(on) The Road (to becoming a) Scholar: School Planning

Thursday, July 23, 2009

School Planning

It's that time of year again. Time to buy things for school next school year (although we are semi schooling this summer). I thought I'd update with what I am planning on using so far, along with what I'm still looking at to purchase. Please comment if you have any suggestions or questions.

One of the things I'm struggling with is whether to offer book clubs for my kids again. I love the curriculum development part of it. I love the actual get together. I don't love the panic I put my children into to get the house clean. I know that the boys don't care. However, I do have parents dropping them off, coming in, assisting, etc. So, it probably should be "clean enough for company". However, I need to weigh the cost of getting the house ready with the benefits my kids receive (and other kids, too). I'll be asking HOtF (Head of the Family) what his opinion is as he suffers when I'm in that mode, too. He's super supportive, but I don't want him to be without clean underwear or dinner because I've over committed.

We're sticking with the A2 curriculum for our backbone. We'll be reading plenty of classics, doing projects and adding curriculum where I feel we either need more work or where the A2 doesn't satisfy our family's needs.

What I have so far:
Reading/Phonics:
A2 - Classics list for 5/6th Grades:

Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates

Tarzan of The Apes

Return of Tarzan

The Beasts of Tarzan

Jungle Tales of Tarzan

The Song of Hiawatha

Franks Campaign

Joe The Hotel Boy

Paul Prescott's Charge

A Girl of The Limber Lost

At The Foot Of The Rainbow

Freckles

Lincolns Yarns and Stories

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.

The Jabberwocky

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Uncle Remus

The Hobbit

A2 Classics list from Grade 1:

McGuffey's Readers (Grades 1, 5 & 6)

EPS Primary Phonics (Books 1-4)

Spelling: Spelling program from A2

Grammar: Grammar program from A2

World History: _The Old World and America _ & Story of the World Volume 1

Religion: Great Adventures Time Line for Kids, Faith & Life 5/6 and Grade 1, Catechism

Math: Singapore Math 1A&1B, Teaching Textbooks 5

Science: Exploring Science 5 by W. Thurber

Art: Barry Stebbings - How Great Thou ART and The History of the World through Art

Foreign Language: Rosetta Stone Spanish, Prima Latina (we're starting over...)

Music: Musicmasters CDs

OTHER: Teach Your Daughters to be Keepers of the Home, Boy Scouts Merit Badges,

PE: Undecided yet...possible options: Sword Club, Gymnastics, Y-Gym & Swim, Irish Step Dance

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The Road Scholar

Cathie and her husband are blessed with six children and have home educated them since 2003. Before children, Cathie developed curricula and taught classes for adults around the world on a variety of topics in the computer industry at the corporate and technical school level. She loves to develop curricula, teach homeschool co-op classes and organize book clubs. For five years, she held board positions on a large homeschool support group such as general coordinator, membership coordinator and advisory member.

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Topics:

Beginning Homeschooling - Beyond the Basics

Are you new to homeschooling? Where do you start? How do you ensure a very good (not just adequate) homeschooling experience, especially in that important first year? This practical how-to session will help you determine the appropriate first steps on your homeschooling adventure. We'll talk about picking a curriculum, scheduling and strategies for developing an independent child as well as strengthening your family and social relationships.

Get Your Game On!
Using EASY, Almost No-Fuss Games to Help Keep Learning Fun

Kids love games and so much is gained by playing games: learning to taking turns, good sportsmanship, patience and development of relationships. By using games, we can tailor to the needs of the child - not just academically, but socially, too. Come join in the fun yourself and learn how easy it is to put together games for your children—and you don't have to be creative to do it, either! Besides learning how, you will walk away with instructions, tips and resources to make your own games at home.

How to Get Your Kids to See the Light (or Feel it or Hear it)!

Teaching different learning modalities requires different tactics. Learn how to determine which modality your child uses and find ways to present material so that it sticks the first time, especially if it is different than your own learning modality.

This Old Schoolhouse

The school marms and school masters of yesteryear taught several children at different levels and formed many of our favorite American heroes. We will look back at how those school marms ran their one room schools and take some tips on making our school days more successful. We’ll talk about schedules, curriculum, discipline, independence, character development and motivation for the one room school in your home.

Socrates Meets Homeschool Mom

If Socrates could teach you one thing, it would be to use his method (the Socratic Method) for literary analysis. This presentation addresses the fundamentals of literary interpretation from within the accessible world of children’s literature, so even young students can easily identify the language of literary analysis. As they mature they will readily spot these fundamentals in more difficult works, enriching both their understanding of the literature and their appreciation for the author’s handiwork. Learn the aspects of literary analysis and how to help kids appreciate and find the meaning in all the great books they read.

The Motivation Myth

What do sticker charts, time-outs and spelling bees have in common? They are examples of “Carrots and Sticks.” Over the last 40 years, study after study has shown that "Carrots and Sticks" don't work for long term motivation, especially when thought is required in the process. How are you motivating and inspiring your kids to study, do chores and reach goals? Learn about what truly motivates kids, how to mentor them and help them become successful in their endeavors. I will dispel the myths and reveal truths about human motivation and mindset. And here’s a hint. It’s you, not them. I hope you will join me to find out what that means.