Wednesday, July 6, 2011

My Master Curriculum Plan

I thought I’d share a bit about what I’m doing for school this year. I’m entering new territory, since Ella is going into 5th grade. She is leaving the grammar stage and entering the logic stage. Everything is more involved. Although I hope that when we actually start school (on July 18th) Ella will be a more independent learner and also help to teach her younger sisters what she knows, planning for her school has been more involved than any planning I’ve had to do for school so far. My reliable source of grammar at Peace Hill Press is exhausted. The 5th grade grammar curriculum Mrs. Bauer is writing is not due out until January. I’ve had to include logic for her this year and I’m serious about getting serious about Latin. I’m getting nervous about letting her miss out on some crucial learning time because I’m so distracted with the little ones and pregnancy. This year I have three in “real” school (1st, 3rd, 5th grades) and one in pre-k. Lily is an eager scholar; we will try to start her formally reading. So anyway, here’s the low-down.

I've had to get uber organized: red for Ella, pink for Rachel, blue for Sarah, yellow for all the kids

 Here are their personal school shelves. The top-most one in the picture contains books everyone uses: dictionaries, Latin, etc. The shelves under are Ella, Sarah, Rachel and Lily. The shelves contain everything they need to do school during the day. As far as I know, anyone could come in off the street and conduct school with the kids, that's how clearly everything is labeled and planned.


History – We will continue working with The Story of theWorld series of four books. This year Sarah is in book 3 and Ella and Rachel are in book 1. I plan to have Ella read the chapter to Rachel and help her to answer questions about the chapter and summarize it. From there Rachel will color a picture, or do a project. Ella will research other topics pertaining to that particular chapter, write a short paper about her topic and then take a quiz on the chapter. Hopefully, while all this is going on I can do history with Sarah. I will have her read the chapter; she’ll write answers to questions, make a summary and copy some sentences into a copy book. 

These are the history and geography shelves. Any book I think we could use for further reading/research in history is here including children's books from Japan, Korea, India, Africa, etc.

Grammar – Rachel will be doing part 1 of First LanguageLessons (which I love), Sarah will be doing part 3 of First Language Lessons and Ella will be doing Rod & Staff’s 5th grade grammar. I have also included some supplemental worksheets for Ella and Sarah that I had inherited from an aunt that homeschooled a bit and from my mom. Ella will also be doing lessons on diagramming sentences with The First Whole Book of Diagrams, which I could read for fun. What a cool book!!

Science – This year I am on my own with science. My mom had to get a job (poor Mom) and in order to get me to own teaching science I’ve decided to make my own lesson plans. I’m going to stick with biology. We’re going to spend 10 weeks on the human body and then 26 weeks on cells, classification, ecology, birds, insects, reptiles, etc. I have purchased at least half a dozen books to help me with this. Some of them are The Usborne ScienceEncyclopedia, Creepy Crawlies and the Scientific Method, How Nature Works, How the Body Works, Biology for Every Kid, Slime, Molds and Fungi. I am going to use Christian Kids Explore Biology, How Nature Works and How the Body Works as my main books for teaching lessons and go from there.
This is the science shelf of books I plan to reference this year. A few books are not on it here because I'm using them to write lesson plans. As you can see in the picture below, my mom has blessed us with a gold mine of science books and reference material and experiments. Everything you see in the picture is science related.


Logic – Ella will be doing lessons from Red Herrings andMind Benders books A3 and A4.

Latin – We are going to start over from scratch with Prima Latina, which I had tried to do with Ella when she was in 3rd grade. I plan to include all three kids with the Latin lessons, but not pushing Rachel too hard.

Art & music – I am going to break up art and music up into two semesters. In the fall we are going to look at music. UnderstandingMusic and The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra are the two main books I am referencing for these lessons. I also have a coloring book of classical composers that I am going to copy for them to color and put in their notebook. For art in the spring, I plan to use Drawing with Children which is an actual how-to book on drawing. For a study of artists and art styles I am going to use The Children’s Book of Art, which is an Usborne Internet-linked book. My biggest beef with this book is that for the classical artists they used the Sistine Chapel’s creation depiction and The Birth of Venus. Both of those pieces of art, while intricate and nice, have naked people in them and I have decided to omit those and replace them with a discussion of other pieces of fine renaissance art. There are plenty of works that don’t include penises and breasts. I’ll try to not get on my soapbox, but it’s really hard. I’ve had to erase many times. No soap box. No soap box.

The art shelf. You can see the Drawing with Children book there and the two music books are just to the left of it.

Writing – For writing, we are taking Granny’s suggestion of Classical Writing. I’m not sure how prepared Ella is for writing, so I’m going to do Ella and Sarah together on Aesop, book A. If Ella thinks it’s too easy, then I’ll move on to book B for her. If that’s too easy then I’ll move her on to Homer, book A. I’m nervous about how time intensive this will be, but I really want to give the girls a good foundation in writing, something I was sorely lacking in my own education, and I think Classical Writing is the just the thing.

Geography – We all really enjoyed Galloping the Globe and if time permits, we’ll continue with that. We managed to complete Asia and some of Europe last year so we’ll just pick up where we left off.

Handwriting – I have decided to let Ella off the hook for a formal handwriting program this year and get her typing. She has spent the last two years learning cursive, but I think it’s time for her to get with the times and start typing. There are a couple of online typing tutorials I plan to try out before I commit to purchasing lessons. Or maybe I will conjure up my own lessons from 9th grade and make my own lessons. Sarah, Rachel and Lily will all be doing the Handwriting without Tears books. Sarah’s is cursive, which she taught herself last year because she liked it so much.

Spelling – Ella, Sarah and Rachel will all be doing Spelling Workout F, C and A, respectively. I think this series of books is really cool!

My school room is messed up as you can see, but I have a plan in place for cleaning it the weekend before we start school and hopefully we can keep it that way. 

I hope this helps someone in some way. If you'd like to see how I made lesson plans for anything above, just email me and I'll send you a copy of my plans.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

A Lazy Meme...Just For You Johanna

Why don't I blog anymore? Because it takes way too long to do it. This post has taken me an hour to do. With interruptions and my own commentary and meticulous checking and re-checking. The sad part is, I'm sure there are still mistakes in there that I didn't catch.
 (Because blog posts are boring without pictures, here is a picture of Isaac and the dog, Ready)
1. Started your own blog (which I dutifully ignore as much as I can)
2. Slept under the stars (love camping!!!)
3. Played in a band (played the clarinet, I wasn’t very good)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower (just recently we took the girls out to the middle of nowhere to watch one)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (in Colorado, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Ecuador and in South Korea)
9. Held a praying mantis (they totally freak me out now!)
10. Sang a solo (that was quite unfortunate; I hope no one was traumatized, but I’m sure they were)
11. Bungee jumped (you must be insane to do this)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (quilting)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (If I never go to New York, it will be too soon)
18. Grown your own vegetables (it’s always a fluke though. Although, my onions seem to be doing well)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (that would be so fun!!)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (who wants to be kidnapped and killed by some freak on the highway???)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (I’m a good girl.)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (I think during the Nativity we used to do at the Mission)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (I would die)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (would like to. Mostly France and Germany, although I’m not sure where in Germany my Grandpa hails from. My grandma is from Bordeaux.)
35. Seen an Amish community (In Pennsylvania. Lovely!)
36. Taught yourself a new language (Latin! Not that I’m even remotely fluent or anything like that.)         
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (it was in a climbing gym, I’ve been bouldering outside. That’s fun)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (in pictures…they didn’t specify where)
41 Sung karaoke (you don’t want to hear me sing)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (I’ve watched it live online, does that count?)
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45 Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (once from the pool where my head was bleeding profusely and once for the “Crazy Eye Incident”)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (we recently took the kids to see Kung Fu Panda 2 at the drive-in. Good times!)
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (disaster!)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (Joanna and the horrible, terrible, no-good, very bad Girl-Scout-cookie-selling experience)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma (I’ve never weighed enough to do this, or if I have, I’ve been pregnant)
65. Gone sky diving (not worth the remote chance the kids would be left mother-less)
66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (but dearly want to)
67 Bounced a check (I should never be put in charge of the finances)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (it is so much fun! Can’t wait until I can do it more often)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades (You’d think I would, since I live in Florida)
75. Been fired from a job (But I’ve left a note “I quit” and walked out the door while the owners fist-fought in their office)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (I WANNA GO!!)         
77. Broken a bone (I have bones of steel. My jaw was not even broken when a horse kicked me in the face)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (FUN! But it wasn't exactly speeding fast-like, just going above the speed limit)
79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (the Frogmobile. I miss that car and its 50 miles per gallon)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (when I graduated from Basic Training and for some reason the Cedar Hill paper thought it was necessary to tell the entire town that I was doing benevolent things in Ecuador)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (only to the outside, though...)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (I could probably behead a chicken, but I’m not sure I could handle anything else)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (performed the Heimlich on my cousin who was choking on a piece of candy.)
90. Sat on a jury (got called up for jury duty in Dallas, only I was stationed in California at the time, so I couldn’t go)
91. Met someone famous (once, the captain of the Dallas Stars pulled up in an expensive car right next to where I was giving samples of Starbucks coffee. I offered him a sample and he sneered at me and went into the Calvin Klein store for a private fitting. Have also met lots of famous Christian music artists, since Dad was the GM of the radio station in Farmington. Nice people)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one (Grandpa Frederick, and my first baby)
94. Had a baby (six babies, six lovely, noisy babies)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (but I’ve been stung by a wasp, right on my pregnant belly, next to my belly button)

What this says to me is: I have much commentary, and not very much substance. HA!

Monday, July 4, 2011

A Lazy Meme

I stole got this from Jess at Making Home and it looked like my kind of Meme - easy! Plus I love seeing what life experiences others have had, so feel free to copy and post on your blog! And let me know if you do, okay? All you have to do is boldface the items on the list you have done. Easy-peasy! (Jo - I worked the "easy-peasy" in just for you since I know how much you love that word!)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (not a full-on mountain, but I've hiked up parts of several)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (I'm working on it...)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41 Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45 Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (working on this one too! :) )
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67 Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (just a toe...)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (only to the outside and visitors center, though...)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Wow! This list almost makes me look accomplished! Ha! :)

Freedom

is not free.

One of the flags surrounding the Washington Monument.

Arlington National Cemetary - headstones as far as the eye can see, and farther.
I did not realize how many soldiers buried here had family members buried with them. Mostly wives, but a large number of young children, too.

Vietnam War Memorial - the number of names etched in stone is absolutely overwhelming.

A momento left at the base of the monument honoring one of the fallen soldiers.

I am so thankful to all those who put their lives on the line so that I could have the freedoms I enjoy - almost without thought.  Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

The Big Boy

I have been gradually getting Andrew ready to move out of the nursery and into a big boy room.  He moved into the room that was originally Ethan's nursery and then was my office/catch-all room for the past three years.  Once we built a new office on to the back of our house, I started moving everything out of this room so that we could move Drew in.  We found furniture for him that was delivered the day before we left on vacation.  Yesterday I finally finished moving his toys and clothes out of the nursery and into this room.  Although he was excited about his "big boy" room, I could tell the change was also making him a bit nervous. I didn't think he'd want to sleep in his new room because he was clearly a bit uncomfortable with all the change, but after his bath, he told Jerry he wanted to sleep in his new room, so I moved his night light, CD player, and white noise box over (all things necessary for sleeping), and last night, my little boy slept in his big boy room all by himself! ::sniff, sniff::  He did great, too! He cried a bit at first, but after we figured out that he wanted his door closed all the way, he slept all night and even slept in until 8:30 this morning!
From the front door entering the room.

His chest of drawers, bookshelf, and toy space.

The "Big Boy" Bed!

His closet. Aren't all the tiny shoes lined up in a row so cute??


It is so very weird to see the nursery empty, and a bit sad.  We haven't had an empty nursery in over eight years.  But I am praying that it won't be empty for too long!