Note-taking should not become a tedious, overwhelming task. It should not impede, but enhance your child’s reading experience. Initiate the process with manageable goals.  Inspire your child to record one quote that they find particularly interesting. If your child is young ( late elementary),  he could search for an unfamiliar word in his reading.

Obtain a simple but distinct notebook or journal for your son or daughter.  This will become their companion as they read. My experience has been that this journal should be unique, something your child will treasure. Title a page with the title of their present book and begin utilizing it immediately.

Your child’s reading journal will prove to be an invaluable tool. They will turn to it as they write book reports, study for literature tests, prepare for Advanced Placement tests and ready themselves for college entrance exams.

“Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.” – Sir Francis Bacon

So we had a long, but enjoyable drive. We talked, listened to our favorite radio hosts, and my daughter read to us as I drove. She read from one of our family’s favorite collections, The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.

Maud Hart Lovelace based this collection of books on her own lovely childhood in a small town in Minnesota. The time period is the early twentieth century. Betsy, the main character, is followed from the time she enters kindergarten (Betsy-Tacy) through her first year of marriage (Betsy’s Wedding).My children never tire of Betsy and her friends as we read over and over about their elementary years.  However, our favorite books in this series begin with Heaven To Betsy . Here we find Betsy entering high school. The remainder of the series sees her through high school graduation, into her young adult life and culminates as she is married just as World War I begins.

Lovelace’s characterizations are fabulous. Even her minor characters are three-dimensional. By the time Betsy enters high school in 1906 the reader is intimately familiar with her thoughts, attitudes, worries, hopes, and aspirations. Her family and friends will become your family and friends. You will enjoy Sunday dinners with her “crowd”, devouring her father’s famous onion sandwiches. You will spend evenings singing around her family’s piano. You will fret with Betsy as she studies for Latin exams and prepares for essay contests. You will love her discussions of the classics and even Wagner’s operas.

Lovelace captured the time period with delightful descriptions of the fashion, architecture, and culture that created Betsy Ray’s life. Betsy’s life may seem idyllic but I believe it is simply a picture of a beautiful family enjoying a simple life to the fullest.  The entire series is available through Amazon.

• The Biggest Bear
• Floss
• The Story of Ping
• Goodnight Moon
• Harold and the Purple Crayon
• Prayer for a Child (the original is beautifully illustrated)
• Caps For Sale
• The Story of Babar
• Crictor
• If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
• Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel
• The Little Engine That Could
• Blueberries For Sal
• One Morning in Maine
• Make Way for Ducklings
• The Story of Ferdinand
• The Important Book
• Madeline
• Madeline and the Bad Hat
• Madeline and the Gypsies
• Madeline’s Rescue
• Madeline’s Christmas
• Madeline In London
• Where the Wild Things Are
• Frederick
• Doctor De Soto
• Perfect the Pig
• The Little House
• Fritz and the Beautiful Horses
• White Snow Bright Snow
• The Dancing Bear
• Stone Soup
• The Runaway Bunny
• Pat the Bunny
• Farmer Duck
• Ox-Cart Man
• Curious George (complete series)
• Harry (complete series)
• Mittens (the original is the most beautifully illustrated)

Terrific authors:

• Dr. Seuss (Cat in the Hat etc.)
• Beatrix Potter ( The Tale of Peter Rabbit etc.)
• Eric Carle (The Grouchy Ladybug etc.)
• A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)
• Richard Scarry (Smokey the Fireman etc.)
• Mercer Mayer ( All by Myself etc.)
• James Herriot ( terrific children’s illustrated collection i.e. Moses the Kitten etc.)
• Ingri D’Aulaire
• Robert McCloskey

Some of my favorite Little Golden Books:

• Play With Me
• So Big
• The Boy With the Drum
• The Pokey Little Puppy
• Tootle
• My First Counting Book (I love Garth Williams’ illustrations)
• The Saggy Baggy Elephant

Some of my favorite children’s poets:

• Robert Louis Stevenson
• Margaret Wise Brown
• Rudyard Kipling

And of course:

• Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales
• Grimm’s Fairy Tales
• Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” — Emilie Buchwald

The senior year of high-school is an exciting, watershed moment in a young person’s life. Children are on the brink of a new era. I think it’s important that they enjoy this year and, yet, take it seriously. It can be a fun, memorable year and still be quite productive. Following is my daughter’s curriculum for her senior year.

Note: American Government can be a semester course. However, I will incorporate literature and writing assignments, thus making it a year-long course.

12th grade

• Bible Study – How To Ruin Your Life By 40, Know What You Believe, Know Why You Believe, Mere Christianity
• Advanced Biology: Human Anatomy – Apologia
• AP Latin – Scholars Online
• American Government – A Beka, with supplemental reading
• Algebra II (Completed by December), Pre-Calculus – Teaching Textbooks
• American Literature – See reading list
• Piano – Private instruction through IPFW Community Arts
• Writing – incorporated into literature and American Government

Reading List

• The Scarlet Letter
• Daisy Miller
• Washington Square
• The Great Gatsby
• The Grapes of Wrath
• A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
• As I Lay Dying
• Age of Innocence
• The Four Loves
• The Great Divorce
• The Best Short Stories of O. Henry
• The Chosen
• The Day They Came to Arrest the Book
• Moby Dick
• Selected Poetry
• Our Town
• The Portable Poe
• The View From Saturday
• Walden and Civil Disobedience
• Black Like Me
• The Dry Divide
• Eternity in Their Hearts
• The Jungle
• Up From Slavery
• Anna Karenina
• One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
• A Good Man is Hard To Find (Short Stories by Flannery O’Connor)
• Their Eyes Were Watching God

“We are man and woman now, with sober work to do, for playtime is over, and we must give up frolicking. I’m sure you feel this. I see the change in you, and you’ll find it in me. I shall miss my boy, but I shall love the man as much, and admire him more, because he means to be what I hoped he would.” -Louisa May Alcott

In 10th grade I enroll my children in an online Western Literature class through  Scholars Online.  In many respects this class has become a rite-of-passage for my kids. They look forward to it with fear and trembling. In all actuality, it is not that bad. The class offers a rigorous overview of literature covering works from the Bible through Homer and landing finally in Dante. The professor is somewhat demanding but quite effective. Due to the reading list in this class, I usually ease off my reading requirements during this year. However, my 10th grader this year is a very strong reader so I did not feel the need to ease off his reading list.

If my reading lists seem overwhelming, remember that all of my plans for the school-year are dynamic. I alter them as needed. However, consider the great gift of time that children have at this stage of life. They probably will never again have this opportunity to read large amounts of literature.  Seize the moment.

Establishing and honing writing skills continues to be of utmost importance this year. I incorporate it into history, literature and test preparation classes.  You will also notice that my children have a formal language class at this level as well. They continue to work on language mechanics throughout high school.

Geometry is the main math class this year. However, I incorporate Algebra II into the year as well. I do not prefer my children to spend an entire year on geometry alone. I believe it weakens their algebra skills. This can be detrimental when they take college entrance exams in their junior year. I believe it is best to work on geometry and Algebra II at the same time. This obviously can take 2 years but the end result is the same. The timing is the only change.

10th Grade

• Bible Study – God’s Will: God’s Best For Your Life, Bible Study Sampler, Why Pray, More Than A Carpenter
• Chemistry, with lab - Apologia
• Western Literature – Scholars Online
• Geometry and Algebra II – Teaching Textbooks (separate texts)
• Latin III – Scholars Online
• Language – A Beka
• World History, with prep for the A.P. test – A Beka supplemented with various sources and test preps
• Piano – IPFW Community Arts Academy
• Physical Education

Reading List

• Oliver Twist
• David Copperfield
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
• Blandings Castle and other P.G. Wodehouse favorites
• My Life and Hard Times
• Jane Eyre
• Out of the Silent Planet
• Perelandra
• That Hideous Strength
• The Best of Father Brown
• Surprised By Joy
• Till We Have Faces
• The Nine Tailors
• Heart of Darkness
• Kon Tiki

Western Literature reading list includes:

• The Aeneid
• Selection of Greek Plays
• The Iliad
• The Nibelungenlied
• The Odyssey
• The Portable Dante
• The Saga of the Volsungs
• The Song of Roland
• The Story of King Arthur and His Knights
• Edith Hamilton’s Mythology

“A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.” -  Mark Twain

]]> http://www.bonavitablog.com/2008/08/the-childrens-hour-iii/feed/ 0 http://www.bonavitablog.com/2008/08/the-childrens-hour-ii/ http://www.bonavitablog.com/2008/08/the-childrens-hour-ii/#comments Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:34:08 +0000 momofnine http://bonavita.wordpress.com/?p=263 Now, for homeschooling your 9th grader…

This should be a transition year for students. It’s time for the big leagues. Grades and record-keeping are important; therefore, everyone needs to be diligent and disciplined. Yet, you still have time to work out the organization and maintainance of your records. By next year, this all should be set in stone. Efficient record-keeping will make your life so much easier when it is time to send off transcript material to colleges.

9th grade is a fun year as well. Your kids are becoming more independent. The material that they are studying can be meaty and rich. You will enjoy discussing their literature and history selections. I spend the year equipping my 9th grader with study and reading skills that will carry them through high-school and into college.

Start keeping track of your child’s reading material if you have not already. Simply create a file on your computer and have them update their reading list when they finish a book. Similarly, if your child plays an instrument keep track of the music that he or she performs.

Grade 9

• Bible Study – Survey of the Old Testament (Christian Schools International)
• Algebra I – Saxon
• Biology (with lab) - Apologia
• World Geography (1st semester) – A Beka
• Ancient History (2nd semester)
• Language – A Beka
• Latin II – Alethea Academy (utilizing Wheelock)
• Writing – Alethea Academy
• World Literature – A Beka text accompanied by ancient literature selections (see reading list)
• Piano – private instructor (IPFW Community Arts Academy)
• Physical Education

Reading List

• A Christmas Carol
• The Best of Father Brown
• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekly and Mr. Hyde
• The Gammage Cup
• Jane Eyre
• Oliver Twist
• Treasure Island
• The Silver Branch
• The Trumpeter of Krakow
• The Yearling
• Old Man and the Sea
• Hound of Baskervilles
• Great Expectations
• Selected Poetry
• Selected works from: Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Plato, Aristotle, Herodotus, and Virgil

I plan my children’s school year with hope and “great expectations”. But, I always remain flexible. Life throws you twists and turns and you need to be able to roll with the challenges. Homeshooling  can be stressful and overwhelming at times. Try to keep it upbeat and enjoy spending this time with your children.

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” – Proverbs 1:8-9

I have finalized my 6th grader’s schedule, so I will share this information today. I have included the reading list that she will be using this year as well.

• Bible Study – Studying God’s Word Book G - Christian Liberty Press
• Math – Saxon 7/6
• Language – God’s Gift of Language  C  -A Beka
• Spelling – Building Spelling Skills Book G - Christian Liberty Press
• Science  Observing God’s World – A Beka
• History  – Streams of Civilization (through early 17th century)
• Latin  – Elementary Latin - Alethea Academy  using Henle
• Writing -Elementary Writing II - Alethea Academy
• Piano – Private instructor
• Physical education
• Drills – Typing: Mavis Beacon; Math: Quarter Mile Math; Reading Comprehension: A Beka’s Read and Think Skills

Reading List

• Augustus Caesar’s World
• The World of Columbus and Sons
• Golden Goblet
• Otto of the Silver Hand
• I, Juan de Pareja
• Eagle of the Ninth
• The Second Mrs. Giaconda
• Shadow of the Bull
• The Phantom Tollbooth
• Hittite the Warrior
• The Hobbit
• Swiss Family Robinson
• Where the Red Fern Grows
• Susan Creek
• Black Thorn Winter
• Squalls Before War: His Majesty’s Schooner Sultana
• The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow
• The Red Keep
• The Lost Baron
• The Door in the Wall
• Archimedes and the Door of Science
• The Ides of April
• Catherine – Called Birdy
• Around the World in Eighty Days
• Yearling
• Cricket in Times Square
• Lad: A Dog
• Old Yeller
• Freckles
• Girl of the Limberlost
• Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers
• Mr. Pipes Comes to America
• Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation
• The Gammage Cup

This reading list includes some titles that I will read aloud to my children. My 6th grader is an enthusiastic reader and she was a little bored last year.  I have made this list with the hope that it will keep her busy, entertained and challenged.

“Do you no know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight light a man beating the air.” -I Cor. 9: 24-26

It’s not that I have anything against J.K. Rowling.  On the contrary,  I’m rather impressed at her ability to entertain the masses and make millions out of it!  Our children have not missed Tim LaHaye’s children’s series simply because we don’t agree with his theology. Rather, our choice of children’s literature is primarily a result of time management.  Children have enormous selections of fabulous literature to wade through.  There simply isn’t enough time to spend on large amounts of pop literature.

Every year I create reading lists for my children.  These lists include the literature I think they need for their particular reading level.  These lists are substantial.  I do leave room in my children’s lives for what I call “reading candy”.  This includes literature that is fun and quick to read.  I utilize the “candy” as a reward for making progress on their general reading list.

Selections from my “candy” list include but are not limited to Beverly Clearly’s works, The Boxcar Children series, Encyclopedia Brown, The Redwall series, and the original Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series.  Another fabulous series that we have all enjoyed as “candy” throughout the years is Maude Hart-Lovelace’s ”Betsy, Tacy and Tib” books.

Here is an example of my method.  After my 7th grader  read “Carry On, Mr. Bowditch”, “Johnny Tremain”, and “The Witch of Blackbird Pond”, he was given the opportunity to choose something fun and easier to read.  In this case, it probably was “Henry Reed, Inc.” for the fourth time!

We all consider what our children eat and how it nourishes their bodies.  How much more should we consider what nourishes their minds?   Take time to select reading material for your children.  There are numerous sources of classical and modern reading lists.  Your local librarian is a great consultant.  Veritas Press is a terrific source for grade appropriate book lists.  Jim Trelease’s “The Read-Aloud Handbook” is full of ideas.  “The Book Tree: A Christian Reference for Children’s Literature” by Elizabeth McCallum and Jane Scott is another favorite source.

“…Whatever is is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” -Philippians 4:8

Home education begins by maintaining terrific reading material for all ages.  Tap into your local library.  Take advantage of the available resources that list age-appropriate books.  I will begin to share my favorite children’s books as time goes on.

If you choose to formally educate your children at home, you must decide how to tackle the subject matter.  The curriculum choices are wide and varied.  It is necessary to plan ahead in order to not become overwhelmed with your options.

Plan your course of action and then choose your curriculum to match your needs.  I cannot stress enough the importance of this point.  Your family is unique and has special needs and desires concerning the education of your children.  Discuss these with your husband.  Write down your educational plans and goals for your family. Then, choose your curriculum.

The unpleasant alternative to this is perusing and purchasing wild amounts of curriculum and subject matter, much of which you will never actually utilize.  I have experienced this first-hand on a small scale and I have witnessed it countless times.  The available curriculum choices can actually paralyze your ability to homeschool.  Be wise, be thoughtful, be careful, be selective.

I customize my curriculum every year to  match my child’s academic, social and emotional needs. I also take into account my husband’s and family’s general schedule and needs for the upcoming year.  If I find myself looking forward to a stressful year full of time constraints etc., I will streamline my curriculum accordingly.  I have even  taken this step mid-year.

I will now share the subjects, by grade level, and some of the accompanying texts that I utilized for the 2007-2008 school year.  By no means is this list exhaustive, my favorites, nor a panacea for homeschooling success.  It just happened to work for us this past year.

Pre-K:

1. Circle Time:  Including games, songs and stories
2. Math prep
3. Reading prep
4. Penmanship
5. Music prep
6. Art (lots of art!)

Kindergarten

1. Circle Time
2. Math
3. Phonics
4. Reading
5. Spelling
6. Penmanship
7. Piano
8. Physical Education
9. Art

1st Grade

1. Circle Time
2. Math
3. Phonics
4. Language
5. Reading
6. Spelling
7. Penmanship
8. Piano
9. Physical Education
10. Art

In the lower elementary grades I may not cover every subject every day.  Our children do begin formal piano  studies in Kindergarten or 1st grade.  My primary textbooks in these early years are from Abeka.  I prefer A Reason For Handwriting for penmanship. We love circle time and art.  We leave plenty of time in our day for just playing.

5th Grade

1. Math – Abeka
2. Language – Abeka
3. History – Christian Liberty
4. Science – Abeka
5. Spelling – Christian Liberty
6. Writing -Alethea Academy (on-line)
7. Literature -Alethea Academy (on-line)
8. Penmanship – A Reason For Handwriting
9. Piano
10. Reading Comprehension – Abeka
11. Physical Education – Tennis and Golf
12. Bible

8th Grade

1. Math – Saxon 1/2 Pre-Algebra
2. Language – Abeka
3. History – Sonlight
4. Science – Abeka
5. Spelling – Christian Liberty
6. Writing -Alethea Academy (on-line)
7. Literature -Alethea Academy (on-line) and Sonlight
8. Piano
9. Latin – Schola Tutorials (on-line)
10. Physical Education – Tennis and Golf
11. Bible

9th Grade

1. Math – Saxon Algebra 1
2. Language – Abeka
3. History -World Geography - Abeka (began Bob Jones World History)
4. Latin-Schola Tutorials (on-line)
5. Biology – Abeka
6. Writing -Alethea Academy (on-line)
7. Literature -Alethea Academy (on-line) and Abeka
8. Piano
9. Physical Education – Tennis and Golf
10. Bible

11th Grade

1. Math – Teaching Textbooks Algebra II
2. Language and Writing included in English Literature
3. History -World History, Bob Jones
4. Latin- Scholars OnLine Academy (on-line)
5. Chemistry - Apologia
6. Literature - English Literature (prepares  student for the AP English Literature exam)
7. Physical Education – Tennis and Golf
8. Piano
9. Bible

I hope this is helpful.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  I would love to hear how you all work with your children.

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” – Prov. 1:8