that you can edit (Open Office)

6^th Grade Curriculum - Term 1

American History (1865-1890)

• Reconstructing America by Joy Hakim – Ch 1-37
  (Pre-read 3 chapters per week as teacher background.
  Assign as independent reading or read together and
  discuss)

• TruthQuest History AHYS III – use commentary as
  teacher background and discussion material.
  Use TQ book list to set up a Book Basket of free reading.

• Keep a history notebook or timeline book.

• Create a reading log of books read.

Bible

• Discover 4 Yourself Bible Studies by Kay Arthur or

• One Year Bible – New Living Translation

Biography

• Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell
  (6 weeks)

• biography of Booker T Washington or George Washington Carver (6 weeks)

English

• alternate 2 weeks of grammar instruction with 2 weeks of
  writing instruction

• dictation and Calvert School Spelling CD

• typing software

• narration

Geography

• Integrate with American History using weekly
  blackline maps & Trail Guide to US History

• Memorize States/Capitals using games, software, songs

Literature

• Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

• Old Yeller by Fred Gipson

• Book Basket reading and additional selections as desired from Ambleside Online
  

Music (See Fine Arts-At-A-Glance schedule)

• Classical Composer - Johann Straus Jr.

• Hymns (2) - tbd
  

• Folk Song (1) - tbd
  

Plutarch

• The Children's Plutarch: Tales of the Greeks by Gould or Our Young Folks Plutarch by Kaufman

Poetry

• John Greenleaf Whittier

Science

• Variety of inquiries and readings from TOPS Science, Bob Jones University Science, Janice VanCleave books, home library, public library, kits, local classes. Emphasize vocabulary and labs.

• Keep a science notebook of vocabulary words, hand- drawn diagrams, reading lists, and labs.

• Complete one major science project or participate in a
  science fair.

Shakespeare

• Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by E. Nesbit

Download SCHEDULE (PDF)


Blank SCHEDULE that you can edit (Open Office)

Week 9 In Review

I decided to feature some things we are using for Language Arts, since I don't tend to post about LA much. We use Christian Light Language Arts as our base, and it is working really well for us. It is a lot like Rod and Staff, only in a workbook form with built-in review. I included a sample lesson. Each day begins with a new skill and practice on it. Next the "We Remember" section has review of all material covered previously. Practice is the key to retention! A penmanship (usually Scripture or poetry copywork and handwriting tips) and spelling section follow. It really streamlines the day to have so many LA components in one place. I like that CLE is a solid, traditional program that teaches diagramming, without an overwhelming number of problems. To round out our LA, we use throw in some Drawn Into the Heart of Reading for literary elements and character traits discussion, and a bit of BJU writing.

Integrating reading, character traits, a mini-report, and art, our main topic this week was "Korea." For Science, we learned and did experiments about Newton's Third Law and went to a co-op class using microscopes. In Composition, we are working on a book review. No field trips this week. : )

I took a few pictures, but I apologize because they didn't come out very well.

How was YOUR week?

Curriculum Outline Template (1-Page format)

2007-8 Curriculum

I just put together the finishing touches of our 2007-8 5th grade curriculum plans! We are scheduling in more music appreciation this year -- including hymns, folk songs, and Classical composers. A Charlotte Mason educaton has liberal arts front and center, and it is so easy to get so busy with the 3R's that Fine Arts gets squished out! Scheduling helps me carve out time to get the Arts done.



The only think I am thinking of adding is the new Apologia writing program, but am still undecided on that one! Anyway, it feels great to have the upcoming year planned and materials waiting in the wings.

My Curriculum Outline template is based on the one by the late homeschool mom, Missy Gray, at http://www.geocities.com/justahappygrl/ . She is still blessing the homeschool world from Heaven!

If you would like to view the Curriculum Outline as a one-page PDF, go to the the link above. There is also a blank outline to use or modify any way you like!

Bible

Rod and Staff Bible & Nurture 4

Discover 4 Yourself by Kay Arthur

AWANAS Club

Science

Apologia Exploring Creation With Botany – summer

Bob Jones University Press Science 5

Adventures In Science kit: 'How Things Work'

*** One Small Square: African Savannah

Read-Alouds

The Hobbit by JR Tolkein – summer read aloud

* Island of the Blue Dolphins

* Tales of a Korean Grandmother

** Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze

** The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

*** Shadow Spinner

*** African Folk Tales

History & Literature

Sonlight 5: Eastern Hemisphere (see reading list)

Additional History Selections (see reading list)

Additional Literature Selections (see reading list)

Geography

Trail Guide to World Geography by Geography Matters

Australia by Evan-Moor

Language Arts

Shurley English 4

Calvert School Spelling

Institute For Excellence in Writing & Sonlight 5 Dictation

Poetry

* Favorite Poems Old and New by Helen Ferris

** Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickenson

*** Favorite Poems Old and New by Helen Ferris

Memory Work

* Psalm 91 and a poem of choice

** Isaiah 53 and a poem of choice

*** Matthew 5: 1-16 – The Beatitudes and a poem of choice

Math

Christian Light Education Mathematics & Math-U-See Delta

World Languages

Elementary Spanish At Home by Northern Arizona University

Visual Arts (Global Art, Edupress Activity Books)

* Art of the Pacific Islands

* Aboriginal Art of Australia

* Japanese Art

* Japanse Art

* Chinese Art

* Chinese Art

** Chinese Art

** Chinese Architecture

** Russian art

** Russian Architecture

** Art of India

** Art & Architecture of India

*** Art of the Middle East

*** Middle Eastern Architecture

*** African Art

*** African Art

*** African Art

*** African Art

Composer Study

* Stories of the Great Composers and Vox Music Masters: Shubert

** Color the Classics & Stories of the Great Composers: Dvorak

*** Color the Classics & Stories of the Great Composers: Mendelssohn

Hymns ('Hymns 4 Worship' by Integrity)

* All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name – Disc 1 Track 5

* Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Disc 1 Track 3

* The Love of God – Disc 1 Track 4

** Take My Life – Disc 2 Track 3

** Pass Me Not – Disc 2 Track 10

** How Great Thou Art – Disc 1 Track 10

*** The Solid Rock – Disc 1 Track 4

*** What A Friend We Have in Jesus – Disc 2 Track 2

*** When I Survey The Wonderous Cross – Disc 2 Track 11

Folksongs (The Homestead Pickers)

* Botany Bay – Disc 2

** Wild Colonial Boy – Disc 2

*** All Through the Night – Disc 2

Asterisks indicate what term the material is to be studied in.

Frogs and Flowers

First day of Apologia Exploring Creation with Botany yesterday. It was a gorgeus spring day, so we picked up a friend and headed out to a nearby park. Having our lesson under a tree while the sun was shining was glorious! Soon we were hiking around the lake and looking for flowering plants, angiosperms and gymnosperms. The first day with Apologia Botany was a HUGE hit!



Oh, and Cameron the Frog interrupted our Botany lesson before deciding to listen in for a while. Cameron the Frog was a lot of fun, and all the kids at the park had to come over and say 'Hello!' to him. He was a friendly sort of fellow as you can see!

Hot Resource! Miss Mason's 1908 PNEU Weekly Schedule

Scheduling the Charlotte Mason Way

I admit it. The more that we implement Miss Mason's ideas in our homeschool, the more smoothly things run and the more productive we are. This past week I have been looking at Mason's PNEU school schedules for the grade level we will be doing next year. This would be Class II, or approximately 4th-6th grades. Her schedule looks refreshing and do-able. There is plenty of food for the mind here! We are planning on Greek instead of Latin, and science over the summer, but other than that I am following her weekly subjects and time tables pretty closely. We 'school' from 8am-12:00 using
short lessons and a timer. If you've never tried this, I recommend you give it a two week trial. What do you have to lose? After a morning of concentrated effort, afternoons are for productive free time!

We are using Sonlight 5 and most of our 'Reading' will come from that. However, I'm sure we'll add in some AmblesideOnline literature titles and some library finds.


Monday
Reading---(30-60 min)
Memory Work & Poem-a-Day---(10 min)
Bible---(20 min)
Composition---(30 min)
Music & 15 min play---(30 min)
Spanish---(20 min)
Reading---(30 min)
Math---(40 min)
Copywork---(10min)

Tuesday
Reading---(30-60 min)
Memory Work & Poem-a-Day---(10 min)
Bible---(20 min)
English Grammar---(30 min)
Phy-Ed & 10 min play---(30 min)
Reading---(30 min)
Math---(40 min)
Dictation---(10min)
Spelling---(20 min)

Wednesday
Reading---(30-60 min)
Memory Work & Poem-a-Day---(10 min)
Bible---(20 min)
Composition---(30 min)
Music & 15 min play---(30 min)
Math---(40 min)
Reading---(30 min)
Spanish---(20 min)
Copywork---(10min)


Thursday -- Hands-on Day
Notebook Time---(60 min+)
Reading---(30-60 min)
Geography---(30 min)
Hymn/Folk Song---(10 min)
Art and Projects---(60 min+)

Friday
Reading---(30-60 min)
Memory Work & Poem-A-Day---(10 min)
Bible---(20 min)
English Grammar---(30 min)
Phy-Ed & 10 min play---(30 min)
Math---(40 min)
Dictation or Spelling---(10 min)
Spanish---(20 min)
Reading---(30 min)

Now that I have my fall schedule done and books purchased, I can spend the summer at the beach relaxing. We do summer science, but since we enjoy science so much, it doesn't seem like school work!

For this year's summer science, we are trying Apologia's Botany using the supplies kit from Home Science Tools. We will probably get started sometime this week. Dd has a few math lessons to finish up and that is about it. Woo hoo! She is nearly a 5th grader! ; )

***UPDATE 8/5/07
I have tweaked the above schedule a bit from the original to accommodate Sonlight 5 better. You can also download as a PDF here: http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=135458

High School Planning Form

High School, Oh My!

Maybe it's just the time of year, but everywhere I turn: HS group, e-mail loops, and the local conference brochure, I keep hearing about the advantages of homeschooling high school. I am so hoping to continue with a Charlotte Mason style education, but it seems a little trickier in high school for some reason.

A speaker came to our homeschool co-op to give a talk on her high school homeschooling experiences. It was encouraging to hear of her struggles and victories and receive word that transcripts CAN be simple to make. (!) Her talk was practical and straight forward, and she recommends tailoring the high school curriculum to the college your child will be attending. Makes sense! Also, later this month, Jay Wile is coming to MACHE and giving a talk on homeschooling the high school years. I think I will try to make it to his talk and see what he has to say.

I suppose I'm getting a little ahead of myself, since dd is going into 5th grade, but I believe in beginning with the end in mind. I need a clear idea of what we are shooting for in upper elementary and jr. high to get ready for high school. That way, we won't have to panic and try to do everything all the time, but can streamline toward our major goals. I did some research on the admittance requirements for the University of Minnesota and put it into a High School Planning Form for myself. Ahhhh! The comfort of forms and lists! LOL! Feel free to 'grab' it and tailor it to the particular needs of your child. Be sure to check your college admission requirements.

Since I am in the throes of planning for next year, why not just plan through high school while I'm at it? *wink* Just (mostly) kidding.

A Basket of Books

To require or inspire? Since I don't really 'assign' reading books, but let dd chose from our library basket, I thought it would be fun to publish what she has decided to read and view this year so far in our TruthQuest studies. They are a mix of chapter books, picture books and videos. We have a few weeks of history left, so she may finish another book or two -- but this is the majority of her history 'meals' from this year.

I have to admit that it was hard to let go of the control in the reading area, but the reading basket method has worked out extremely well at our house. No more assigning pages or chapter numbers, no more anguishing over which book is 'best' to assign, no more groans when a book is assigned! How freeing. I call it the Old Country Buffet History Method. In truth, more seems to be read when "inspired"than when "required." What a blessing to find a method that works with a more reluctant reader!

• A New Nation by Joy Hakim

• Liberty for All? by Joy Hakim

• War, Terrible War by Joy Hakim

• George Washington (CFA) by Augusta Stevenson

• Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin by Margeurite Henry

• Sightseers: Paris, 1789 (Kingfisher) - French Revolution

• Sacagewea: Girl of the Shining Mountains by Roop

• Meet Thomas Jefferson (Landmark)

• VIDEO: Lewis and Clark (National Geographic)

• VIDEO: Sacagewea: Heroine of the Lewis and Clark Journey (Questar)

• Oceola (CFA) by Electa Clark

• Nightbird: A Story of the Seminole Indians by Kathleen Kudlinski

• The Seminole by Lepthien, Emilie U (New True Book)

• Native Crafts by Maxine Trottier

• Traditional Native American Arts and Activities by Arlette N. Braman

• Dolly Madison (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Monsell

• Robert Fulton: Boy Craftsman (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Margeurite Henry

• John Quincy Adams (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Weil

• South America (A New True Book)

• Capyboppy by Peet

• Canals (A New True Book) by Elaine Landau

• Iron Horses by Nerla Kay

• Erie Canal: Canoein America’s Great Waterway by Peter Lourie

• VIDEO: Xavier in India (AIMS Multimedia)

• VIDEO: Religions of the World: Hinduism (United Learning)

• Story of the Trail of Tears (COF)

• VIDEO: How the West Was Lost (Discovery School)

• Welcome to Josephina’s World 1824: Growing Up on America’s Southwest Frontier (American Girls)

• The Story of the Santa Fe Trail (COF) - RA

• Jed Smith: Young Western Explorer by Olive Burt (CFA)
• Jim Bridger: Mountain Boy by Gertrude Winders (CFA)
• Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell-1847 by Kristiana Gregory
• Cowboy by David Murdoch (Eyewitness Books)

• Pony Express by Steven Kroll

• Pony Bob’s Daring Ride: A Pony Express Adventure by Joe Bensen

• Buffalo Bill by d’Aulaire

• Yippee-Yay: A Book About Cowboys and Cowgirls by Gail Gibbons

• Born to Be a Cowgirl: A Spirited Guide through the Old West by Candace Savage

• Bufffalo Gals by Brandon Marie Miller

• Frederick Remington by Mike Venenzia

• Caddie Woodlawn by Brink - RA

• Video: ‘Texas Legacy’ by Rainbow Education
• How I Survived the Oregon Trail by Laura Wilson

• Oregon Trail Cooking by Mary Gunderson

• West by Covered Wagon by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

• Roughing It on the Oregon Trail by Diane Stanley

• I’m Sorry. Almira Ann by Jane Kurtz

• The Donner Party by Scott P Werther

• The Story of Gold at Sutter’s Mill (COF)

• Almost to Freedom by Nelson

• Who Owns the Sun? By Chbosky

• Under the Quilt of Night by Hopkinson

• Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky by Ringgold

• Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Hopkinson

The Patchwork Path by Stroud

• Escape from Slavery by Rappaport

• A Picture Book of Sojourner Truth by Adler

• The Tales of Uncle Remus by Julius Lester

• A Picture Book of Harriet Beecher Stowe by Adler

• VIDEO: Uncle Tom’s Cabin

• Grace’s Letter to Lincoln by Roop

• Abe Lincoln: Frontier Boy by August Stevenson (CFA)

• Behind Rebel Lines by Reit

• The Boys' War by Murphy

• Who Comes With Cannons? - RA

View reading list as PDF file

Our 2006-7 Curriculum Choices

4th Grade

Math-U-See Delta

Christian Light Sonrise English Grade 4 (All inclusive program includes grammar with sentence diagramming, spelling, punctuation, usage, penmanship) Click here: Christian Light Samples

Daily Memory Work

Calvert School: Calvert Mastery Series: Spelling CDs

Rod and Staff Bible followed by Discover 4 Yourself Series Boy, Have I Got Problems: Book of James by Precept Ministries

TruthQuest History

mix of Bob Jones science kits, Janice Van Cleave books, and Adventure In Science Kits (3-8) kits

Ambleside Online - read-alouds, poetry, fine arts

Elementary Spanish At Home at United Streaming

United Streaming subscription for enriching science, history, and health videos

Everything worked out pretty well this year, so we're stickin' to it! My favorite find was United Streaming. Love, love, love the Spanish program! Dd loves watching the enrichment videos -- and they help stimulate interest in history and science. Check out united streaming video -- the first month is free!