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I can't believe it....but because I have BEGUN to learn to delegate to others and have lightened my load, I've actually been able to start planning for NEXT fall already. Yep, that's right....07-08. Now before you think I'm being prideful, please remember that this is going to be my 14th year of homeschooling.....so instead of feeling prideful....I'm just feeling relieved that I'm finally able to get this done earlier than usual. Maybe it's because I'm not close to A Master's Academy of Fine Arts now....and so, I'm having to think outside of the "box" that I had been using for the kids for the last 12 years or so. Or maybe it's because I'm still overseeing the Curriculum development of the Cordis program associated with Master's. Whatever the case, I'm excited to be working on our choices for next year already. We take six years (instead of the Classical method's four year cycle) to go through the historic time periods. That is because of several reasons. One being, I don't see how we can cover everything that needs covered in four years....and Two, being that because the arts play an important part in our family, a six year cycle is necessary because the arts can't be neatly divided into four time periods. Next year, we start the whole cycle again. The Ancient Time period will be our focus next year and that is what I've been spending so much time reading and researching the past few weeks. My oldest son will be a freshman in High School. Here is what I am planning for him: Ancient History/Literature: Main Text: Streams of Civilization, Volume I Reading List: Atlas of the Bible Lands; Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt; The Cat of Bubastes; Mara; Daughter of the Nile; The Greek Way; D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths';The Chidlren's Homer, Augustus Caesar's World; Caesar's Gallic Wars; Quo Vadis?; Julius Caesar by Shakespeare; Antony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare; and Beyond the Desert Gate. You may notice that this book list is the book list from Beautiful Feet Books. However, many of these titles also appear in the Tapestry of Grace curriculum and also in many classical method book lists. We also are considering adding a few more titles to this list such as Plato's Republic as a basis for the study of government...but we will see...don't want to overkill....and lose our flexibility and individual child approach. Science: He will be using Apologia's Biology Course but we will also supplement with the Literature approach to Science which goes through the History of Science chronologically. Thus, we will be reading about and doing research and experiments dealing with the following scientists: Archimedes, Strabo, Hero of Alexandria, Eratosthenes, Pythagoras, Aristotle and Galen. We are using the following books: Archimedes and the Door of Science; Aristotle and Scientific Thought; The Librarian Who Measured the Earth; Galen and the Gateway to Medicine. Math: We have switched to Teaching Textbook and WOW...what a difference it is making. We follow their instructions exactly and my son is really getting it. He is currently in 8th grade and doing Algebra I....and next year will do Geometry with the Teaching Textbook approach as well. This is an awesome way to do math..because it is true to homeschooling. It allows you to go as fast or as slow as the student's abilities dictate. Another refreshing concept! Grammar/Composition: We will be switching from Easy Grammar Plus...which we are finishing this year....and Write Source 2000, to Jensen's Grammar and Jensen's Format Writing. Don't panic......I've not gone hard core with grammar and comp.......rather, we are using these books as a framework with which to add more "creative" elements from Writing Strands and Write Shop. I'm going to follow the format for a grammar and composition notebook that they give in Tapestry of Grace which is similar to what I've done over the years anyway....it just gives me more structure. Foreign Language: I'm still undecided in this area.........and don't know quite what to do. Still looking, searching and praying. Electives: I've recently become acquainted with North Atlantic Regional School in Maine that works with homeschool families for High School transcripts and accreditation. They have a whole book of various self-developed courses for homeschool students based on their individual interests. What a refreshing thought! Principles of Visual Media: Although we are not close to Master's or Artios Academies, they do have the Principles of Visual Media class available online and on DVD starting this fall....so Jordan will be the guinea pig for that course going "live" or perhaps will take Intro to Visual Media first. All of the first year Artios classes will be available to him online or via DVD next year.......so I'm thankful that he will be able to "go" to Artios even though he won't be there in the actual classroom. Well, that's probably more information that you desired.....but I'm journaling more to myself than to others right now. Next time I write, I'll tell you about my rising 4th grader and how I see his studies next year, dovetailing into my HS students studies in some areas.....and then, of course, what I'm going to be doing with him specifically geared for his interests and skill level. Oh..by the way, the above "ideas" are always flexible at the Lane house.....and creativity and integration are the key elements to what we do during homeschooling. It is important to us to individualize the instruction for our kids....and gear it to their individual abilities and interests. Have a great day! Lori
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