Learning Year beginnings :: Part I

The new learning year is upon on, yet again!  How does that happen?  One minute I'm finishing up the folders, gathering grades, cleaning out the books, looking forward to camping, fun, and relaxation then...

BAM

it's

home school conferences

daily scans through CathSwap,

new files,

new books,

anticipated visits from the brown truck,

new lessons being planned;

it's

September

and

the first day of school is just around the corner....

again!

But I love it.

I love new notebooks and the ideas of a fresh start.

This year I have 4 kiddos getting into the 'learning' thing.

A freshman in high school

(did you hear me gulp?)

A 5th grader

A 2nd grader

and the

kindergartner

It's a lovely year planned for us

(we hope)

yet we expect the unexpected, the forks in the road, the hills and mountains that will undoubtedly need to be climbed.

And here it is.

Our 2011-2012 year at a glance.

Did I mention there is a 9th grader lurking in my house?  I've been reading and searching the many ways I can make high school work for Lucy. From the organized and packaged plans of Seton or MODG, CHC's version of a High School of Your Dreams, running with a state run program or the on your own paths of the many unschoolers; the list is endless. 

But, after weeks of this, our plan developed. It's a mix bag of stuff really.  A bit from Seton, tips from 4real learning forums, points from CHC's high school and Charlotte Mason's philosophy of what learning should look like.

Anyhow, Lucy took full part in this too. Adding her input and suggestions for readings.  She wants to consider her options after high school and her terms plans will reflect that.  She also has a love for the viola and is currently playing and mastering the instrument with an orchestra.  Thus, she added this 'extra focus' in her planning. 

She is going to be one busy girl.

But isn't this what high school should be like?  A period of time to test the waters.  Where will her interest finally lead her too?  Only God knows, and I bet He's nudging her bit by bit here.

~ For Lucy:: The Beginning ~

Grammar: 

Winston Grammar (1 year)

Readings from Eats, Shoots & Leaves

Copy work:

Calligraphy

Poetry selections

Composition:

Jensen's Format Writing

Entries into her own journal

Credit for projects she has set up for journalism

Literature (for the year):

Emma

Jane Eyre

The Rose Round by Merioil Trevor

The Screwtape Letters

To Kill a Mockingbird

Shakespeare Studies:

I. Romeo & Juliet

II. Gentleman of Vienna

III. Julius Cesar

Math

Algebra I

(2 days a week class taken outside of the home for this one)

Assorted reading: Algebra Unplugged by Jim Loats.  This looks interesting so we'll see how it goes. 

History

RC History Vol 2

Text: Land to the Nations

Assorted Readings, though not all books will be assigned to be read in full:  Famous Men of Rome, Ides of April, For the Temple, The Silver Branch, The Eagle of the Ninth, The Lantern Bearers, Word to Caesar, The King's Thane, Beowulf the Warrior, King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table,

Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc

Geography

Ultimate Geography And Timeline Guide

loosely following MODG syllabus for 9th grade

assorted reading:: Why Greenland Is An Island, Australia Is Not-And Japan Is Up for Grabs: A Simple Primer For Becoming A Geographical Know-It-All

Science

Exploring Creation with Physical Science

Assorted readings: 

The mysteries of the periodic table by Benjamin Wiker

Mad About Physics: Brain twisters, Paradoxes, and Curiosities by Christopher Jargodzki

The Cartoon Guide to Physics by Larry Gonick

Journalism

Currclick online class (newsletter)

I.  Our Community report

Fine Arts & Logic

Viola with Kadima Conservatory

Art:: Home School in the wood's Studying the greats

I. Iconography, Monet, Raphael, Renoir

Music Study:: The Great Composers

I. Georgian Chants, Guido of Arezzo, Hildegard of Bingen

Logic::

The Art of Argument

Whatever Happened to Justice? (An Uncle Eric Book)

Foreign Language

Rosetta Stone's Spanish level 1

practice and speaking with me

Religion

- The Sacrament of Confirmation

(either CHC's or Seton's...haven't decided yet)

- Baltimore Catechism No. 3

- weekly formation classes with our parish followed by benediction

- Bi-weekly CAST meetings

(a friend host these apologetics classes for the youth of our community...very well done)

I. Book of Virtues

II. How to Become a Saint

At a glance this looks like a lot.  But Lucy is a strong reader and can handle this load.  Keeping that in mind, this is set up to fit her and the year at a glance we hope to complete.

I don't know how to link to my pdf file....something else to learn.

5th grade is next