Posted in schedules
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We just recieved yesterday from Britta at MorningstarLearning.com, our newest level of Rightstart and Cursive 1st. We are very excited about these.
Oldest dd is excited about cursive. When we read the Year of Miss Agnes, they talked about learning cursive and now dd is all for it. We have had trouble with reversals and starting letters in the wrong place for some time. I have looked through these materials and they look great. I have already cut out the cards and am laminating them with clear contact paper. We should have the entire alphabet introduced by Christmas and be writing our spelling lists in cursive after that.
After looking at Level C in rightstart, I can see that this is where oldest dd has needed to be for some time. Many of the concepts will be new to her while some are old hat. I think she will like a lot of the geometry and higher maths ideas that are introduced. Looks like we will have a lot of fun with this & it may take us the full year to complete the book.
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Posted in Reviews
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Crunchy Cons: How Birkenstocked Burkeans, Gun-Loving Organic Gardeners, Evangelical Free-Range Farmers, Hip Homeschooling Mamas, Right-Wing Nature Lovers, and Their Diverse Tribe of Countercultural Conservatives Plant to Save America (or at least the Republican party) by Rod Dreher was a great read.
It is quite informative and inspirational on the topic of being a conservative who lives a hippie lifestyle. There is a maifesto listed. And he talks about everything from who these people are to their view ons consumerism, food, housing, education, the environment and religion.
Crunchy Cons (I would put myself in this category) are concerned about the environment, often homeschool their children, live in smaller/older houses, don't buy into consumerism and lead spiritual lives.
It is really a great book and worth the time to read through. |
Posted in Reviews
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The Year of Miss Agnes is on the Sonlight Core K reading list and we just finished it up. It went well with our reading of Lief the Lucky and our talks about the artic region.
It was a very good book about a one-room schoolhouse in Alaska and the Englishwoman who comes to teach them and enrich their lives. My dd's learned about Alaska, native peoples of that region, deafness, cursive writing and a host of other great topics were introduced.
Great book & worth reading. |
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Our city annually puts on a great event for preschoolers to 2nd grade. They bring out all the city trucks, construction trucks and all kinds of equipment and allow the kids to sit in the cabs, work some of the buttons & even blow the horns.
It was a lot of fun. My oldest dd loved the Zombinni and all the slush that it had dumped on the parking lot. Both girls also liked getting to sit in the Helicopter & watiching it take off when the event was over.
The bookmobile was neat since we have often seen it but had never been on it. The tow truck as taking loads of kids on back & would tip them up. Oldest dd got to operate a digger, my youngest was scared of most of the people so didn't go on too many rides.
They both also loved the cherry picker and picking out candy from the pumpkin attatched to the top of the light pole. Also, the limo was fun since it had a TV but it was an older model and in need of repair.
We saw many friends there as well & had a great time. I wonder how many other cities have events like this? |
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This past summer after our trip to Disney World, I discovered the joys of scrapbooking. Matching paper to pictures & writing about our trip was so much fun and to know that our memories have been put on paper for the girls to read & remember for years to come gives me so much satisfaction. I also get to be creative.
Since this project, I have taken all my precious photographs out of the gummy acid filled photo albums which were eating my pictures. They are all arranged in boxes and I am currently working on mounting them to acid & liguin-free paper.
I love working with colored cardstock, patterned paper and creative memories products. I recently signed on as a creative memories consultant and am awaiting confirmation as I type. I am so excited about this new venture.
As you know from previous posts and links, we already have an E-bay store where I sell Ralph Lauren and Disney Bedding which is quite interesting. But this will be a way to support my new hobby and get together with friends on a regular basis to share pictures and stories and have fun.
I plan on doing monthly workshops for my friends where we can let the kids play while we work on our current scrapbook projects. So much fun!! |
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We ordered & recieved the Beautiful Early American History Primary semester I pack & we like the books. We had already read Lief the Lucky and are now reading Columbus (less interest in him) in anticipation of Pocahontas (the girls couldn't believe that she was a real person and not just a Disney fairytale character).
Story of the World & Usborne Greek Myths for Young Children are going great.
Oldest Dd is pretty much done with Right Start Level B & we are waiting for the Level C books. She finished Level B in a bout 5 months doing it 4 days a week. Most of it was review.
We are also waiting on Cursive first to arrive. I am going to use this with both girls. Oldest would like to switch over & youngest is just starting out & I want to avoid those pesky backwards letters.
Oldest is doing great with SWR. We are almost to list E again & I think we may go beyond List J by the end of the year. J is the goal for 1st grade. Youngest knows most of the first 26 phonograms.
We are looking for more science. Christian Liberty Nature Reader is nice but there are no experiements. Oldest Dd needs experiments. We have been "cooking" as a part of school because she wants to do experiments so badly. I am thinking hard on Real Science 4 Kids but don't know if I want to get the K-3 Chemistry or skip ahead to the Physic program. Dd would like to do physics but chemistry would probably have more messy experiements. I am also looking at A Reason for Science but it is rather expensive.
Still plugging along in Greek. Dd is now learning to write the letters of the Greek alphabet & the names for the letters. It's been fun.
Happy with this year so far. |
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I haven't done this in a while. This is our current Reading List. Now that fall is in full swing our reading list has changed a little over the last month or two.
History--A literary discovery of Greece & Viking days:
Story of The World & Usborne Book of Greek Myths for Young Children--read during school.
Eric the Red--just finished this biography of Lief the Lucky's Dad.
Lief the Lucky by D'Aulaire--Finished this 2 weeks ago. This book was great!! So good that I bought Beautiful Feet's Early American History Primary 1st Semester to do this year.
Brendan the Navigator--the is the biography of St. Brendan who was Irish & may have "discovered" America 1500 years ago.
Ancient Greece by DK Books
Pegasus, The Flying Horse by Jane Yolen--This is the story of Bellerophon Puzzle Maps USA by Nance L. Clouse Countries of the World: Norway by Kathleen W. Deady Food & Feasts with the Vikings by Hazel Martell Food & Feasts in Ancient Greece by Imogen Dawson Grandchildren of the Vikings by Matti A.. Pitkanen
Literature:
The Little Penguin by A. J. Wood The Way Mothers Are by Miriam Schlein
The Year of Miss Agnes--about a one-room schoolhouse in Alaska in the 1940's and their British teacher--on Sonlight's lists. We are learning a lot about Alaska, cursive, deafness & sign language from this book
Science:
Experiments with Foods by Salvatore Tocci DK Children's Quick & Easy Cook Book Earth, Sky, Wet, Dry by Durga Bernhard A Chef-- by Douglas Florian
Character:
It's a Spoon, Not a Shovel by Caralyn Buehner--a book about table manners Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey Miss Rumphius When I was Young in the Mountains
DD 1 is reading:
Franklin and the Big Pumpkin Franklin and the Contest is her next book |
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I was reading a random blog & this came up. I decided to take the challenge.
1. One Homeschooling book you have enjoyed? The Elsie Dinsmore books originally put the thought of homeschooling my own children in my head. But The Original Homeschooling Series by Charlotte Mason really inspired me to give my children the education I always wanted.
2. One resource you wouldn't be without? Teaching the Trivum by Laurie and Harvey Bluedorn.
3. One resource you wish you had never bought? Everything has been a learning experience but probably the most useless for us would be Teaching Painting in Waldorf Education--too deep for us.
4. One resource you enjoyed last year? Story of the World I.
5. One resource you will be using next year? Beautiful Feet Early American History Primary Semester I.
6. One resource you would like to buy? Prima Latina and Copybook I from Memoria Press.
7. One resource you wished existed? Curriculum/resource lending libraries so you could really try before you buy.
8. One homeschool catalog you enjoy reading? Memoria Press. The articles are so good.
9. One homeschooling website you use regularly? The Well Trained Mind Message Board.
10. How many days are under your belt this year? This is day 35.
11. How is it going? Great. We have found what works for us and are finding our flow.
12. Tag 5 people. I am challenging my readers to take on this list. |
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In light of Baby Blue's latest adventure in head lice being brought home as the school year begins--We bring you our Top 10 Reasons Why We Homeschool.
1. Academics--we can follow a more rigourous course of study in less time and make it fun. Latin, Greek and Math are our core. With Composition (and all it entails), Chronoligical Hsitory and Science rounding out our studies.
2. Flexiable Schedule--we can school year round and have Fridays free. With no long vacations in the summer no one gets behind in math or reading ability.
3. We set the Pace--we can move as fast or as slow as we need to and start the next level when we finish up the old level.
4. No Carpool lines--there is no waiting for 30 minutes to an hour to pick up the children or drop them off for school. Basically, we don't have to cater to the public school system's rules and schedules.
5. No Head Lice--this was not a problem where I grew up but where I live now it is an epidemic.
6. Watching Milestones--I am the person who heard my daughter read her first word and her first book and solve her first mulitiplication problem. There is joy in watching the light-bulbs come on in my children's brain as they discover the world.
7. Togetherness--My daughters are each other's best friends and playmates. In adulthood they will hopefully be each other's support system as they traverse through life. I don't know about other people but I have seen my high school friends since high school.
8. God--our belief system is our life. God and Jesus are seen everywhere in our studies. In the public school system my children would not be allowed to have access to God and Jesus throughout the day.
9. Innocence--my girls can remain children for as long as they need to be.
10. Joy--Homeschooling is a joy and a blessing for our family. We wouldn't want it any other way.
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Earlier we had decided to stretch history to 6 years so we could take our time but now we are wanting to add in American history to our cycle. We have been feeling the lack of citizenship and knowledge of events, people, places and things that are important icons to our country.
So our new plan:
Last year we took a look at early civiliazations, ancient Egypt and Old Testament times using Story of the World I.
This year we are studying the Ancient Greeks, Romans and New Testament times using Story of the World I, Usborne Book of Greek Myths for Young Children and perhaps The Story of the Romans? For American History we will be doing semester 1 of Beautiful Feet's Early American History Primary.
Year 2--For World history we will be studying the Dark and Middle ages using Story of the World II and The Story of the Middle Ages. For American History we will use the second semester of Beautiful Feet's Early American History Primary and The Story of the 13 Colonies.
Year 3--For World History we will be studying the Renaissance, Reformation and age of Discovery using Story of the World II & III and/or Story of the Renaissance and Reformation. For American History we will be using The Story of the Great Republic and the Beautiful Feet books that relate to the first part of the 19th century. We may also start the Holling C. Holling Geography studies.
Year 4--For World History we will look at 1700 to 1900 using Story of the World III & IV. For American History we will look at Pioneers and Indian peoples through a variety of books. Also we will finish up the Holling C. Holling Geography studies.
Year 5--Modern History will be the focus. We will take a look at the Civil War from the previous century and then go on to the 20th century. We will use Story of the World IV and a variety of TimeLife books that discuss various wars and decades.
I believe this to be a good plan that will allow us to see how history interconnects. We won't just spend a little time on American history as Story of the World allows, we will be able to travel through American history and World history seperately and watch it converge in the 20th century.
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We read Bible stories to our little ones to impart upon them the lessons that God has taught his people. To show them what is good to do and what is not good to do. To lead them to salvation.
We should also be reading Greek myths and fables as they are a treasure trove of stories of what happens when we follow our human natures.
Lately we have been reading through Aesop's Fables and it is full of so many lessons in life. Things we should all know and things we know we should not do. The morals in Aesop's would also make nice copywork on instruction in life.
We are also finding many of the myths to teach important moral lessons. Recently we read the story of Midas. My daughter has been studying this one quite intensely and I think she is learning that it is not good to be greedy and to always want for more. But to take pleasure in those things you most enjoy in life--your loved ones.
A good balance of Bible Stories and Greek Myths and Fables can help to develop character in our children. Bible Stories show us God's will and plan for us and Greek stories teach us what happens when we follow our sinful natures. |
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I've just finished reading and mulling over Andrew Cambell's book, The Latin Centered Curriculum. It is actually fairly close to what we have been doing in our homeschool.
After reading Charlotte Mason's, Origianal Homeschooling Series, I was struck by her thoughts on short lessons, learning multiple languages at the same time, living books and chronological history.
When I read Susan Wise Bauer's book The Well Trained Mind, I was intrigued by her plans but found them to be quite textbook heavy. I liked the Latin, history, logic and retoric but I didn't care to have seperate texts for vocabulary, spelling, reading, writing, grammar etc.
Teaching the Trivum by the Bluedorns really appealed to my Christian soul and I loved the idea of learning Greek so we can read the Bible in the original text. Hebrew also is tempting. This book is also very encouraging. But my oldest loves math and science so we really didn't click with the wait to do math until the child is ten years old idea.
Now, Andrew Campbell's book, The Latin Centered Curriculum, clicks with us. He doesn't overwhelm us with a variety of texts and subjects to be studied. There are a few core subjects which we will need texts for and never more than five at a time.
Texts for math, music, Greek and Latin are at the core and used throughout. These are the subjects that train the mind to think logically. Logic, retoric, phonics, and the progymnasta are covered in their turn at different stages.
Other subjects are covered in a more relaxed manner. These are Chrsitian studies (essentially the Bible and catechism), Classial studies (the ancients) and Modern studies (the Renaissance and beyond). Reading one to a few memorable books a year in these topics is enough. There is no need to read ten books on a single event or season in history. One great book is all you need.
Science is the only weak point in this program but can be easily rectified. The early years are appropriately enough mainly nature studes and the later years only cover the minimums needed for college application. We will probably start the hard science earlier in 6th grade with general science so we can cover advanced chemistry and physics before college.
Overall, The Latin Centered Curriculum, is a good plan. And one that we would find easy to follow as it suits us and our goals. We want to be well prepared for life and all that it may bring in experiences and opportunities. |
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What do I see as the most important habits of an effective school year? Trinity Homeschool is asking this on her blog. Here is my list:
1. Written Goals--I find that writing up a list for each child dividing up the "subjects" and listing the "curriculum" we are going to use and how far I would like to see us get with them is very helpful. I usually don't look at these until mid-year or the end of the year & I find that we have usually gone beyond what I had hoped for.
2. Determination to Homeschool--Unless you are commited, you will always struggle.
3. A Supportive Husband--Yes, it makes all the difference.
4. Time Management--Without Managers of Their Homes to get me back on track periodically, I would waste so much time doing useless tasks rather than prioritizing and doing those tasks that are most important to me and my family. I don't use this militantly but I use it to remind me of what is important. I just found out in my last round of schedule making for this fall that I am spending 19 hours a week on my home business! So I am working part-time and homeschooling.
5. Intense weeks broken up by light weeks--I am finding that we can hit things hard & heavy for 5 to 7 weeks and if we take a week of just fun stuff that it takes a lot of stress off of us. I use the heavy weeks for seatwork and the light weeks for science experiments, book of time & art projects.
6. Good Materials--I only use 3 textbooks. SWR, Rightstart Math and Hey Andrew's Greek. For everything else I find wonderful living books from the library or spines that are like storybooks.
7. Keeping it Simple--If I keep our schedule simple and fun, we do not stress out as much. I try not to overbook curriculum, appointments, or outings.
That's about it. That's my key to a good year. |
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This is our "break" week. I have scheduled these out to happen every 5 to 7 weeks so that we can put down our regualar routine & relax while still having school.
So far this week, we spent Monday catching up our book of time. The girls loved coloring the figure from History Through the Ages. I bought the CD so we could print out our own. We used the Timeline size with the script. These were big enough for small hands to color.
After we finished, we looked through the book. It was interesting to see which times were fairly active. In 3500 BC, it says Noah's Ark, the Ice Age, Tower of Babel, Climate changes in the Sahara, and Sumerian Civilization all happened. 2200 BC was also very active around the world with Egyptian Dynasties, Abraham, the Minoans & the Xia dynasty in China. Wow! It is really neat how a book of time pulls all this together so visually.
On Tuesday, I had dd spell some word from SWR "tests" so I could figure out if we should start at the beginning again or go on in the lists. We are going to start at the begininng again as she knows most of the basic 26 phonograms but is still having trouble with some that have 2 or more sounds & she isn't doing well at all with double letter phonograms. I know she hasn't been listening but I knew we could review it all again so it was ok.
On Wednesday, dd made a card and my little one worked on the first 3 letters she has learned with HWT pre-K. Then we got out the magnetic fraction strips from Rightstart Math. These were great! We were able to clearly see that 2 of the 1/6ths equal 1/3 and other such fraction ideas.
Today, we are going to work with magnets. I have book of magnet experiments and since it is going to rain we will do them.
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I've been thinking quite a bit lately about stretching history over six years instead of doing the 4 year history cycles as recommended by The Well Trained Mind. This way we can really delve in and enjoy the time periods and cultures. We can take time to relax and enjoy some of the great books and not rush through a stack of good books.
We are looking at Greece this fall with plenty of time for Aesop's and Black Ships Before Troy. In the spring we will move to Roman history and explore some of the famous men.
Next year, we will explore the dark and middle ages. Reading the King Arthur Tales, Chaucer, and Robin Hood. We can explore castles, knights and vikings. This is the year we will start prima latin so we can tie it into the church of these times.
Then we will spend half of a year in the renaissance maybe even doing a renaissance Christmas party. Great Art, Queen Elizabeth and the Italians will be the focus. The second half of the year will be spent in the Reformation and Exploration periods. So we can spend time with Luther, pirates, and puritans. We can explore and discover the new world.
The following year will be spent in watching America go from a few settlers to the westward expansion. We will read the Little House books, learn the names of the presidents, the states & capitals and read the Holling C. Holling books to learn about American Geography. We will also touch on state authors since we have quite a few that wrote for children.
Then we will finish up our tour with modern world history. We will talk about government, discuss current events. Read about the horrors of the 20th century wars, the roaring '20's, the Great Depression, Grandma's generation and bring us up to date.
I think taking our time through history will allow us to truly explore each time period and culture. We can focus on the "great" books about that period. We can fully explore being pioneers of the west rather than touch on it for a month. We can meet the people of the times rather than skim over the events of the time.
I think it will work well. |
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We are now 3 weeks into the schoolyear and our schedule is working well. Here's what we are doing:
While they color the coloring page or map from the SOTW activity guide, I read to them from Leading Littles Ones to God and then the selection from Story of the World or Usborne Greek Myths for Young Children.
Then I will work with my youngest on HWT pre-K activities. We are doing 1 letter a week. We work in playdough, then use the "blocks" (mine are cardboard) and then write in the book.
After, I review phonogram cards with both girls and dictate words from Spell to Write and Read to my oldest who uses a white board to write them on. (very easy to change turned letters or mistakes on a white board).
Then I do 1/2 of the rightstart math A lesson with my youngest, while my oldest looks through and reads to herself the words in her learning log. Then I work with my oldest on Rightstart B.
After the rightstart lesson, while oldest plays with math manipulatives we review the Greek letters we know and introduce a new one.
We are alternating weeks so on the weeks where we are doing copywork and science. Oldest works on copywork and youngest plays with HWT manipulatives while I read LLG and Christian Liberty Nature Reader.
Our lessons are shorter on these weeks since we are not dictating words only reviewing phonograms for SWR.
So in chart form
Week 1:
Leading Little Ones to God Story of the World/Usborne Greek Myths for Young Children Spell to Write and Read Handwriting Without Tears prek for youngest Rightstart math A & B Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek I
Week II
LLG Christian Liberty Nature Reader I Copywork Phonogram review HWT PreK RS Math A & B HATMG I
I like the simplified program. We don't have to have textbooks for all the various subjects normally taught like social studies, spelling, reading, math, language arts, music, cultural studies, etc. We can concentrate on what really matters and work toward becoming human beings who can think for themselves with the guidance of God.
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I got Memoria Press' new catalog yesterday. It is always such a treat to read. The articles are so well written and discuss classical education as it ought to be and what the goals of classical education should be.
There are more articles on the importance of Latin, Multum non Multa, and philosophy. I noticed that they have added beautiful full color pictures to Famous Men of Rome.
It is the article by Drew on Multum non Multa that greatly intrigues me. The idea of studying only those subjects that really matter & leaving the rest out. To slim down the curriculum.
I mean do we really need spelling, language arts, reading, penmanship, math, science, art, social studies, cultural studies, Bible studies, physical education, music, musical instruments, history, and so on and so on goes the typical textbook style education.
To slim down to what really matters. In the early years penmanship, phonics and math. Once penmanship and phonics are mastered then you can look toward replacing penmanship with copywork and then coposition. Phonics can be replaced with Latin and Greek. History and science are studied together. Art and music becomes independent studies.
Why copywork and compostion instead of seperate texts for reading, writing, spelling, penmaship and grammar? With copywork the student works on penmanship while copying well written sentences. After modeling these sentences for a couple of years in third grade they move up to the progymnasta for compostion and they model their original works on that of other famous works starting with the fable and ending in Senior year with the law thesis.
In composition, attention is paid to spelling, grammar, and penmanship. Reading of good books is something the student can do on their own. It is more enjoyable to read a part from a curricula than as a part of a curricula. Their reading lists may include history, literature and fun books.
But where is grammar? Grammar comes in with the Latin and Greek studies. The best way to learn about English grammar is to study a foeign language and find out how different we are. Latin will help your child with vocabulary, grammar and history and science studies.
But what good is learning Greek? Now that is where the bible studies come in. We learn Koine Greek so that we may read the New Testament in its original language. Memorizing verses in Greek will bring us greater understanding of God's plan. And bring us closer to God.
History and science can be studied together as a family. Touring the ages chronologically at our own pace taking our time to just read one or two great books rather than the slew of ok and good books available on a subject.
But what about science? There is plenty of time for science in the latter years as the children grow and can do more independent work. In the early years nature studies and outings to explore the world outdoors is wonderful and enriching and all they need.
And art? And music? And Physical Education? Art can be shared in co-ops or take place when they are given ready access to art supplies and a table where they can create on their own when they are feeling creative. Music appreciation can take place in the car as you do errands, library day or appointments.
And Physical Education--get that child outdoors and let them play. Take them to the pool or add in a class that they like. Ballet, Karate, soccer, basketball--there are generally lots of classes abounding in most aread many of them given through parks and recreation or a local Y.
You don't need to overstuff your seatwork time with textbooks. Go Multum non Multa. And feel the stress roll off your back and see your time free up for those things that your family really likes to do.
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Posted in Reviews
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I am one to always opt for the fun books. We love Pilkey, Jan Brett, Dr. Suess and a variety of other authors that make us laugh or send us off into to happy dreamland. So when it came to starting to try out read alouds I of course made Sonlight selections and serial chapter books my first selections.
Most of Sonlight's core K selections were too boring or dark for us. We tried the Magic Tree House, Kitten Tales, Boxcar Children and other selections finding them to be well serial. They are written to a same formual where basically names & general situation is changed.
So the kitten books went child aquires kitten, kitten has problems adjusting to home, kitten does something extroadinary to prove its worth and everything is resolved and all are happy. Magic Tree House had the same plot lines everytime only changing the time period.
After coming to this realization I thought we were stuck and waiting for my children to mature more before getting to read the real meat of our literature heritage. But I was wrong. So very, very, very wrong.
I asked the girls if they wanted to read The Wizard of Oz. They said: "Yes!" And then I picked up Black Ships before Troy just to maybe skim through and give them the basic plot.
We started Wizard of Oz and they were enthralled. They love the story and will even listen to it during the day. And Black Ships Before Troy--they were enchanted. They wanted to hear more and in the language that it is written not mommy's edited version.
Read the classics or edited classics to your children. It is the literature that we as a people treasure and there must be a reason for that otherwise we would not still be reading various forms of the Illiad, Beowulf, Shakespeare, or any of the other great works.
Don't waste this precious time reading 10 chapter formulaic books pick up the real meat and as Laurie Bluedorn wrote in Teaching the Trivium: Feed them literary steak not the book equivilent of McDonald's hamburgers!
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We are so excited about starting the history of Ancient Greece. We are going to spend the fall on the study of this culture. And the addition of Koine Greek will make it extra special. I even ordered Elementary Greek for myself as it was only $13.00 more than the book by Gavin Betts that I was planning on ordering.
Now for this week's Library List:
Our Chapter Book Read Aloud Selection is the Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum. It has been quite a hit and they could sit through more than one chapter a day but we don't seem to have time to read it at a quicker pace.
Easy Readers for my oldest: Scat, Cats! by Joan Holub (viking easy to read) As You Wish Disney's Aladdin (step into reading. She loves Aladdin.) Magic Matt and the Skunk in the Tub by Grace Maccarone I shop with my Daddy by Grace Maccarone (hello reader) Monster Math Picnic by Grace Maccarone (she is a favorite as her books are fun.)
Fun books to read together: A Collection for Kate by Barbara deRubertis (math matters reader) A Slimy Story by Michelle Knudsen (science solves it) Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett (we love her books. So gentle.) The Silly Gooses by Dav Pilkey ( He is funny. We loved Cat Kong.) Egyptian Stories by Robert Hall The Warlord's Beasd by Virginia Walton Pilegard (Love anything about the orient.) The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg The Fairies Book of Flowers from A to Z by Jenny Lewis ( They love fairies.)
Harder topics: More Joy of Mathematics by Theoni Pappas (the first book was checked out so I thought we would give this one a look.)
History: The Palace of Minos at Knossos by Chris Scarre and Rebecca Stefoff Ancient Greek Children by Richard Tames The Adventures of Odysseus by Neil Philip Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki In Search of Knossos by Giovanni Caselli Mystery History of the Trojan Horse Ancient Greece The Atlas of the Classical World by Piero Bardi Cultural Atals for Young People: Ancient Greece by Dr. Anton Powell
We will probably skim through most of the nonfiction books mainly looking at the pictures. Next time around we will explore these books more fully. We may start reading Black Ships before Troy. |
Posted in Reviews
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My dd has made great leaps again in math. She mastered time, money, regrouping and is learning measurement this spring--all on her own from real life experiences and making up her own problems.
We are using Rightstart but I am beginning to think that I should have gotten her the transition lessons rather than level B because it goes at a faster pace covering all the important topics.
I do think that we may have found an interesting direction to go in when it comes time to do higher math. I've looked at many things available and recently stumbled upon the posts of Adrian the mathematician on the Well Trained Mind boards. He has some interesting suggestions. I am still struggling through most of his writings.
He did tell me that when my oldest gets beyond my abilities I will need to learn more math. Here is his recommendations for higher mathematics to be studied in order:
Algebra by I M Gelfand, et al Method of Coordinates by I M Gelfand, et al Functions and Graphs by I M Gelfand, et al Euclidean Geometry: A First Course by Mark Solomonvich Trigonometry by I M Gelfand, et al Sequences, Combinations, Limits by S I Gelfand et al The Principles of Mathematical Analysis by Walter Rudin Linear Algebra by Georgi Shilov Differential Equations by George F. Simmons
It is mostly Russian mathematicians but they looked interesting and like they would appeal to my oldest who doesn't like to be spoonfed math. |