From My Desk

Math
Saxon Algebra - we completed Test #9

New Elementary Math (Singapore) - completing Chapter #10 in co-op

Spanish
Rosetta Stone - finishing Unit One testing

Religion - week off from didactics; service project fot Samaritan House

Language Arts

Spelling Workout and Vocabu-Lit - one weekly lesson each

Easy Grammar- direct objects (8th graders)

Warriner's Grammar - 9th grader falling behind!

Journalism - 9th grader submitted hard news story to our local paper

Music

9th grader performed with the Youth Symphony Orchestra

All are in rehearsals for upcoming band and choir concerts

Science - finishing up Module 6 in Apologia Physical Science

History - Week #9

Literature - in progress

9th Grader:  Tale of Two Cities

8th Graders:  Quiet Light and Citidel of God

Happy Thanksgiving!

11:57 AM - Nov. 20, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Curriculum Plans for 2007-2008

This year I have two in 8th grade and one in 9th grade....starting our high school years!   We will continue to do Math, Science and Foreign Language altogether.  The boys will do their Grammar and Religion together with me.  I also have a good amount of discussion topics with my daughter, planned for Religion.  I'm looking forward to a new year with a focus on deepening our relationship with one another.

Bible/Religion:

Holy Bible

Chief Truths of the Faith by Fr. Laux  (9th grade)

Catholic Morality by Fr. Laux  (9th grade)

Our Life in the Church   of  the Faith and Life series  (8th grade)

Catechism in Examples  (8th grade)

various biographies from the Vision Book series

Mission Outreach: and other monthly service projects

English:

Grammar and Composition Third Course  (9th grade)

Easy Grammmar Plus  (8th grade)

Spelling Workout

Vocabu-Lit

Journalism co-op class  (9th grade)

History & Literature:

Christ and the Americas  by Ann Carroll   (9th grade)

U.S. History and Geography & American Literature   (Mother of Divine Grace) (9th grade)

World History & Literature    (8th grade)

All Ye Lands   by Rollin Lasseter (8th grade)

Book of Centuries

Math:

Saxon Algebra 1 (together)

Math Counts Team

Science:

Exploring Creation with Physical Science by Jay Wile

Rock Springs Nature Center: observation and classes*

     *"Wetlands" class and seining in September

Nature Notebooks

Foreign Language:

Rosetta Stone Latin American Spanish  Level 1

Spanish Co-op class

Fine Arts:

Millikin University Children's Choir

St Patrick's School Band: flute trumpet and clarinet players

private piano lessons

Physical Education:

Decatur Gators Swim Team

For Mom:

Homeschool Tracker

8:53 AM - Aug. 10, 2007 - comments {2} - post comment

Planning for Next Year in the New Year

Aside from the fact that I tend to be a compulsive planner, it really is time to start planning for the 2007-2008 school year.   It's the perfect time for adjustments for THIS year based on desires for next year!

First,  I will have my oldest student in high school.  Decisions on remaining independent vs. enrolling under an accredited school's umbrella, transfering high school credits, and college prep/entrance requirements are suddenly looming on the horizon.  The first decison made, we will enroll in an accredited high school program. 

Second decison.....which one?  In evaluating some of the accredited high school programs, Keystone and the Allied National High School,  we decided we definitely desired a Catholic high school education.  The accredited Catholic homeschool programs we explored include Seton Home Study, Kolbe Academy,  and Mother of Divine Grace School.  Seton offers a traditional, rigorous academic curriculm;  Kolbe and MODG follow the classical education model.  We have enjoyed several of the Seton classes through grade school including Religion, English and Reading/Literature.  But we've always leaned toward the more classical model.  Both Kolbe and MODG are also very literature-based which matches our educational goals and philosophy.

Third........cost and support.  The founder of Mother of Divine Grace, Laura Berquist, wrote the first book I read about classical education and homeschooling titled, Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum. 

The book itself has been of great support and inspiration over the last 10 years and I have met Laura Berquist twice at homeschooling conferences.  She is very real about our Catholic Faith and the development of children's faculties of faith and reason.  I have followed many of her recommendations throughout K-8th grade.

The high school program is designed as a college prep curriculum imbued with teaching Catholic history and morality.   The high school program offers a degree of flexibility for families desiring to modify some coursework and teach some courses together.  The tuition is family-based vs. student-based....a good value for larger families.  Consultants provide three conferences/year to evaluate student progress and parent concerns.  Teacher-assisted and Teacher-directed options are available for added direct support to the student.

The first phase of enrollment applications for the 2007-2008 academic year are due this month for Mother of Divine Grace School.   We decided to pursue this program as our own goals seem to best match those of the school, the cost is affordable and several degrees of support are available to meet our needs as we negotiate a college prep course of studies through the high school years. So, as it turns out,  we really DID need to start planning for next year during the New Year!

8:11 AM - Jan. 5, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Framework for Our Day 2006-2007

8:00am:      Band practice at a local school [Mon and Fri]

8:00am:      Vocabu-Lit [Tues-Wed-Thurs]

8:30am:     Apologia's  Physical Science [Tues-Wed-Thurs]

9:30am:     Saxon Algebra ½ [Mon-Thurs] 
                     Consumer Education aka grocery shopping together [Fri]

10:30am:    the ever-important SNACK! (often outside)

10:45am:    Religion/Bible

11:15am:    Seton Reading

12noon:    Lunch

12:30pm:   Spelling Workout [Mon-Thurs] 
                     Leave for Co-op [Fri]

1:00pm:    Seton English  [Mon-Thurs]
                   Co-op:    Math Challenge Club [Fri]

1:45pm:    Spanish: we just finished 4 years of Latin: taking a break [Mon-Thurs]
                   Co-op:    Spanish Class [Fri]

2:30pm:    American History [Mon-Thurs] 
                    Co-op:   Pre-Algebra

3:10pm:    instrument practice

3:30pm:   Maps, Charts and Graphs [Mon]
                 Millikin University Children's Choir [Tues]

                 The Fallacy Detective [Wed]
                 Keyboarding Lesson [Thurs]

4:00pm:   Piano practice

6:00pm:   Piano lessons [Mon]
                 Swim Team [Tues-Wed-Thurs]

8:30pm:    Literature

We don't keep time by this schedule....the time frames are fairly lenient/flexible. But we definitely need a framework to get all our inside and outside commitments coordinated! We do many of these subjects together, so I NEED the schedule!

11:05 AM - Aug. 22, 2006 - comments {2} - post comment

What Your 18 Year Old Needs To Know

As I have been accumulating a list of Life Skills for our kids, I found this interesting post on What Your 18 year old Needs to Know.   I think this list to be extremely diverse and intriguing.  Heck, I'm more than twice the age of 18 and haven't accomplished many of these tasks!  This list sets a very high bar, but I think kids need to be challenged to stretch beyond their comfort zone.  What do you think of this list?

10:12 AM - Aug. 1, 2006 - comments {3} - post comment

Life Skills: Goals for Junior High Students

My children are educated at home in life skills.  ALL of our children are educated at home in life skills to one degree or another.  We just happen to home educate in academic subjects, and Life Skills has become a "required course"  in our homeschool.   Whether you homeschool or not, maybe a Life Skills course for your family will add some interesting activities to your summer days.

In a previous post, I described our Life Skills course for Grades K-6 .  These are the life skills we concentrate on in the junior high grades:

Grades 7-8:

Maintain healthy and trimmed nails

Arrange for own haircuts

Complete all tasks for washing, drying, & storing clothing

Iron own clothes

Shop for clothing

Waterproof and or polish shoes and boots

Take written phone messages

Open doors for adults

Water house plants and gardens

Mow lawn safely

Fill mower with gas

Pump gas for car

Start car and warm up in the winter

Add windshield fluid to car

Read a road map

Clean fireplace

Recycle all appropriate disposables

Polish furniture and clean windows

Cook frozen and canned foods

Mix and cook pancakes

Make tossed salad

Make coffee and other hot beverages

Assist with grocery shopping

Make a savings account or checking account deposit

Demonstrate water safety and boat safety practices

Demonstrate bike safety practices

Fill a bike tire, adjust seat and brake calipers

Serve as helpers at Vacation Bible School

Serve in the parish community life as requested

Entertain and instruct younger children

Teach a class topic to small group of preschoolers

Bathe a toddler safely

Feed and diaper an infant

Efficient keyboard skills to produce Word documents

Understand weather patterns/ forecasts and plan events accordingly

Plans and execute individual daily school assignments

Keeps own calendar of commitments and appointments

The overall goal is always to make good habits which contribute to our household management and/or prepare our children for independent living.  In this way, all parents can claim to be home educators.

Enjoy your summer days....from Trinity Prep School!

featured in the Carnival of Family Life

4:36 PM - Jun. 29, 2006 - comments {3} - post comment

Give Credit For Life Skills

Not all homeschoolers may agree with my proposition, but I think our homeschooled students should be given credit for Life Skills.  Some moms call it Home-Economics, in my high school the boys enrolled in "Bachelor Know-How".  But even in the primary and elementary years of school, Life Skills has a valid place in a homeschool curriculum.

I have included Individual Independence, Household Management, Keyboard Skills, Child Development and Community Service under the heading of our Life Skills courses.  Every year the specific objectives and skills checklist changes, depending on the age of the child.   The overall goal is always to make good habits which contribute to household management and/or prepare a child for independent living.

Grades K-3 :

Dress self and make own bed

Take a shower and shampoo hair independently

Put away clean clothes

Set table

Load and empty dishwasher

Feed pets

Empty garbage

Wipe bathroom sinks after use

Put away groceries

Make a sandwich

Make emergency calls

Vacuum and dust

Learn to swim

Check books out of the library

Use small allowance for expenditures of choice

Entertain younger children

Deliver Meals on Wheels to the door of elderly

Make friendly visits with elderly accompanied by mom

Grades 4-6:

Clean own drawers and closets

Fold clothes neatly without wrinkles

Sort clothes by color, dirt, fabric content

Operate washer and dryer

Clean toilet and mop floors

Know different uses of a variety of household cleaners

Clean pet cages and bowls

Wash car

Weed garden

Change bed linens

Replace lightbulbs and understand wattage

Read recipes and cook simple meals

Boil and scramble eggs

Bake cakes, cupcakes and cookies

Pack a cold lunch with understanding of basic food groups

Make change and count change

Compare quality and prices including unit pricing

Understand the concept of savings accounts, interest, tithing and taxes

Clean interior of car

Wash car properly

Understand uses of medicine and seriousness of overuse

Know emergency first aid procedures

Sing in church choir

Serve as altar servers at Mass

Serve in the parish life community as requested

Read to younger children

Change diapers and feeding of toddler

Proper keyboard finger placement and usage

Create and print Word documents independently

Understand weather categories and take proper shelter during Tornado Warnings

Maintain orderliness of bookshelves and school desks

Maintain a school notebook with proper sections for saved work

I give my kids a checklist of the skills we are working on that year.  They have 2-3 daily assignments in household management skills.  As I'm still refining our list for junior high and high school, I will make a separate entry.  Are there specific skills I haven't thought of you'd like to suggest?  Do you give credit for life skills in your homeschool? 

Life Skills for Junior High Kids

6:20 PM - Jun. 27, 2006 - comments {1} - post comment

A Typical Day: 2005-2006 School Year

Of course there is no typical day!  And I don't set a timer.  This is simply a sketch of our goals any given day.  Basically, math must be done before snack time and language arts type subjects need to be done before lunch.  Some days we're so into history that we skip science and double up on it the next day.  We generally school year round, but in June our schedule becomes much more activity-based.  We keep math and language arts going in some form, and delve more deeply into individual child-directed interests.

5:30 am   Mom's up and out to Curves

7:00 am   Children up for breakfast

7:30 am   Chores

8:00 am   Off to band practice or Latin Co-op

9:30 am   Math together (Saxon Algebra ½)

10:30 am  Snack time

10:45 am  Language Arts/Literature includes Spelling, Vocabulary, English, and Seton Reading

12 noon    Lunch

1:00 pm    History together- Our Pioneers and Patriots and Book of Centuries

2:00 pm    Science together- Apologia Science

2:30 pm    Faith Formation

3:00 pm    Music - piano practice, band instrument practice and/or choir practice

5:00 pm    Dinner

6:00 pm    Swim Team practice 3x/week or piano lesson

Books we've been reading.

What does your day look like?  If you have a blog entry about your typical day, post the link in my comments section.

7:25 AM - May. 19, 2006 - comments {1} - post comment