Schedules

This is my master plan.  All 36 weeks are planned out before I begin the year. 

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Gospel Principles

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Lesson 6

Lesson 7

Lesson 8

Lesson 9

Lesson 9

Lesson 10

Latina Christiana I

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Review

Lesson 6

Lesson 7

Lesson 8

Lesson 9

Lesson 10

Review

Grammar

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Lesson 6

Lesson 7

Lesson 8

Lesson 9

Lesson 10

English 3

1-4

5-8

9-12

13-16

17-20

21-24

25-26

27-30

31-34

35-38

39-42

43-46

English 4

Lessons 1-4

5-8

9-12

13-16

17-20

21-24

25-28

29-32

33-36

37-40

41-44

45-48

Spelling 4 & 5

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Lesson 6

Lesson 7

Lesson 8

Lesson 9

Lesson 10

Lesson 11

Lesson 12

Classical Composition

Lesson 1

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 4

Zoology I

Lesson 1

Lesson 9

Lesson 10

Lesson 11

Geography I

Middle East Israel Jordan

Syria Lebanon

Iraq Iran

Turkey Saudi Arabia

Afghanistan Pakistan

Review N. Africa

Egypt Sudan

Libya Tunisia

Algeria Morocco

Review Mediterranean Europe

Literature

FS 1&2

FS 3&4

FS 5&6

FS 7&8

TtC: Plot

Swiss Wk 1

Family Wk 2

Robinson Wk 3

Wk 4

Wk 5

Wk 6

Wk 7

Famous Men of Rome

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Review

Lesson 6

Lesson 7

Lesson 8

Lesson 9

Lesson 10

Review

Greek Myths

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Lesson 6

Lesson 7

Lesson 8

Lesson 9

Lesson 10

Nature Reader 4

Quail

Brown Thrasher

Cardinal

Purple Martin

Kingbird

Owl

Barn Owl

Screech Owl

Snowy Owl

Quiet Approach

Beaks, wings, tails

Wasp

US Geography

2 States

2 States

2 States

2 States

2 States

2 States

2 States

2 States

2 States

2 States

2 States

2 States

Timeline

Founding of Rome

Founding of Roman Republic

Sack of Rome

Next I make a daily schedule for each kid that shows when they will complete each subject to give me an idea of how their day/week will flow.  :

Savannah’s Weekly Schedule – 4^th Grade – 2013/2014

	Gospel	Latin	Math	English	Classical / Geography/ Spelling	Composition / Science	Literature / FS
Monday	Gospel	Latin	Math	English	Geography	Composition / Science	Literature / FS
Tuesday	Gospel	Latin	Math	English	Spelling	Composition / Science	Literature / FS
Wednesday	Gospel		Math				Literature
Thursday	Gospel	Latin	Math	English	Classical	Composition / Science	Literature / FS
Friday	Gospel	Latin	Math	English	Classical / Spelling test	Composition / Science	Literature/FS

As well as a family schedule to show how my day will go:

Family Weekly Schedule

	Monday		Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
500	Exercise			Exercise		Exercise
600	Gospel Study w/ Savannah & Charlotte
700	BREAKFAST Get dressed
800	Independent Work- Math, English, Spelling, Classical, Science, Geography, Literature   Read & play with Zach & Caroline			830-1130   Homeschool Class	Independent Work - Math, English, Spelling, Classical, Science, Geography, Literature   Read & play with Zach & Caroline
900
1000	SNACK   1030-1130 Piano   Independent Work / Madelynn’s School 1230 LUNCH		SNACK       Independent Work / Madelynn’s School 1230 LUNCH		SNACK       Independent Work / Madelynn’s School 1230 LUNCH	SNACK       Independent Work / Madelynn’s School 1230 LUNCH
1100
1200				LUNCH
100	Naptime/Silent reading
200	Latin, Memory Work Composition			Mom’s free time: errands/appts.	Latin, Memory Work Composition
300	SNACK Finish school		SNACK Poetry Teatime		SNACK Nature walk / Journaling	SNACK Free-write Friday
400
500	DINNER
600	CHORES
700	Get ready for bed Family prayer / Scriptures / Snack
800	Read aloud			Silent Read	Read aloud
900	Kid’s Bedtime   Assignment	Kid’s Bedtime   Discussion Posts		Kid’s Bedtime	Kid’s Bedtime Online Responses Assignment		Kid’s Bedtime
1000				My Bedtime			My Bedtime
1100	My Bedtime	My Bedtime			My Bedtime

 

Then I make a detailed weekly checklist that will be kept in the student's folder for them to refer to and check off as they complete assignments.  I make six weeks at a time. 

Savannah’s Schedule

Week 1	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Latin	Latin lesson:_____ □ Vocabulary copywork	□ Review flashcards □ Vocabulary copywork		□Written exercises □ Vocabulary copywork	□ Review flashcards □ Vocabulary copywork
Grammar	□ Copy work	□ Copy work		□ Copy work	□Review flash cards □ Copy work onto      Flash card
Math	□Pg. _____ □Xtramath.com   □ check math	□Pg. _____ □Xtramath.com   □ check math	□Pg. _____ □Xtramath.com   □ check math	□Pg. _____ □Xtramath.com   □ check math	□Pg. _____ □Xtramath.com   □ check math
English	□Lesson ____ □ oral review □ check lesson____	□Lesson ____ □ oral review □ check lesson		□Lesson ____ □ oral review □ check lesson	□Lesson ____ □ oral review □ check lesson
Spelling	Lesson____ □ Section A	□ Section B		□ Section C	□ Spelling Test
Composition	Lesson:____ □The Fable	□Variations: Part I		□Outline	□Narration
Famous Men of Rome / Timeline		Lesson:_____ □Make flashcards □Define/write vocabulary □Review flashcards		□Read assigned pgs. □ Comprehension questions. □ Activities □Review flashcards	Timeline: □ _______________ □ Make and review flashcards
Geography	□ Read: ____________ ___________________ ___________________ □Workbook pgs. □Sheppardsoftware.com
Literature	□Silent reading 1 hour □	□Silent reading 1 hour □	□Silent reading 1 hour	□Silent reading 1 hour □	□Silent reading 1 hour □

 I also label every page they will complete during the year with the week number it will be completed in.  For instance, all of the math pages that will be completed during week 1 have the number 1 written in pencil in the corner of the page.  This helps when making detailed schedules and keeps us on track.

I enjoy doing this for the most part.  I sometimes dream about getting a boxed curriculum that already has everything planned out for me, but I am a bit too controlling and want it my way.  Plus I can tweak and reprint all I want during the year.  You can't do that with someone else's schedule.

Goals for Kindergarten

1. Learn all 72 phonograms.
2. Be able to write upper-case/lower-case alphabet, numbers 0-9, and phonograms A-Z from dictation neatly.
3. Reading fairly well and regularly.
4. Finish Essential Math B, begin Math Mammoth 1

I think for 1st grade we will begin the Spell to Write and Read list, as well as daily copywork.

2 1/2 Weeks before the new school year begins!!!

I'm freaking out just a little.  I have so much to plan and so little time in the evenings to do it because I am going to school online as well.  I have a lot to decide, format, print out, and organize.  Here are the new tentative plans for 2013/2014:

Savannah/4th grade:
Gospel Principles, Articles of Faith, Faith in God
Math Mammoth 4 / xtramath.com
R&S English 4
R&S Spelling 5
MP's Famous Men of Rome study guide
Apologia Zoology 1
MP's Geography 1
Kolbe Literature guide
Classical Composition - Fable
Latina Christiana I

Charlotte/3rd grade:
Gospel Principles, Articles of Faith, Faith in God
Math Mammoth 3 / xtramath.com
R&S English 3
R&S Spelling 4
MP's Greek Myths study guide
Christian Liberty Nature Reader 4
US geography -states & sheppardsoftware.com
Latina Christiana I

Madelynn/Kindergarten:
Phonograms
Handwriting
Reading
Math

Family: Memory work, religion, poetry tea time, freewriting, read-alouds.

Ok.. science.

Forget the "Note to Self: no science" thing.  I'm planning science for Savannah/4th grade.  Here's what I've got:

Since she is interested in birds, and I have these awesome Elementary Apologia Science books sitting around, I thought I would assign her Zoology I: Flying Creatures this year.  I want it to be an independent study.

I'm making her a notebook/assignments.  Here is what is in it. 

REQUIREMENTS

There are 14 lessons in Zoology 1.  You will have two weeks to complete an entire lesson.

Requirements:

·         Read entire lesson.

·         Write all vocabulary words and definitions.

·         Complete two nature journals.  Each journal must contain a paragraph of at least 5 sentences and an illustration/diagram.  You can write a summary of what you have learned, answer the questions listed in the “What Do You Remember?” section, or do the “Notebook Activities.”  You may use the blank back if you need more space for drawing/writing.

·         Experiments are optional.  If you do an experiment you must fill out the Lab Report.  Write the title of your experiment, page number, and date at the top.  List the supplies you will be using.  Under “Introduction” write about what you will do or did.  Under “Procedures and Observations” list what you think will happen and why, what actually happened, and what you learned.

Next, I have the Table of Contents of Zoology I.  She will use this page to plan her own objectives for each lesson.  I want to give her the opportunity to make her own goals and plan her own schedule.

Behind the lesson's Table of Contents, I printed out this page (filler paper #30) for her to write the lesson's vocabulary words and definitions.

Next is the Lab Report.  The experiments are optional, but if she does one she has to fill out a lab report.  Knowing Savannah she will most likely do almost all of the experiments.

Finally, two printouts of Nature Journal pages, which she must fill out with at least 5 sentences and an illustration.

Note to Self..

A few thoughts as I begin to focus again on the upcoming school year:

1.  I need to read aloud again.  Make a list of books for the year covering history, literature, biography, science, and geography, and read aloud for an hour a day to the kids that can sit still for it (Savannah, Charlotte, and Maddy).  This hour will be after the babies go to bed.  I am currently using that hour for the Bigs to read silently their own books, but I will have to find another time of day for that now.

2.  FORGET science and geography.  I can pick a country and schedule in a time once a week to play on sheppardsoftware.com, and purchase a few books on that country for the kids to browse, but I will not worry about geography this year.  Or science; they spend plenty of time outside.  Savannah could use a few more nature books (birds and flowers) that she loves.  It's OK.  The time it frees up is more important.

3.  More emphasis on Shakespeare.  One of the read-aloud books will be Tales from Shakespeare.  One play every 12 weeks.  Watch the play online as well.  Add Shakespeare to memory work.

4.  Keep up poetry tea time and free-writing every week.  Reconsider bringing back copy work from literature, poetry, and scriptures of their choice.  I liked that idea.  Perhaps dictation from one of their selections?

5.  MAIN focus of school: Scriptures, math, language (grammar & Latin), memory work, and free time.

Morning Sickness

Week 3 of morning sickness.  School is put on the back-burner.  We are only doing math.  I took last week off completely.

I'm getting better though.  I am starting to think about school things again without feeling like I want to throw up or crawl back in bed.  However, I'm starting to re-think the teacher-intensive grammar and spelling I have going on and thinking maybe I want to resign those to Rod & Staff again.  English at half-pace perhaps; two lessons a week instead of four.  I would start Savannah in grade 5 and do half this year, half next year.  I would start Charlotte in grade 3 maybe, or just wait until she is in fourth grade like Savannah and start in grade 5.  Rod & Staff English is overkill, which is why I would spread it out.  Latin would fill in the other days.  Hmm...

And while I like our family spelling with Spell to Write and Read, I think I'd rather hand them a workbook and call it good.  It's just spelling, and Rod & Staff is the best workbook spelling out there.  And I'm having baby #6, so...

Maddy is doing fabulous.  She has started reading the Bob books and she is doing great.  It is so funny because she hates the Bob books.  She says they are really stupid.  (We don't say stupid, but Maddy does.  She's a potty-mouth.)  She is not impressed with the childish drawings, but I think the story line in each book is really funny.  I laugh at the story line and at Madelynn being not amused. 

Savannah and Charlotte are speeding through great books.  Charlotte is reading Famous Men of Rome.  Savannah has read that and is reading The Once and Future King.  This is high school reading now.  They blow me away.  A kindle has been the best thing for them.

Pieced together LA for grades K-3rd

K-1st: Phonics Road level 1 (now I appy what i learned from that program to the spelling lists in Spell to Write and Read)
Handwriting Without Tears (now I'm using Joy of Handwriting-cursive for my new Ker),
Copywork from literature here at home, after they learn how to write well
Narration from history, science, and religion,
Memory work using poetry and scriptures,
Reading practice beginning in Bob Books, then Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading & Mcguffey Readers, then Little House in the Big Woods.

2nd: Prima Latina
Spelling/dication just using SWR
Copywork from literature here at home
Narration from history, science, and religion
Memory work using poetry and scriptures
Reading books silently/daily, oral reading to younger siblings 2Xs/week

3rd: Latina Christiana I
Spelling/dictation just using SWR
Copywork from literature here at home
Narration from history, science, and religion
Memory work using poetry and scriptures
Reading books silently/daily, oral reading to younger siblings 2Xs/week

Latin-Centered Education: A Classical Education

I read this article today in defense of a Latin-centered, classical education.  I've ready many, many articles like it, so this isn't new knowledge for me; it only further confirms my belief that this is the way to go in education.

Now, just because it is called a Latin-Centered education does not mean that we do not have a Christ-centered or scripture-centered education.  Our "main book," like TJed talks about, is the scriptures.  We are not taking turns reading from The Odyssey after we say our Latin prayers in the morning.  That is ridiculous.  Thomas Jefferson received a classical education, as did most of the Founding Fathers.  The linked article lists the top most influential people of all time: they ALL received a classical, Latin-centered education. 

I did NOT receive a classical education; I didn't even receive a decent education.  I've never studied Latin.  I  don't know Greek or Roman history, nor have I ever read a single truly classical book in my life.  Savannah's third grade grammar was difficult for me.  I've got some serious self-education to do if I am going to give my children a classical education.

My own education begins with Latin.  I thought I might work through a English grammar book first, but I am going to trust the Latin experts and first learn Latin.  I purchased First Form Latin from Memoria Press.  It has a DVD teacher.  I'm filling in my own student workbook and checking my answers in the teacher's manual.  It is hard.  It has a steep learning curve for me. 

I'm convinced there is nothing more important than to be a knowledgable teacher of Latin, then of Greek and Roman history, then of the classics, then of math, then of writing, then of science (which will probably be the one subject I farm out).  That is my order of priority.  I can't be a good teacher of everything, but I must be a good teacher of Latin.

Tentative plans

I LOVE planning.  Here are my tentative plans for 3rd and 4th grade.  We will probably start sooner than later since I'm expecting a baby in November!

4th grade - Savannah

Math - Math Mammoth 4 & xtramath.com

Latin/grammar - Latina Christiana I / English Grammar memory/copy work

Classical studies - Famous Men of Rome w/ MP's workbook

Writing - Classical Composition I - Aesop

Literature - booklist from Ambleside Online w/ book journal

Science - undecided..

History - family rotation - early American history, specific books still undecided

Other - copywork, narration, dictation (SWR or SW?), reading aloud, memory work, freewriting, poetry teatime, nature journal, timeline book, piano, gymnastics, homeschool class (art, P.E., computer). 

Typing - ? 

 3rd grade - Charlotte

Math - Math Mammoth 3 & xtramath.com

Latin/grammar - Latina Christiana I / English Grammar memory/copy work

Classical studies - Greek Myths w/ MP's workbook

Literature - booklist from Ambleside Online w/ book journal

Science - undecided

History - family rotation - early American history

Other - *same as Savannah*

Typing - ?

Kindergarten - Madelynn

Math - Essential Math

Handwriting - Joy of Handwriting

Reading - Phonograms, Bob Books, McGuffey Readers, Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading

Science - undecided

History- family rotation - early American history
Other - copywork, narration, reading aloud, memory work, poetry teatime, nature journal, gymnastics.

Copy Work

I have the girls do copywork 4Xs a week.  This is how I do it:

Day 1 - Literature
Day 2 - Scripture
Day 3 - Literature
Day 4 - Poem

I require that they write at least 2 sentences.  They can pick which sentences they want from whatever book they choose.   We only have good books here.  They have to write a whole scripture and a whole poem, so of course they choose the shortest ones, but I have faith that they will one day write ones that have meaning.

I print out this page, front and back, and write the week number at the top.  This way I can easily glance at their paper and see if they did all of their copywork for the week.  I also use that same format for their Latin copywork.

I require that they write as neatly as possible.  If it is sloppy I give them extra practice from here.  Their handwriting is getting very beautiful! 

For cursive, I printed out a small cursive alphabet, laminated it, and stuck it in their folder.  They pull it out if they forget how to write a letter.  I require all of their work in cursive now, and I've decided to start Madelynn in cursive instead of the Handwriting Without Tears book.

Multum non multa

So I've been doing this homeschool thing for about four years now.  I'm getting a pretty good idea of what I feel is important in education.  I'm seeing results in my kids that I am pleased with.

You want to know what I think is important in education?  Multum non multa (Much, but not many things), or in other words "quality over quantity."  The following are what I consider the best use of our time:

1. PLENTY of free time to be outside, or reading a good book, or building things, or making things.  My kids have an imagination.  They apply what they are learning when they are given ample free time.  It is important to me to make our formal school day as short and efficient as I possibly can.  No busywork.  No unnecessary subjects that can wait until they are older.  No video games to distract them.  Limited outside commitments.  As I am writing this, my three oldest kids are building a bridge over a stream in our woods.  Best education they can have right now!

2. Reading from the scriptures as a family and having family prayer daily.  Not only are we coming closer together as a family, feeling the Spirit, and learning the gospel, but we are reading and hearing good, worthy language.  We are becoming familiar with the language of the scriptures.  We are learning history.  We are reading the best books of all time.  We are practicing reverence and patience and respect.  Excellent use of time for many, many reasons.

3.  Memory work.  The kids are memorizing gobs of poetry and scripture.  We recite four days a week.  They have good, beautiful language, imagery, and morals forever seared in their brain.  This is one of the best ways to promote articulation, composition, and to exercise the brain.  This year, and probably all of next year, they will hear "The Living Christ" recited approximately twelve times a week!  They will know who Jesus Christ is!  Savannah and Charlotte's Activity Day teacher commented on how well they have the Articles of Faith memorized, when the AoF actually haven't been a part of our memory work at home.  They are just used to memorizing things that it has come easily to them as they recite the AoF in Primary.  Our time and effort spent on memory work is well worth every minute. 

4.  Latin.  This is language arts all rolled up into one.  Grammar, composition, vocabulary, memory work, and the root of English, especially science, and many other foreign languages.  This is our first year in Latin and I am seeing that it is a great use of our time!  We're in it for the long haul.

5.  Greek and Roman history and mythology.  This is the foundation of Western civilization.  This is where our Constitution came from.  This is what our Founding Fathers studied.  I have just begun my first dip into Roman history and I am blown away by the examples of courage, honesty, honor, and bravery exemplified by the Roman heroes, and I've only scratched the surface!  I already find myself wanting to be more like them.  In Latin we just learned the phrase, "Romanus civis sum!"  "I am a citizen of Rome!"  I say it with longing.

6. GOOD books.  It must pass Paul's test: "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."  It must have quality language.  It must contain worthy ideas.  Reading a dumb book is just as bad as sitting in front of a video game: a mindless waste of time.  Good, living books are used to cover many topics: history, geography, science, nature study, biography, fairy tales, etc.  All of those topics are covered in my homeschool through living books.  No textbooks, no worksheets.  Some of these books are retold by the kids (narration), which is part of composition.

We do other things, like math, copywork, dictation,spelling, and piano, but I believe those six things are the most important parts of our day.

I'm in LOVE....

Which is very appropriate this Valentine's Day! 

I'm in love with Yesterday's Classics Ebook package deal: 225 AMAZING titles in kindle format for $49.95!!!


If you are doing a Charlotte Mason education or using Ambleside Online books, then you've GOT to get this deal, AND a kindle.  These are some of Yesterday's Classics' best books! 

Isaac bought me a Kindle Fire HD last week and my kids won't let me use it.  They want to read their books on it all day long, when we get in the car, when they go to bed at night....  "Mom, where's your Kindle???"  is all I hear.  (yes!!!)

So I told the girls that if they paid for half I would get them their own Kindles.  Charlotte had the money today, so I helped her buy a Kindle Paperwhite.  It comes in two days.

So back to the Ebooks...  they are formatted beautifully.  Two-Hundred and twenty-five books!!!!!  That I like and will use!!!!  ((faint))  I could reasonably educate my children on these books through 9th grade.  There are faith stories, saint stories, geography, world history, american history, biographies, historical fiction, natural history/animal stories, science, and literature that includes mythology, fabels, hero tales, fiction, legends, and leveled readers. 

With this deal, they also include a guide that lists the books by age level, another list by genre, another list by title, and yet another list by author.  And then they also include a short description of each book... 225 of them.  :)  This is Charlotte Mason educator's planning dream come true.

Have I said yet that I'm in love?