Our second term of homeschooling this year took place from the third week in December through the second week in March. We had originally planned to take off the entire month of December and enjoy family time and special holiday traditions, but when our family was quarantined twice we decided we may as well be making our days at home count! We later appreciated when our term ended and we were thankful we had started sooner. One of the perks of making your own schedule, I suppose: you can change it whenever you want :)
If you want to read about how we started the year, refer to this post. In many regards, we continued down similar paths this second term. We attempted to cover all the same subjects as before, but this term we were more consistent and went deeper with a few that we had previously skimmed over. As before, some subjects we did each day; some were only once a week. Some lasted five minutes, some twenty. Charlotte Mason believed it was important to provide even the youngest of students with a "wide feast" of topics to learn from, so we covered a lot of different subjects. I love the variety in our days and weeks and how it offers both of us a break just by moving quickly to something new. I purchased the Scheduling Cards from a Delectable Education at the beginning of our year to help me visualize our week. They were only $5 and they were a great fit for what I needed. One main change I made in our daily routine this term was to create an "A" week schedule and a "B" week schedule. I noticed our school day kept getting interrupted around the same time each day. Naya's focus would weaken at about the same subject. I began to wonder if changing the order of our day occasionally would allow us to give our best focus to each subject some of the time, instead of one or two areas consistently suffering.
I also purchased the Curriculum Template for Form I from A Delectable Education at the beginning of the year, which helped me track all the books I hoped to use for each subject and provided me with links to podcast episodes that would explain each section. I downloaded it on my laptop and use it for my overall planning. Then I use this simple planner to scribble down my daily/weekly notes and plans as we go. Below, I will record how we approached each topic and what specific books, materials and activities we included. Since it's primarily for my records, I want to remember these key details for future years and children. It's a long read for anyone else :)
Bible- We started most of our days with Bible time. We read through the book of Genesis (CH 16-33) and the book of Matthew (CH 10-20) this term, alternating days. We chose about 15-20 verses at a time, trying to complete a whole "episode" rather than stick to chapter divisions. I would begin by making a statement about what we read from that book last time to help her remember. Then, I simply read my ESV Bible aloud to her and asked her to tell me what she understood of our reading periodically. To reinforce her comprehension we used Bible Study Fellowship's Genesis Questions for Level 1 in our reading time occasionally. I prepared myself by doing my BSF Genesis lessons and doing a Bible Study on the Sermon on the Mount by The Daily Grace Co. as well as listening to the Help Me Teach the Bible episodes on Genesis and Matthew and Knowing Faith Podcast as they discussed Genesis. I like podcasts :) One of the sweetest developments this term was seeing Naya enjoy and initiate reading her Bible on her own. She began reading through the book of Mark and writing down things she wanted to remember.
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| Caught her working on her own Bible study when we had a break from school. |
Math- We purchased the Simply Charlotte Mason Level 1 Math Book and a Grid Notebook for her to use. I bought them in the the bundle and learned a lot from the teacher's guide as well. I debated this purchase, but I am THRILLED with the product and the overall method. We will definitely continue with the following levels. We regularly use a small whiteboard and marker for her to practice writing numbers and equations. About once a day she then copies an equation down in her notebook. This curriculum really values the children slowly getting acquainted with the numbers, one at a time, in many different ways. She almost always used manipulatives such as coins, beads and popsicle sticks, but this term we also worked on mental math. I especially loved the way it sets up good habits and patterns for her to already understand multiplication naturally in the future (when we studied the number 30, she observed that there were groups of 2, 3, 5, 6, 10 and15 and practiced counting that way). This term she worked on numbers 20-49.
Often after math we would have a free play time, physical education or singing because of what I read in the teacher's guide of Simply Charlotte Mason's Math bundle.
Physical Education- This term, I made a goal to implement some Swedish Drill during our P.E. time, which we previously had omitted. Once a week I would teach her a few new positions and we would practice multiple different routines, almost like a more formal version of Simon Says. Charlotte Mason used this method not only to improve the children's physical strength, agility and balance, but also to improve their attention because they had to listen to all the commands first and then do them in the correct order and timing. In the future I might consider purchasing this eBook. On days we didn't do drill, she sometimes did a yoga video from Cosmic Kids Yoga, which all my girls loved. When it was colder and we couldn't do P.E. outside, we did things like the animal freeze dance, hit balloons in the air as many times as we could, or practiced balance. We also played in the snow during this time :)
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| Enjoying the deep snow in the backyard. |
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| Trying to clear a path for our mail lady! |
Singing-We used Happy Hymnody's Hymn of the Month resources to learn new hymns. We often got out instruments and I tried to learn it on the piano as we sang. She learned "All the Way My Savior Leads Me" and "Here is Love Vast as the Ocean" this term. We also practiced folk songs occasionally. This term she learned "This Land is Your Land" and "Hot Cross Buns." We used a map as we sang "This Land is Your Land" and she pointed to the different regions of the USA as we sang about them. She definitely has an ear for music and an interest in it. She loves to learn new songs and would be happy anytime to take a break and sing and dance.
Reading-This term we used this time for her to read aloud to me from simple picture books from our library or one of her old Highlights Magazines (especially Tex & Indi stories!) We started the term using a few BOB books, but she was soon ready for more. When we picked up a library order, I would pre-read our stack and pull out two or three to save for school time. The key here was always to give her material she had never heard read to her before and hadn't practiced already. She improved greatly and really enjoyed reading more independently. We found her reading on her own all throughout the day.
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| She reads constantly! |
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| She had a special interest in Jane Goodall and chimpanzees this term. Her sisters loved when she read to them. |
History-This term we focused our history time on finishing the book "America Begins" by Alice Dalgliesh that we had started last term. We checked it out from our library and read one chapter each sitting. We also bought the Columbus biography by D'Aguilar and began that when Columbus was introduced into the timeline, but we didn't finish it this term. I wanted to balance these books that heavily focused on the explorers and their accomplishments, with another type of book that spoke more of the lives and experiences of the Native Americans before the explorers came. We requested the book "Meet the North American Indians" by Elizabeth Payne from our library and it was EXCELLENT. We read CH 1, 4-6, and 10-12 this term before we had to return it. The pictures were captivating and the information about their lives was so specific and unique to each tribe that it really helped us differentiate between people groups. But while we waited for that to be available through our library, we bought the book "Children of the Longhouse" to fill its spot. It is a fictional story, but it's filled with true details about how Native Americans interacted and viewed the world. We didn't complete it this term, but we will continue with it in the future as we really enjoyed the story.
Spanish-Even as a former Spanish teacher, this has been an area of weakness for me. I wanted to take a relaxed, organic approach instead of purchasing a formal curriculum, although in the future I will look into Cherrydale Press. This term, we purchased the book "El Mejor es Mi Papá". It was a challenging read, so we read it slowly, one day a week, and let it inform the vocabulary we practiced. This term she learned some animal words and reviewed other vocabulary from last term. We liked reviewing clothing and color words by doing a step-by-step coloring page where she had to listen to my instructions before coloring the correct item in the correct color. She practiced numbers up to 30 in Spanish, which lent itself to making comparisons to her math work. She started doing some simple math in Spanish on her own, which was fun for us both. We also took one day a week to practice songs in Spanish. This term we learned "Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas y Pies" and "Diez Deditos." Finally, we continued to read poems and nursery rhymes from "Pio Peep" and supplemented with Spanish books from our home library or from our public library. The main difference this term was that I intentionally spent a day a week focusing on getting her to speak in Spanish or repeat phrases to me. It was hard for her, but I can tell she continued to improve over time.
Natural History- This is essentially our science time. We continued to use "Wild Life in Woods and Fields" from last term and finished the book this time. For another day of the week, we purchased the book "North" and we absolutely loved the pictures and ideas this book taught! We were so fascinated that we checked out the book "Migration" by Gail Gibbons to continue reading more in depth about animals and how far they travel each year. Since we were in the middle of winter, she learned about hibernation, migration and the different adaptations certain animals make to live in colder weather. She was particularly fascinated with Emperor Penguins this term (they came up in two of our other school books) so we also checked out a few books about them specifically, and read a book of poems about them. After learning about them, we watched a couple of video clips showing them huddling, sliding on their bellies and taking care of their chicks.
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| We bundled up and went on nature walks when we could brave the weather. |
Tales- We kept reading out of the "Blue Fairy" book this term. We enjoyed "Little Red Riding Hood" and "The Wonderful Sheep," but we decided to read a different book in place of our third fairy tale for the term. We checked out "Sisters Against Slavery" from our library, planning to read it entirely. It was a fascinating story, but Naya's tender heart just couldn't handle the violence and fear in this story so we stopped early. We also read from a book of Aesop's Fables we had purchased last term. This term we read three fables: The Lion and the Mouse, Bees, Wasps and Hornets, and the North Wind and Sun. Sometimes we spent this time reading other library books that interested us. She listened, looked at the pictures and narrated what she understood periodically.
Geography- We continued using the book Charlotte Mason herself wrote for this topic "Elementary Geography." This term we covered lessons 5-11, reading about once a week. As topics were introduced in this book, we would read another book that expounded upon that concept. We enjoyed "Stargazers" and "The Moon Book" by Gail Gibbons as well as "What Makes Day and Night" and "The Planets in our Solar System" by Franklyn M. Branley. We had purchased this take along guide to use in both geography and nature history, but honestly we didn't get much use out of it. On our other day of geography each week we began the book "Paddle to the Sea" by Holling Clancy Holling. Most days we would read two of the short chapters and talk about where he went and what he saw. The pictures in this book are absolutely stunning and they really draw you in to the details of each adventure. We will definitely continue this book in the future.
Handwriting- Using this paper, Naya would spend this time each day writing out a line from a hymn or poem, or writing down the passages we were learning for recitation. This term, instead of trying to copy down more words, we actually slowed down and tried to copy less, better. We practiced looking closely at each word or phrase and the attempting to write it from memory without looking back and forth. She was frustrated with this concept, but I can tell it helped her to learn to spell on her own. She likes writing a lot, so she would prefer to go quickly. It took discipline for her to be more careful and check her work before showing it to me.
Poetry- We continued reading 1-2 poems a day from our anthology that I really love Some days I selected ones, some days I let her choose. We also checked out this book from our library and we really enjoyed the wide variety of poems that were new to us.
Handicraft- This subject is about teaching students life skills, hobbies and crafts that will serve them well in the future. This term we practiced origami! It was a lot of fun for me, and Naya was very proud of herself when she completed a project, but the process was frustrating for her at times. We relied on the videos from Art for Kids Hub . We tried Christmas trees, angels, foxes, parrots, turtles, frogs, and penguins. Before Christmas, she also made these cookies in a jar and these sugar scrubs as gifts for family members. At least one day a week was reserved for household projects: this term she continued to help prepare the next day's breakfast, and she improved at folding laundry and washing windows/mirrors. We also used this time to write letters, thank you notes, and make homemade birthday cards for cousins and friends as they came along.
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| Making cookies in a jar to give as Christmas gifts. She's improving in measuring reliably. |
Brush Drawing- This was a subject I had not implemented in term 1, so it was a goal of mine to be more intentional this time. I purchased some water color paper, round brushes and higher quality water color paint at Hobby Lobby. This term we kept it very basic: practice improving our technique and control with the brush. I watched lots of Bestowing the Brush's beginning videos and we practiced some of her strokes to start. It is still something I am not comfortable or confident in, but I know Naya enjoyed getting to experiment with the "nice" materials and it was a good outlet in the afternoon for both of us. We especially enjoyed learning more about snowflakes and focusing on "Snowflake Bentley" and his stunning pictures. We checked out both of these books from our library and spent multiple weeks trying to paint his snowflakes, make them into cards, and hang them on our back door. I think a key to this subject was setting aside time for both her and I to sit down together and attempt the project side by side.
Recitation-This is time we spend learning to recite, annunciate carefully and pronounce words beautifully. She practiced with the poem "The Folk Who Live in Backward Town", Genesis 18:9-15, Matthew 14:15-21, Psalm 19:7-11 and the hymn "Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire" this term, alternating days. I liked that the Bible passages were from stories we had read this term, so it really helped us remember them while we recited. The psalm and hymn I chose, and the poem she selected on her own. We both enjoyed being able to combine this term's verses from Psalm 19 with last term's portion...she was able to say the whole psalm by memory! Some days I read a phrase and she repeated, but as she grew stronger in her reading and memorization, I helped less and less. The overall goal was to recite, not necessarily memorize; that was just a bonus :)
Composer Study-We studied the Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov this term. I followed Ambleside Online's rotation and their suggestions for pieces. We listened to his music laying down, or dancing, and then we sprinkled it into our school day the rest of the week while we worked. I made a Spotify playlist of his pieces and the other songs we learned this term so that we could play them throughout the day. This term I looked up a little more information about him and we listened to a podcast that helped us learn more about his background. I also enjoyed adding this dimension: when we finished listening to a piece we would try to describe what was happening in our imagination as we listened (ie: a battle, a ballet, someone being chased, etc). When we got to the Flight of the Bumblebee piece, she really enjoyed watching videos of violinists playing his piece incredibly fast!
Drawing- I did not put many parameters on this subject. Once a week, we dedicate time to sit down and draw something we have been reading about, or something we have seen outside. I let her pick ANYTHING that fits that description. I sit and draw next to her during that time and when we are done we explain our pictures and hang them up with magnets on the back door near our school table for the week.
Picture Study- This term, we studied works from Leonardo D'Vinci, as recommended by Ambleside Online's rotation. I found a packet for free from A Humble Place that I printed at our local UPS store on high quality paper. It included each of the 6 pieces we studied. I liked that she also included some background information for me about each piece, but we didn't go very in depth. Instead we observed, tried to describe them in detail without looking, speculated on the people and animals involved, etc. This term we spent more time discussing D'Vinci himself and we practiced the names of the paintings more than last time, so she could talk about them more easily during exams. She really enjoyed this subject.
This term threw us a few curveballs, but overall our homeschooling routine flexed and changed to fit what our family needed at any given time. We were able to make the most of hours at home this winter and fill them with learning and growing. Naya had a cough that was so bad she needed an inhaler at one point, plus she had a dental check up and a follow up procedure. Her education didn't have to be put on hold for any of that! Instead of taking off two whole weeks in the middle of our term around Christmas, we chose to complete one week of school in two weeks' time so that it was more connected for her and it got us ahead of schedule. We had times where we did school at my parent's house or with cousins, so that we could enjoy family time when we had the opportunity. As hard as homeschooling was at different points, this flexibility continued to be one of the things for which I was most grateful.
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| Busy kitchen table :) |
I was also very thankful for the online community I found this term. I joined a book club, and read through Home Education with them. I really benefitted from getting to know the other moms and hearing how they were implementing Charlotte Mason's philosophy in their own homes. Many of the changes and improvements I made this year were due to the learning that took place in that group. In addition, I attended (virtually) the ADE at Home Conference in February. I watched multiple virtual sessions about areas that were a struggle for me, and these experienced teachers gave practical tips and reminders. I took so many notes! It encouraged me and it refreshed my motivation to keep improving.
Our days were far from perfectly executed. Our family had one preschooler potty-training, one toddler struggling to wean and suffering with painful eczema and allergy testing, and a dad working from home most of the time in addition the homeschooling we are doing. We live in a 1500 square foot house with very little separation or privacy. We came up short in many ways, as I'm sure we always will. But, overall, when I look over our entire term, I see a lot of growth in Naya and in myself. I'm thankful to God for the opportunity we have had to try homeschooling and I'm thankful for the way He teaches and sustains us through it. We are dependent upon Him for our every day, and anything good that comes from our time is only by His grace.
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| Naya Renee: A few teeth lighter, a whole lot smarter :) |
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