Another Educational Year: 2019-2020

It's late August. The lessons are planned, fresh pencils await, the binders are complete, new books stand in their places, the art cabinet is tidied, and expectations have been discussed (with the eighth graders anyhow).

Once again we find ourselves on the precipice of yet another educational year. It's about time to make the leap and entrust ourselves to our carefully made plans and the grace of God. Actually, we are making just a baby jump to begin. We are getting in some math and science before we make a trip to see my family in Alaska. When we get back from Alaska we will have a day unpack, a day with our homeschool group, a weekend and THEN we'll make the big leap into our new year.

This year my basket has been booted off the bottom shelf because there is no room! We now have FOUR students in this little academy. We've got two eighth graders, a fourth grader, and a kindergartner. Life is moving right along.

As this is my ninth year home-educating, I do not have to start from scratch in my homeschool planning but I still spend quite a bit of time with the prep work. I always like to tweek things a bit from year to year. Plus, for these first two students every year is a new experience for me. I do have to start from scratch for those two.

The oldest boys are pretty darn independent. More and more they are using online resources and videos. Balancing the technology devices does tend to be a bit of a balancing act. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of our Wisconsin academy (unnamed at this point), it is not too late to turn in your applications. LoL.  Dad and Mom mostly serve as the academic counselors for the boys' education, although this year Dad is taking on a larger role for the dialectic component of their education. They will still be doing Shakespeare studies with Mom as well as going over tests together.

This year I wrote up an eighth grade syllabus, printed out daily/hourly planning spreadsheets, and am requiring the use of a daily planner. Their work is fairly extensive, so my aim is to equip them with the tools to successfully juggle their academic load. I do my best to assign work to them in such a way that they can see how it applies to their everyday life. I'm operating on the belief that if students are understanding how their academics are linked to the real world, they tend to be more engaged.

Here's the subject line-up for the boys:

English: grammar, composition, dictation (a new system I've devised that I'm excited about, I'm calling it "Dictation and Virtue"), vocabulary (another self-made, organic system) and Intro to Literature (online class).

Math: Algebra I and Pre-Algebra

Science: Physical Science and Lab, also dissection class at homeschool group.

History: 63 B.C. - 1066 A.D.

Geography: self-made system with some exciting additions.

Current events: the boys are signing up for email addresses this year. They'll be subscribing to "The News Memo," which comes out on Friday mornings. They'll read it on Fridays and then report back on a news item sometime over the weekend, dinnertime being the ideal place (ie, a great topic of conversation, honing in on this dialectic stage!). The Memo does some have technical vocabulary (financial and political, for example) but I'm hoping this will only call the boys onward and upward. I am hopeful they can do this.

Foreign Language: Visual Latin

Faith: learning about Lectio Divina and taking an online catechism class

Logic: finishing up The Art of Argument

Health and Physical Fitness: gym class at homeschool group, exercise requirements, winter swim club.

The Arts:  "Meet the Composers" with everyone, Artistic Pursuits 
 

Typing: online

Life Experience/Career Exploration/Vocation Discernment: This year we are requiring 6-8 experiences.  They will come up with experiences together with Mom and Dad. After the experience they will briefly answer a few questions in a notebook. This is meant to help them take a closer look at themselves and also explore the world a bit. Some examples would be: volunteer opportunities, tours, job shadowing, micro-businesses, fairs/conventions, etc. If you have any ideas for this subject, please feel free to pass them along. We're all ears.

They are also taking a class at homeschool group called "Eight Habits of Highly Successful Teens."  I am so glad they get a class with this teacher. She is a trained guidance counselor and has such a great rapport with the high school class. I'm grateful that she's also taking on a middle school class as well.

Here is Nutmeg's line-up:

English: composition with IEW, dictation, cursive, grammar (using app), vocabulary (like the boys).

Math: Singapore and daily math facts practice.

History: same time period as boys, different sources.

Science:  Flying Creatures of the Sixth Day (birds and insects), science experiments at homeschool group.

Latin: Prima Latina

Art: at homeschool group, Artistic Pursuits.

Music: "Meet the Composers"

Nature walk with journal

Geography: studies as a family

Piano: Hoffman Academy

Health and Physical Education: gym class at homeschool group, xc ski team from December to March.

Shakespeare with everyone.

Nutmeg will also be involved with American Heritage Girls, a leadership and character development program for girls 5 to 18 years old, this coming school year.



And Mr. Mace, our kindergartner!

Phonics: Phonics Pathways

Math: Singapore math

Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears

Art/Crafts:  The Book of Crafts by Memoria Press

History: same time period, different books.

Science: read along with Nutmeg but also some additional/related books at his level.

Literature:  read-alouds with Mom and Dad. 

Music: Memoria Press

Nature observational walks.

Geography: books at his level

Mace also has a class at our homeschool group.

Shakespeare through osmosis.

As much outdoor time as possible.