Homeschool Update - August
We have been homeschooling for many years, and I sometimes forget that what we do isn't the same for others. So, I am writing a monthly homeschool recap to demonstrate one way (there are so many methods out there!) that homeschooling can work.
We use an eclectic method of homeschooling that leans very heavily towards the Charlotte Mason method of teaching. Without going into too much detail about this method, it can be described as very literature-heavy. We read and discuss A LOT of books. We don't spend a lot of time on workbooks, worksheets, etc., We have gravitated toward this method over the years and found that it works very well for our learners and family lifestyle.
Of note, I am currently homeschooling a high school senior and a preschooler (and many in between) so this book list can be a bit extensive.
Here are some items that we have read, listened to or watched during the month of August:
*The Holy Bible
The Story of Painting by HW Janson
Listen Hide 'em in Your Heart CD
The Book that Made Your World by Vishal Mangalwadi
The Book on Writing by Paula LaRocque
The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre
Adventures with a Microscope by Richard Headstrom and watch YouTube videos associated with each activity
Microbe Hunters by Paul de Kruif
The Storybook of Science by Jean Henri Fabre
The Universe Next Door by James Sire
A Walk Through the Heavens Milton Heifetz
7 Men Who Rule the World from the Grave by Dave Breese
The Tuttle Twins Guide to Modern Villains by Connor Boyack
The Tuttle Twins Learn About the Law by Connor Boyack
Watch How to Become an Electrician -The Fat Files on YouTube (may contain adult language)
Watch Conform and OBEY - LifeDoneFree on YouTube
Watch Marcus Aurelius - The Power of Indifference - After Skool on YouTube
Eric Sloane's Weather Book by Eric Sloane
The Great Astronomers by Robert Ball
Chaucer for Children: A Golden Key by Hugh Reginald Haweis
The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher
The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories by William J. Bennett
Andy and the Lion by James Daugherty
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr
The Great Explorers by Robin Hansberry-Tennison
The Great Democracies by Winston Churchill
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Bulfinch's Mythology
The Once and Future King by TH White
The Ocean of Truth: The Story of Sir Isaac Newton by Joyce McPherson
What Everyone Should Know about the 20th Century by Alan Axelrod
Watch 11 Infamous Outlaws Who Wound Up Working for the Man in the End - Weird History on YouTube
Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History by Richard Hannula
Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley
Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie S. Bober
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
The Natural Navigator by Tristan Gooley
The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty
Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
In Freedom's Cause: A Story of Wallace and Bruce by G.A. Henty
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Amos Fortune by Elizabeth Yates
Watch various Wild Kratz episodes
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Secrets of the Woods by William J. Long
Marco Polo: His Travels and Adventures by George Makepeace Towle
Facing the Facts by Stan and Brenna Jones
This Country of Ours by HE Marshall - we use a different version, but this link is similar
Answering the Cry for Freedom by Gretchen Woelfle
Bright Valley of Love by Edna Hong
The Wonder Book of Chemistry by Jean Henri Fabre
The Tuttle Twins Guide to Courageous Heroes by Connor Boyack
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriett Beecher Stowe
Minn of the Mississippi by Holling C. Holling
The Housing Boom and Bust by Thomas Sowell
Watch Skills that Survived Every Economic Collapse in History - WealthBeforeWealth on YouTube
Rich Dad's Guide to Investing by Robert Kiyosaki
Listen The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson
Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell
Watch Learn Our History DVDs
Arguing About Slavery by William Lee Miller
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster
English Literature for Boys and Girls by HE Marshall
The Boy Scientist by John Lewellen
The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
Our Island Story by HE Marshall
The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin
A Patriot's History of the United States by Larry Schweikart
The Royal Road to Romance by Richard Halliburton
The Street Beneath My Feet by Charlotte Guillian
Watch Countries That Might Not Exist in the Future - The Geography Bible on YouTube
On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
Watch Liberty Kids DVDs
Watch Young Washington movie
Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney
*Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Ten Apples Up on Top by Dr. Seuss
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
Winnie the Pooh and some Bees by AA Milne
God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John & Elizabeth Andrew
Watch Strive to Be Different - Porch Time 2026 - Deep South Homestead on YouTube
The Book of Melchizedek by Lumier Publishing
Then There Were Five by Elizabeth Enright
Parables from Nature by Margaret Scott Gatty
Harold's Circus by Crockett Johnson
How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Water Babies by Charles Kinglsey
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons
Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving
The Warlord's Fish by Virginia Pilegard
Eeyore Has a Birthday by AA Milne
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
A Lime, a Mime, a Pool of Slime: More about Nouns by Brian P. Cleary
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Paul Brand
The Birth of Britain by Winston Churchil
History's Most Magnificent Rulers by Hywel Williams
500 Nations by Alvin Josephy Jr
*Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A Price
Here's a list of more "formal" curriculum products that we have used during the month of August:
Life of Fred: Advanced Algebra
Beautiful Feet Books - Teaching Character through Literature
Exploring Economics by Ray Notgrass
Various Activities from Letter of the Week Curriculum
Maintain a Nature Journal
Various copywork activities
Sailors and Seababies: The Fairy Tales of Charles Kingsley by Anne E. White
Fallacy Detective by Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn
Life of Fred - Fractions by Stanley Schmidt
Asgard to Athens by Anne E. White
Grammar of Poetry by Matt Whitling
Beautiful Feet Books - US Geography
Exploring Creation with Physical Science by Jay Wile
Life of Fred - Edgewood by Stanley Schmidt
Life of Fred - Honey by Stanley Schmidt
Getting Started with Latin by William Linney
Keep Going with Latin by William Linney
Mind Benders by The Critical Thinking Co.
Building Thinking Skills by The Critical Thinking Co.
Here are some online classes/resources that we have used:
All In One Homeschool - Drawing Professionally Course
Khan Academy High School Statistics
All In One Homeschool Online Spanish Course
All In One High School - Biblical Hebrew I Course
Here are some games we have played:
*Items marked with an asterisk are my personal favorites and highly recommended.
Here are a few field trips/activities that we have participated in during the month of August:
- The kids helped with multiple farmer's markets.
- The kids assist with farm chores and animal care.
- E. attended the Launching Young Farmers conference by Stockman Grass Farmer and held at Polyface Farm in Virginia.
- We attended the Kentucky State Fair.
- We attended various events at church.
- P. worked on his SAE woodworking project for FFA.
- E. worked on his SAE vermiculture project for FFA.
- We attended the FFA Summer gathering
- Attended FFA Meeting and class - landscape design
- P. attended FFA officer training
- M. worked on her SAE photography project for FFA.
- P. and E. play on the Bluegrass Soccer team.
- E. practiced driving.
- E. assisted with replacing brakes on a vehicle.
- P. and E. assist with the children's ministry at church.
Our lives are not what is considered normal, but we are loving it this way!
*For those that enjoy the booklists, I have attached links to my Amazon affiliate account. As an Amazon associate, I will earn money from any qualifying purchases made by using these link