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.
We officially took the month of June off from schoolwork, but we completed some outside activities that are included in this list.
Here are some items that we have read, listened to or watched during the month of July:
*The Holy Bible
The Story of Painting by Hanson
The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre
*The Lord God Made Them All by James Herriot
Adventures with a Microscope by Richard Headstrom and watch YouTube videos associated with each activity
For You They Signed by Marilyn Boyer
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
Read and summarize various current event articles
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
The Great Explorers by Robin Hansberry-Tennison
The Great Democracies by Winston Churchill
Watch Copperhead Road: Appalachia's Road Behind the Song - Curiosity Without Borders on YouTube
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
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
Stories from the History of Rome by Emily Beesly
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
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
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
Watch Marcus Aurelius - The Power of Indifference - After Skool on YouTube
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Essay - Art from Society and Solitude by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Short story - Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriett Beecher Stowe
Minn of the Mississippi by Holling C. Holling
Rich Dad's Guide to Investing by Robert Kiyosaki
Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell
Watch Mike Rowe Learns how to make award-winning chocolate - Mike Rowe on Youtube
Arguing About Slavery by William Lee Miller
Historical Document: Washington's Farewell
Historical Document: Treaty with Six Nations
Historical Document: Treaty with France: Louisiana
Historical Document: Treaty with Great Britain
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
Listen Hide em in Your Heart CD
A History of the American People by Paul Johnson
Watch Appalachian Story Little Rebel of the Gap - Donnie Laws Appalachia on YouTube
The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin
The Royal Road to Romance by Richard Halliburton
Watch The World's Tallest Everything - The Geography Bible on YouTube
Watch 12 interesting maps that divide our planet - The Geography Bible on YouTube
On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
American Tall Tales by Adrien Stoutenburg
Pooh Invents a New Game by AA Milne
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle
Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney
Winnie the Pooh and some Bees by AA Milne
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr
God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John & Elizabeth Andrew
The Book of Melchizedek by Lumier Publishing
Then There Were Five by Elizabeth Enright
Parables from Nature by Margaret Scott Gatty
Pooh Goes Visiting and Pooh and Piglet Nearly Catch a Woozle by AA Milne
How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler
Water Babies by Charles Kinglsey
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Pooh Invents a New Game by AA Milne
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Short story - My Kinsman by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Watch How is the United Kingdom so rich - The Geography Bible on YouTube
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
Watch and participate in various fitness videos on YouTube
Here's a list of more "formal" curriculum products that we have used during the month of July:
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
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 July:
- The kids helped with multiple farmer's markets.
- G. and H. helped to can peaches.
- P., E., and M. attended youth group at church.
- P. and E. helped clear out the woods and setup new fences.
- G. attended VBS.
- P. traveled to the Washington Leadership Conference for FFA.
- P., E., and M. assisted with VBS.
- We attended our chapter's FFA summer party hosted by one of our members.
- P. attended a leadership group with church
- M. submitted photos to a local newspaper and they were published.
- P. worked on his FFA SAE for woodworking
- E. worked on his FFA SAE for vermiculture
- M. worked on her FFA SAE for photography
- P. and E. started their soccer season
- E. earned his drivers permit and has been practicing this skill.
- We celebrated birthdays.
- P. and E. assist with the children's ministry at church
- We enjoyed pool time with family.
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