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Mary G
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... for this year at St. Athanasius Academy. Thomas is 9-1/2, Maggie is 8-1/2 and John-Paul is almost 6.
Religion: using St. Patrick's Summer, we will learn about the Catholic faith. [Note: St. Patrick's Summer was written before Vatican 2; this will allow discussion of changes in our Church, what they are, and why they occur.]
Through attendance at daily Mass (when practicable), the celebrating of saint feast-days, and otherwise revelling in the living the liturgical year, we will strengthen our faith and understanding of that faith.
History: over the next two years, we will be focused on learning about American History to take full advantage of our recent move to Virginia. Using From Sea to Shining Sea as our text "spine", we will begin at the beginning with St. Brendan's legendary voyage and Leif Ericksson's discovery of "Vinland". In addition to using FStSS, we will be using Homeschool in the Wood's activity cd-roms New World Explorers and Colonial Life for supplementing our learning. Other resources will be used to expand on the spine -- including living books, websites, extensive field trips, etc. This year, we plan to learn about American History up to the ante-bellum period (or about 1850). Many of our other subjects will be linked to history work (see individual subjects below).
Science: we will learn about the scientific method this year through the working through of Suchi Myjak's book, Behold and See 3. This book develops an understanding of earth and life sciences from a Catholic world-view; this book will ensure we see God's creation jointly with the eyes of faith and the mind of reason. This is a beautiful work-text that we will all use, doing the experiments and work in individual notebooks. [Note: what will be expected will be age-appropriate -- for instance, narration for John-Paul, written explanations from Thomas]
In addition, we will plan at least a once-monthly nature study field trip for investigation "in the field", nature sketching and seeing how different the same area is month-to-month.
Art: art history, a once-a-week class, will utilize the Dominican art program, The Christian Heritage Art program written by Sr. Marie Vianney Hamilton, OP. We will do Level 1 -- which includes looking at art, learning about it and trying projects, for six different art periods: prehistoric, ancient, medieval, renaissance, 17th/18th century, and modern.
In addition, we will investigate contemporary art (through field trips to the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian) linked to our American history studies.
Music: study will include investigation, understanding and listening to contemporary music keyed to our American history studies.
P.E.: A once-a-week, homeschool P.E. class will help to keep us physically fit. [Note: John-Paul will not be able to join the class until his birthday in November.] The Spring will find us all earning our Presidential Fitness certificates.
Language Arts: we will practice all the language arts linked to our American history studies, attaining age-appropriate (or higher) competence in:
• speech through projects, family plays and creative writing work
• memorization and recitation with poetry and classic speeches (once a month family poetry nights)
• grammar and spelling through copywork and weekly spelling lists
• daily reading proficiency through sustained-silent reading (Thomas), reading practice with mom (Maggie), read-alouds (with narrations) and phonics work (JohnPaul)
Proficiency and progress will be determined through oral reports/narrations, family performances and possibly public activities (homeschool get-togethers, homeschool co-ops, and organized competitions).
We will continue daily read-alouds by mom (during the day) linked to American history studies and read-alouds at night by dad of fantastic family read-alouds. We will also include audio books, music cd's and other "car-schooling" ideas during carpool and other lengthy times in the van.
Math: We will continue to use Miquon math to increase competency with all math functions. Calculadders will also be used periodically as a means of testing math-fact knowledge. Further, we will work into the schedule (particularly on Saint feast days or other celebrations) "cooking math" and other ways of practical, life-skills math (scale-drawings of rooms, estimates of budgets for gift-buying, budgeting field-trips by mileage/gas cost/time).
To start moving the students toward ownership of their education, we will begin to move toward the children setting their own pace. Every Monday, a week's worth of math assignments will be given to each of the children. They will have until Friday morning to complete these assignments in their own way (eg, all at once, in the evening, Thursday night). In this way, they will "earn" playing Math games for school on Friday.
Further, we will assign spelling words and copywork (see the Language Arts section) on Monday which will be due at the end of the week. For those who finish their work by Friday morning, we will play games and do other "fun" activities; else, the day will be spent working on finishing the assignments.
In addition to all of the above, each child will choose an elective course:
Thomas -- military history with a focus on the Marines; T has decided he wants to go to Annapolis (ala his uncle/godfather and his aunt) or go enlisted/ocs route to become a Marine and defend his country. We have a very cool museum just down the road: The National Museum of the Marine Corps which not only is free! but is also an amazing museum ... those in the area REALLY need to come see this place! I haven't yet found a curriculum and will probably end up writing one as we go along.
Maggie -- learning all about newspapers and putting newspaper together, reporting and other journalistic issues ala the movie Kit Kittredge; we won't use a text but I'll create a lesson plan for her as I have a BA in print journalism. {shhhhh, she doesn't know a manual typewriter is coming in the mail this week ....  }
John-Paul -- learning all about the game of chess: the history, rules and strategies using the Winter Promise unit study, Knights of the Square Table.
If anyone knows of a great military history curriculum or lesson plan, please let me know!
Hope our plans help others ... just formalizing ours by writing them down helps me so much!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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cheesehead mom
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Mary--Your plans sound so beautifully simple, love it! I am having a very difficult time pulling plans together this year so I think I need to simplify. For the Love of Literature was a great buy this year but I think I am trying to use too much literature, if that is possible:) In an old post I noticed that you had bought A Little History of the World (audio)...Just curious if that ended up being a useful spine or not for you. We are all studying 20th century American this year and it is not coming together as well as I would have liked.
yours for having a plan on paper:)
Laura in WI
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Mary G
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| Posted: July 21 2008 at 7:57pm | IP Logged
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Laura,
We used A Little History of the World for the spine for our Ancient History study last year -- Mesopotamia, Egypt and into Ancient Greece and Rome. We also read the Old Testament which gave us great historical background!
I haven't used Gombrich's book for 20th century ... maybe you could post on the "Across Time and Place" board to see if anyone else has or what they've used.
Our plans are simple because I like to stay flexible -- if I know the approximate goal and the direction we need to head, I then add living books as we go as well as field trips and other supplements ... With my kids relatively close in age it seems silly to have everyone doing something different for most subjects.
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
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lapazfarm
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Mary, it sounds awesome! What a great year you are going to have and I can't wait to read all about your adventures!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Erin
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Mary G wrote:
{shhhhh, she doesn't know a manual typewriter is coming in the mail this week .... }
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I've just gotta ask Mary, why a manual? Is it a sensorial thing?
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Erin
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Maria B.
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Mary:
Your plans sound wonderful. We are also using Homeschool in the Wood's activity cd-roms New World Explorers and Colonial Life for supplementing our learning. I am very excited about this.
In August we hope to visit the Marine museum.
If your schedule will allow it, you ought to go visit Annapolis as well. On the USNA website they post dates and times of public parades. Your son would love these. They are awesome. Let me know if you go and maybe my son can give you a special tour of USNA.
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Maria in VA
Proud Mom to 10 Great kids!
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MaryM
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Mary G wrote:
| I haven't used Gombrich's book for 20th century ... maybe you could post on the "Across Time and Place" board to see if anyone else has or what they've used. |
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Or search the archives - it has been discussed a couple times.
Mary, your plans sound great. The only thing that is missing is craft time Fridays with a certain family in Denver. 
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Mary G
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Erin wrote:
Mary G wrote:
{shhhhh, she doesn't know a manual typewriter is coming in the mail this week .... }
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I've just gotta ask Mary, why a manual? Is it a sensorial thing? |
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Erin: a manual typewriter (as opposed to an electric one) is more "traditional" and since the Kit Kittredge movie is set in the 30s, that's what she uses. It's one of those that is upright so that the typing is harder but it's the kind I learned on in high school, so it's doable for her ...
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MaryG
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Mary G
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Maria B. wrote:
Your plans sound wonderful. We are also using Homeschool in the Wood's activity cd-roms New World Explorers and Colonial Life for supplementing our learning. I am very excited about this.
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Maria -- I just love those CDs -- they have so much and I can print however many copies of whatever I need. I was going to use Winter Promise American History curriculum but then decided that the main thing I liked about their curriculum was the Homeschool in the Woods stuff! 
Maria B. wrote:
In August we hope to visit the Marine museum.
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If you want company let me know and we'll come too -- its open every day 9-5 and free and there's a great playground right near the parking lot that is wonderfully shaded!
Maria B. wrote:
If your schedule will allow it, you ought to go visit Annapolis as well. On the USNA website they post dates and times of public parades. Your son would love these. They are awesome. Let me know if you go and maybe my son can give you a special tour of USNA.
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We'll definitely keep this in mind. One of my brothers and his wife both went to the Academy but none of their 10 kids has expressed an interest yet so my brother was quite happy to hear his godson wants to go!
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MaryG
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Mary G
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MaryM wrote:
Mary, your plans sound great. The only thing that is missing is craft time Fridays with a certain family in Denver.
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We're waiting for y'all to come visit and than we'll have an extravaganza!
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MaryG
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LisaC
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Mary,
Love your post, love your plans. It does help to see how other moms are doing it. One question for you:
Mary G wrote:
| Language Arts: ...speech through projects, family plays and creative writing work |
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What resources do you use for 'family plays' and creative writing assignments?
Mary G wrote:
| To start moving the students toward ownership of their education, we will begin to move toward the children setting their own pace. Every Monday, a week's worth of math assignments will be given to each of the children. They will have until Friday morning to complete these assignments in their own way |
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I like this idea. I will try this with my 2nd grader in some subjects. Thanks.
__________________
Lisa in Colorado
Mom to ds(14 yrs), ds(12 yrs), dd (10 yrs), ds(10 yrs)
Sunflowers and a Spoonful of Sugar
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Maryan
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 I love them! Good for you getting them all done.
I'm finishing mine here, but I think I'm using Gombrich for part of my history here.
St. Patrick's summer and the Christian art program look very interesting.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Mary G
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Maryan -- do you guys do homeschool pe? I was thinking of joining the Holy Trinity one in Manassas on Wed... know anything about it?
P.S. We missed you today and were suitably sober so you didn't miss anything.
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MaryG
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Maryan
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You know who would be good to ask about HT or All Saints PE and clubs??? KackyK!! I just have a hard time getting out of the house, like today, so we do very few clubs.
And why do I think "suitably sober" means that you weren't rolling on the floor... just dying in your seats. But the sentiment is appreciated.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Here's our plans ...
