I am (very happily… blissfully even) overwhelmed with books. Our dear neighbors decided to move on to other pursuits after more than nine years of homeschooling, and we have with open arms received a bounty of oldie-but-goodie-type curriculum and resources. Oh happy day. :)
I am also (not happily) finding that we currently lack the space in which to properly organize said books.
Case in point: The office.
This picture makes my husband (OCD that he is, God love him) visibly shudder.
Enter the solution:
Our sweeter-than-pie two year old baby girl is modeling Vanna-White-style what is now prohibiting our SUV’s entry into the garage but WILL in relatively short order finish out an entire wall of bookshelves for my office. My heart skips a beat just imagining it done.
If only I COULD imagine it done. :)
Hubby is working on them slowly but surely… but they certainly won’t be complete before we officially begin our new school year in mid-August. Perhaps an early Christmas present, hmmm? A girl can dream.
In the meantime, I am sifting through curriculum — both old and new — with my trusty Well Trained Mind (WTM) by my side to piece together what our three littles will be tackling at the kitchen table this year.
If you’re familiar at all with WTM, you’ll know that our use of it means we employ a classical Christian methodology in our teaching around here. Being the control freak meticulous, caring teacher/mommy that I am, I tend to be slightly eclectic in my overall approach, specifically introducing bits of Charlotte Mason (CM)-inspired curriculum and resources here and there as I deem appropriate.
Here’s a rundown of what I have so far:
Everyone (aka mostly the boys):
- Bible/Catechism/Memory Work: Proverbs; Songs for Saplings – Questions with Answers Vols. 1-3; Mighty Acts of God (Starr Meade)
- Habit Training: Laying Down the Rails (CM – Simply Charlotte Mason/Sonya Shafer)
- Manners/Etiquette: Little Annie’s Art Book of Etiquette and Good Manners
- Geography: Operation World; A Child’s Geography; maps (Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia)
- Picture/Artist Study: Audubon, Monet, Cassatt, Larsson, Parrish, Moss (6 weeks each)
- Music/Composer Study: Children’s Music Academy group lessons (Jonah year 4, Bode year 1); composers Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky (6 weeks each)
- Nature Journals on own
- Hymn Study: Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers
- Read-Alouds: finish Swiss Family Robinson; Chronicles of Narnia
Jonah (1st/2nd grade):
- Math: continuing with Saxon 3 (starting with Lesson 65)
- Grammar: First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind, Year 2
- Writing: Writing with Ease, Year 2; Zaner-Bloser handwriting workbook, Level 2C
- Reading: mostly on own; comprehension for Boxcar Children using Veritas Press’ comprehension guide
- Spelling: continue with Spelling Workout B then into Spelling Workout C
- Language: continue with Songschool Latin; possibly learn a little German on the side
- History: Story of the World Volume 2: Middle Ages (Bode will be listening in a bit as well)
- Science: Earth Science and Astronomy… using a variety of resources
Boden (pre-K/K):
- Reading: continue with Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading; Bob Books
- Math: general counting/identification/mental math/manipulatives; begin Saxon 1 mid-year if ready
- Writing: Zaner-Bloser handwriting workbook, Level K
Annie (aka the wee one): continue with numbers, letters and sounds, colors, shapes, catechism memory work.. and playtime :)
Okay, yes. I know this sounds insane. But note that many of these areas of study aren’t done every day, and when done are brief (particularly composer/artist/hymn/nature studies, geography, etiquette). Jonah’s school day generally should last four hours or so, while Bode will only work for 45 minutes to one hour each day, if that.
I’d love to hear your plans for the year… please shoot me a link in the comments!
This is great! I am working my way through WTM, figuring out our curriculum for this next year. I will most likely have questions for you along the way.
Thank you so much for pointing me in this direction. I am loving it so far, and am grateful for your input.
Looks like a lot of fun! I’m going to have to look for the Annies Art Book. I think we’re raising a bunch of very casual kids…need to step up the instruction in this area. Here’s what we have lined up to start in a few weeks:
B (2nd Grade)
Bible, etc. – My Father’s World Names of Jesus study & memory verses, CBS study & memory verses for Daniel and a NT book (can’t remember which one, Ephesians, maybe?), Songs for Saplings (fun in the car)
Habit Training – Pulling out the Laying Down the Rails here, too. (Thanks for the encouragement on that!)
Grammar – First Language Lessons 2
Writing – Writing With Ease 2
Spelling – All About Spelling 2
Penmanship – making my own
Reading – mostly on his own, with some comprehension questions, and some reading aloud (for continued growth in inflection, intonation, and word-attack skills)
Read Alouds – Several classics related to early America (e.g., Laura Ingalls Wilder, Sarah Plain and Tall, etc.)
Math – Christian Light…trying something new here. Math is a bit of a struggle.
History/Geography – Adventures in My Father’s World (an overview of US History and the 50 states)
Science – from MFW, various physical science and biology topics and experiments that coordinate with the names of Jesus (The Rock, The Living Water, The Bread of Life, etc.)
Foreign Language – continue with Song School Latin
Music – piano lessons, study of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Swan Lake, & Sleeping Beauty
Art – making up our own to include skills, theory, picture studies and bio’s of notable artists
Shew!
The Twins (K5)
Tagging along with some of the above
Reading – Ordinary Parent’s Guide, Bob Books, and some Explode the Code worksheets
Penmanship – making my own
Math – Math-U-See Primer
Yep, this should be a piece o’ cake! ; ) Well, we’re going to have fun with it. Like you said, not every subject every day. Life is school, right? A lot of the Bible, Character Training, Read Alouds, Music, and Art stuff doesn’t have to feel like school. : )
Nikki,
My dad (Bob West) sent me a link to this WTM post. I loved reading it… brought me back to my early days of homeschooling. I can’t believe you have all those kiddos! I know they miss you at Intown. Sounds like you all are enjoying CO!
Warmly,
Heather
I love reading your HS plans…so exciting and motivating. I have a flip-flopped approach at present in which I lean more toward Charlotte Mason’s philosophies while considering more of a classical approach as the kids get older. Still need to purchase WTM!! Can’t wait to see “After” pics of your office…and I think our hubbies share OCD status.