mozart & mud pies - Homeschool Blogger

November Lessons

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 06:33:00 -0600

Dear Friends,

The Liturgical Calendar holds such treasure to inspire our children this month. Themes of gratitude, remembrance, and preparation help our hearts stay open and receptive to the needs of others. I've assembled some of my family's favorite resources and traditions here.

Please help yourself to anything that might be nourishing to you.

On The Liturgical Calendar for November:

All Saints Day ( Nov. 1)

Commemoration of All Faithful Departed (All Souls, Nov. 2)

A beautiful reason to make a Saints & Souls Tree

(This is nice way to decorate the dining room for Thanksgiving, too.)

St. Martin (Nov. 11)

This is one of my favorite days of the church year. Here's an especially lovely version (thank you, Lisa) of the story of Martin, Bishop of Tours.

Today, the children and I will be culling warm layers from closets and dressers and taking these donations to the thrift shop, making soup, and lighting our lanterns to enjoy on the supper table.

Advent Begins (Nov. 29)
From the archives:

Advent Inspiration

Advent, Part 1

Advent, Part 2

Advent, Part 3

Advent, Part 4

Lighting the first candle

St. Andrew (Nov. 30)

Another beautiful story to share with your children.

Poetry: Poetry For Young People Series: Walt Whitman

Geography: European countries and capitals

Natural History & Science:

These topics are combined this month as we finish up Biology class with a project; Kevin has chosen to study the garden spiders who are weaving amazing orb webs all around our yard these days. So far, he's been creating art in several different media and taking lots macro photographs. We've found a chapter in this book to be very helpful: Discover Nature Close to Home by Elizabeth P. Lawlor

Oh, and honey bees! Our art teacher's husband is a beekeeper. His delicious honey won a prize at The State Fair this year. It was so kind of him to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with the children yesterday. We read about bees beforehand in Jean Henri Fabre's, Storybook of Science. The bee stories come near the end of the book-- so wonderfully told and informative-- a must read for Charlotte Mason-inspired folks like us.

Math:

Continuing Saxon 6/5

Book Club: Our theme this month is "Hard Times". And who knows hard times better than Dickens? We're reading The Cricket on the Hearth, Librivox has a free audio version that is very good-- grab a cup of cocoa and read along!

On the recommendation of a friend, we're also enjoying a lovely biography by Michael Rosen-- gorgeously illustrated by Robert Ingpen.

Picture Study:

Yesterday, we toured the Picasso exhibit at The Nasher Museum of Art. The docent was wonderful and our small group of children was very engaged. They allowed us to stay and sketch for a bit after the tour which was very cool. Kevin ended up sketching a study of the child's feet that Picasso had done for this painting:

First Steps, 1943

I love the face on this baby ♥

Happy Learning, Dear Ones.

xo Ann

November Abiding

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 20:34:00 -0600

Well now. If I were able to stop time, I would do it today.
Our pretty little town is nicknamed "The Southern Part of Heaven," a name that suits it well.
When we first came for a visit many years ago, my husband warned,
"If I take you there, you will never want to leave."

That was, and still is, true.

As daylight savings time ends, I relish this downshifting into "the slow time." The mornings are misty
and chilly; the afternoons are brief, golden, and ripe. Long evenings are the time to pull on a sweater and inhale the ancient smell of woodsmoke and fallen leaves. I want to walk fast and far,
on and on-- forever-- in the damp forest. Instead, I come home and kiss my sweeties, stir the soup, light the candles, and feel a longing for something that I cannot name.

Since I can't stop time, I promise to savor every single hour.
And I hope that you are happy, well, and soaking up the blessings that rain down all around us
every golden day.

xo Ann

true

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:51:00 -0500

You can understand and relate to most people better

if you look at them ~

no matter how old or impressive they may be ~

as if they are children.

For most of us never really grow up or mature all that much ~

we simply grow taller.

O, to be sure, we laugh less and play less and wear

uncomfortable disguises like adults,

but beneath the costume is the child we always are,

whose needs are simple,

whose daily life is still best described by fairy tales.

~Leo Rosten

October Lessons

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:33:00 -0500

This post has been quietly waiting (and waiting) for me to add the hyperlinks.

I'm so glad that the major holy days fell later in the month this time.

As always, help yourself to anything useful here.

On The Liturgical Calendar for October:

St. Luke ( Oct. 18th)

Lectionary Readings

Information about St. Luke

St. James ( Oct. 23rd)

Lectionary Readings

Information about St. James “The Just”

Help sorting out all those Biblical references to “James”

St. Simon and St. Jude ( Oct 28th)

Lectionary Readings

The Twelve Apostles by Marianna Mayer (pp. 18-20)

Traditionally, Christians used to begin making soul cakes on this day for the coming feast of All Souls.

Poetry:

Poetry For Young People Series: Edgar Allan Poe

Geography:

Europe: Try this fun and effective game to help you memorize the countries and their capital cities.

Natural History:

Walks in the gorgeous autumn woods...oh, heaven!

Barb inspires us to use Comstock’s Handbook of Nature Study to its fullest—

you must go visit her beautiful blog.

Science:

Biology & Drawing

This class is being taught by two wonderfully talented moms from our local homeschool group. I am forever grateful to them. It's just another example of the generosity of our community.

My hope is that these Wednesday afternoon explorations will help to foster Kevin's curiosity and wonder for the world of science. The time with friends is always a lovely treat for him, and I enjoy a little tea break in the pretty village nearby.

Math:

Saxon 6/5

Book Club:

This is biography month and I'm leading the discussion for the older kids. Kevin has chosen to read about a wonderful man... here's a snippet from Theodore Roosevelt's Letters to His Children:

For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their importance by comparison. ~T.R.

Wishing you joy as you share these autumn days with your children... xo Ann

September Lesson Plans

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:23:00 -0500

Dear Friends,

Here are a few lesson ideas for September.
These are for my 5th grader-- please help yourself to anything that looks useful.

On The Liturgical Calendar for September:

Holy Cross ( Sept. 14th)

Lectionary Readings

Examples of different types of crosses-- great for discussion and art response. Kevin will choose his favorite one to draw or paint.

The story of Constantine's mother, Helena

St. Matthew ( Sept. 21st.)

Lectionary Readings

A gorgeous painting

The Twelve Apostles by Marianna Mayer

Ideas from Catholic Culture ( a wonderful resource to inspire you)

Apostle Cookies for tea time (you really must stop and take a break, right?)

St. Michael and All Angels ( Sept. 29th.)

Lectionary Readings

The story and church tradition plus information about angels

A painting to study (there are so many!)

Dragon Bread: photos and the recipe & story

Poetry: Poetry For Young People Series: Lewis Carroll

Geography: Europe

Natural History: Bambi by Felix Salten (continued)

History & Literature: The Trojan War and Ancient Greece (continued: See August Lesson Plans)

Math: Saxon 6/5

Science: Biology taught along with an Art class by two wonderful moms from our homeschool group.
The combination of science and art promises to be a lively and engaging way to explore
the living world.

As always, this is only "Plan A." The plan has to flex with real life as it unfolds. Sometimes our
distractions are pure pleasure (an exciting road trip to Grandma & Grandpa's house) and sometimes
they are not so pleasant (like the nasty cold that worked its way through our household last month).

We flex. We do what we can with God's help.

Blessings on your learning time this month!

xoxo Ann

August Lesson Plans

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:29:00 -0500

Newell Convers Wyeth

Corn Harvest on the Brandywine, about 1936, oil on canvas
North Carolina Museum of Art

Dear Friends,

I've been busy making plans for the coming school year and I'm so happy to share them with you.
These plans are not meant to be the perfect prescription for anyone-- not even us. We've been homeschooling for nine and a half years now, and if I've learned anything, it's that Plan "A" is only a
good beginning. It gets us off to a strong start, and then, the entire thing takes on a life of its own and morphs into something better than I could ever design. That's the simple humbling truth. I can't rigidly control the beautiful organic process of human curiosity and learning as it unfolds in the minds of my children-- nor would I want to.

The real plan belongs to God. I'll put my trust in that one for sure.

Haleigh will spend her 9th grade year taking co-op classes and tutorials all around town with other homeschooled teens. She truly seems to thrive in energetic groups like these, and I'm so grateful for the opportunities, the enthusiasm, and the generosity this community. This year, the choices are excellent and numerous; it seems to be a happy solution for all of us. It is a double blessing, really, allowing me extra time and energy to guide Kevin as he begins his 5th grade year.

So, for what it's worth... here's a peek at what's bound to be only the beginning--
otherwise known as Ephemeral Plan A.

Picture Study:

Highlights from the American Collection, NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC

Kevin and I thought it would be fun to study some local art treasures and then go to see them up close. The North Carolina Museum of Art provides us with a pleasant outing since it's only about a 30 minute drive.

We'll also study this painting of the Transfiguration by Fra Angelico, though we won't be able to zip over to Florence and see the original. (rats!) This selection goes along with the Liturgical Calendar for August.

Latin & Greek:

Ongoing studies with Latina Christiana (review) & A Greek Hupogrammon

Episcopal Holy Days this month:

The Transfiguration (Aug. 6)

+ + +

St. Mary, The Virgin (Aug. 15)Guido Reni (Italian, 1575-1642)
Madonna and Child, about 1628-30
Oil on canvas, 45 x 36 in. (114.3 x 91.4 cm.)
North Carolina Museum of Art

Young Mary of Nazareth by Marianna Mayer

Who can resist such a lovely tribute to The Blessed Virgin sung in Latin and medieval English?

This is a favorite on my ipod: “Star of the Sea” Mediaeval Baebes

+ + +

St Bartholomew, Apostle (Aug. 24)

The Twelve Apostles: Their Lives and Acts by Marianna Mayer pp. 16-17

Kevin will read and do a written narration and illustration for his own book of the Apostles.

For an excellent and inspiring plan go see Katherine's.

+ + +

Ongoing Project: Watercolor paintings for Eucharistic Prayer D

+ + +

Poetry:

Poetry for Young People Series: Robert Frost

History & Literature for this month and next: The Trojan War

Voices of the Trojan War by Kate Hovey

Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff

The Odyssey for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church

Selections from the Odyssey (Fitzgerald translation)

We'll be discussing these in September with our book group.

Natural History: Bambi by Felix Salten

Geography: Europe

Science: (Biology co-op begins in September.)

Math: Saxon 6/5

Have you been making plans, too?

I'd love to see them if you get a chance to post.

xoxo Ann

Bambi and His Mother

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:28:00 -0500

"The little fawn understood not one of the many songs and calls, not a word of the conversations.
He did not even listen to them. Nor did he heed any of the odors which blew through the woods.
He only heard the soft licking against his coat that washed him and warmed him and kissed him.
And he smelled nothing but his mother's body near him. She smelled good to him and, snuggling
closer to her, he hunted eagerly around and found the nourishment for his life."

~excerpt from Bambi by Felix Salten

Have you read the original Bambi written in 1929?
Ahhhh... so lovely.

Fountain of Life

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:38:00 -0500

In the middle of our Sunday church service a few weeks ago,
I was particularly touched by the beautiful imagery of the Eucharistic Prayer.
What a wonderful project for an imaginative, prayerful child to illustrate!
Kevin agreed completely; he's rendering each small chunk of the prayer in his own
whimsical style. Here's a sample:

Fountain of life and source of all goodness,
you made all things
and fill them with your blessing;
you created them to rejoice
in the splendour of your radiance.

~The Book of Common Prayer, p. 373

I hope that you are finding fresh inspiration and joy this summer...

xoxo Ann

Pentecost

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 20:06:00 -0500

: : Watercolor & Ink by Kevin, age 10 : :

Almighty God, to whom all hearts be open, all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hid;
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love thee,
and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
~Book of Common Prayer, 1662

I love these beautiful words of the opening Collect each Sunday.
Time-polished prayers always evoke a feeling of mystery and kinship with my long-passed
brothers and sisters in Christ. How many souls have been called to worship by their gentle
poetry over ages past? How many more times will I hear them?

Have a beautiful weekend.
xoxo Ann

Come, Holy Spirit, Come

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0500

: : a corner of our schoolroom: :

The feast of Pentecost has ushered in a burst of fresh energy at our house-- just in time for summer
and the new rhythms of living that accompany it. There always seems to be a feeling of expansiveness and ease at this time of year. It's time to exhale and relax into long warm days.
I try so hard not to over-fill our family calendar. But still. It does fill up with swim meets and playdates and a patchwork of blankets and mommas at the park. Good summer things.

I resolve to stop looking at the clock so much and just enjoy the light and peace of every
extraordinary day.

Michelangelo wrote:

I live and love in God's peculiar light.

I want to live there, too.

The liturgical calendar gives us the chance to do just that.
It is an eternal circle of feasting, fasting, and blessed Ordinary Days.
Our calendar reminds every day to stop and remember what matters most.

Teach me to number my days, Lord. They are precious and few.

(For details about our liturgical calendar please see this entry.)

Joyful days to you...

xoxo Ann