Monday, June 13, 2011

Planning for 2011-2012 Part 1

I know it's a little early for this post but in the last couple of weeks I've had some time to think about where we've been and where we are going as far as school choices and I've made some decision that I want to record here as part of my brainstorming.

When we first started homeschooling A9 was still in Preschool, in fact she had two weeks of preschool left when we started.
Back then I made a four year plan. I planned for K, and 1st through 3rd grade. Now that A9 has finished 3rd grade it is time to evaluate where we are at and what direction we want to take for the next four years 4th to 8th grade.

Five in a Row was a Godsend back when we first started homeschooling. Four volumes with book lists and lessons for each of the books. All I needed to supplement it was math and phonics... later I added spelling and language lessons and this year we started vocabulary.

Now that I'm looking ahead I realize that I no longer need the Five in a Row approach. A9 is past picture books, don't get me wrong, she still enjoys them but she is very happy with chapter books than you very much!
We don't need to do Beyond Five in a Row since I no longer need to follow an unit study approach to our school. Beyond uses chapter books but it is more intensive, were you are taking four to six weeks going through one book.

Also, I have been branching out from the unit study philosophy. I have embraced a more Charlotte Mason/Classical approach to school lately. It seems to be the right fit for A9 and I at this moment in our school journey. This Charlotte Mason/Classical philosophy is of course books, books and more books... read good living books for EVERYTHING. It is also more history centered than literature centered.. although in most cases it uses literature for history as well.

Both philosophies are very similar except when it comes to language lessons. Were Charlotte Mason likes a more gentle approach to grammar and a later start (around 10 or 4th, 5th grade), Classical likes to start grammar nice and early (around 6 or 1st grade).

Charlotte Mason also likes to do lots of nature studies and arts at an early age, were Classical likes to pay more attention to grammar early on. We have done nature studies from the very beginning in our school and we have had a more gentle, later approach to grammar as well.

Classical likes to start history early on as well... they like to cover history in four year cycles starting in 1st grade.
1st, 5th, 9th -Ancients, BC 5000-400 AD
2nd, 6th, 10th - Medieval/Early Renaissance, 400-1600
3rd, 7th, 11th- Late Renaissance/Early Modern, 1600-1850
4th, 8th, 12th - Modern Times, 1850-Present

Charlotte Mason takes a gentler approach as well, btw don't confuse the term gentler with doing less, it is not like that at all. Instead of doing history in four year cycles you have the choice of doing it in 5 or 6 year cycles and instead of doing it three times in 12 grades you only do it twice, giving the earlier grades time to do nature studies and more creative stuff.

I like this approach as well.. I don't see the point of reading about ancient history to a 1st grader...

Taking all of the above into consideration, I have started to map out how the next four years are going to look. I have all the curriculum for the next four years beleive it or not :) history,science, math, language lessons, writing, spelling, vocabulary, and we are starting Latin as well as continuing with spanish.

My one concern was literature, how am I going to do literature now that I will no longer be using FIAR? Well, after reading about Susan Wise Bauer author of The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home. I have downloaded her audio lectures from Peace Hill Press, specifically What is Literary Analysis? When, Why, and How Should I Teach IT? and Great Books: History as Literature, I know this is the way I want to teach literature.

Stay tuned during the next few weeks as I start to plan our own Dampf Homeschool book list for the next 4 years of A9's schooling.
This will be fun!

BTW X6's schooling will remain the same, we will still use FIAR but I am giving Reading made easy a long break and sticking with the code books and of course math! We need to get this child to start reading!!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Book Lists and Other Happenings

Today was A9's ballet recital.. she looked like a Princess onstage, it was very emotional for me to see her like that! Yes.. I cried!
The performance was very good! At the end all of the girls danced together on stage, they all had the same routine, it was wonderful to see all the older girls dancing along with the younger ones.. I know A9 had a blast!
Things to remember for next years' recital.. bring her snacks and her DS. She spent the whole time there in the changing room waiting her turn onstage.

I have also been working on a book list for her, now that she is in 4th grade all we need to do for literature is read as many books as possible and pick one book out of every three for her to write a short summary on.
It doesn't get any easier than that!
The best part is, we can start right now... during the summer months! I have a feeling I am going to start having to go to the library more.. there is no way I'll be able to buy that many books... although I'm willing to try!!!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Ballet Recital

Today was A9's rehearsal for her ballet recital tomorrow. We are not allowed to take any pics or video during the performance tomorrow but we can during the rehearsal...

Here's a few pics of our morning.... we were there from 9am to 1pm... It was girlie heaven!!




Tuesday, June 7, 2011

My New Printer

For Mother's Day this year my family gave me the best gift ever!! A new laser printer!!! I have been wanting one of these for a while, since I heard how much cheaper they are in the long run compared to ink jet printers. Well, we found one that had a wireless network, which means all of the computers in the house can use this printer.

It is not a color one.... only black, but that is perfect for all of my homeschooling needs. I already printed A9's notebooking journal for next year and some forms for our co-op. I love it! The high capacity toner can print up to 2600 pages, I use the economy setting which means many more pages! The printing is so nice... very professional looking!

I am very happy with my gift... thanks guys!

Nature Study Club Post 11

Even though school is over learning never stops... the kids found these leaves with butterfly eggs on them... we are looking forward to our new friends this summer. Hopefully we'll be able to find a couple of caterpillars and watch them transform into butterflies!


We also have a pic of a squirrel visiting our deck feeder, he was so cute eating the bird seeds... A9 was not amused!

Meet our New Pets

About a month ago we got some new pets... two bunnies! Coco and Coconut are the new additions to our family of pets which include two dogs, two birds, one hamster, and a now deceased fish.

We got the bunnies for free and our neighbor gave us her old bunny cage for free as well.
We went ahead and made a new cage for them so we would not have to worry about them while we are away during the summer.
Now if it's raining they have their other cage to go into! This was a $30 project that turned into a $100 one, but we are very happy with the results and we know it will last for a very long time!

Yes, we built it ourselves... it took us one day to do it.... we are very proud of this box!!

Suzuki Book 1 Recital

Here are some pictures of A9's piano recital.
This was back in April but I never posted them.. so here they are!



Sunday, June 5, 2011

School Is Done!

We are done with everything! Tests, evaluations, portfolio... everything! I've spent the last two weeks working on some specific things for next fall and got those done and of course getting ready for my colonoscopy and that is done as well!

I have a ton of pics to post and a few ideas to explore, I also need a break. I need to be outside enjoying the sun and in a few days the pool will be open!

I will be up early tomorrow morning and work on all the posts that I've missed the last couple of months!

Stay tune!!