We have been homeschooling for many years and I sometimes forget that what we do isn't the same for others. So, I am adding a monthly homeschool recap to this blog 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.
Here are some items that we have read, listened to or watched during the month of March:
*The Holy Bible
Watch Permaculture Pigs on Abundance Plus
Watch videos on Small Engine Repair provided from our FFA instructor
The Story of Painting by HW Janson
Bright Valley of Love by Edna Hong
*The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
The New Answers Book 1 by Ken Ham
Read/Discuss World Magazine articles.
Tuttle Twins and Their Spectacular Show Business by Connor Boyack
Watched Cooking for a Large Family Farmhouse on Boone YouTube
Bluestocking Guide Economics by Jane Williams
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Maybury
Watched Harry's War
*Watched You Can't Take It with You
*Watched Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Home Geography for Primary Grades by CC Long
The Lay of the Land by Dallas Lore Sharp
The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin
*Richard Halliburton's Book of Marvels - The Occident
Elementary Geography by Charlotte Mason
Watched The History of the Microwave Oven from Weird History Food on YouTube
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People - portions
Buffalo Bill by Ingri D'aulaire
The Birth of Britain by Winston Churchill
Always Inventing by Tom Matthews
*George Washington by Ingri d'Aulaire
*This Country of Ours by HE Marshall
Our Island Story by HE Marshall
50 Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin
Trial and Triumph by Richard Hannula
Don't Know Much About the Pioneers by Kenneth Davis
Tree in the Trail by Holling C Holling
The Little Duke by Charlotte Yonge
A Child's History of the World by VM Hillyer
Abraham Lincoln's World by Genevieve Foster
Of Courage Undaunted by James Daugherty
Various poems by Walter de la Maro
Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling
*Book of Poems by Gyo Fujikawa
Age of Fable by T. Bullfinch
Various poems by Rudyard Kipling
The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
Watership Down by Richard Adams
English Literature for Boys and Girls by HE Marshall
Bulfinch's Medieval Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch
*Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb
*Aesop's Fables by Milo Winter
No Fear Shakespeare - King Lear by Sparknotes
Plutarch Project by Anne White
Listened to various Maurice Ravel songs on YouTube
Listened to various Hymns and Folksongs on YouTube
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Elsie Dinsmore Book 1 by Martha Finley - we found an older copy at an estate sale, but I have attached a link to a paperback copy.
Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table by Roger Green
The Once and Future King by TH White
*Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DeCamillo
The Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano
Mr Poppers Penquins by F Atwater
*The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Watch Mr. Popper's Penquins
A Wonder Book by Nathanial Hawthorne
Watched Burgess Animal Playlist videos on YouTube
*Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley
Watched Crash Course Astronomy on YouTube
Adventures with a Microscope by Richard Headstrom
The Wonder Book of Chemistry by Jean Henri Fabre
The Story of Inventions by Michael McHugh
First Studies of Plant Life by George Francis Atkinson
James Herriot's Treasury for Children by James Herriot
Watched Stargazing Basics on YouTube
*The Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton Burgess
Peterson Field Guide Coloring Book - Mammals
*The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton Burgess
*Watch Burgess Bird Playlist on YouTube
Paddle to the Sea by Holling C Holling
*Parables From Nature by Margaret Gatty
Wild Animals I Have Known by Ernest Thomas Seton
A Lime, a Mime, a Pool of Slime by B. Cleary
Here's a list of more "formal" curriculum products that we have used during the month of March:
*Song School Latin
*Various workbooks from The Critical Thinking Co
*Right Start Math
*Life of Fred - Cats
The Art of Problem Solving, PreAlgebra by Richard Rusczyk
Abeka Reading books - we received them as a gift and have been using them as supplemental reading material
*Life of Fred - PreAlgebra 0 with Physics
*Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Exploring Creation with Anatomy and Physiology
Completed various assignments from the FFA Small Engines repair class that were assigned by the advisor.
Here are some online classes/resources that we have used:
Facts-Based News for Christians | WORLD (wng.org)
Webucator online class about how to use Illustrator
Here are a few games/activities that we have enjoyed:
Rummy
*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 March:
- We continued with our homeschool co-op. The high school and middle school kids participate in an Art class focusing watercolor techniques, a Literature class with some writing components and a Bible class. The elementary students are participating in classes for Bible, Science, Logic and PE.
- They participated in several FFA Livestock Judging classes. They practiced evaluating the various classes of animals, preparing reasons and giving oral presentations.
- Our oldest kids participated in an FFA Site Visit at Meade Tractor. They observed professionals as they repaired engines.
- They participated in a livestock judging competition at the Beef Expo in Louisville, KY. They learned about the design of these competitions and were able to experience the stress of competition.
- Our son prepared and gave a speech about poultry at a regional FFA competition. He didn't place but many of his teammates did well in their respective competitions.
- They attended 4H Livestock Judging meetings. They are learning various methods to evaluate livestock.
- We joined our Nature Club for a hike at Morning View Preserve.
We had a great time, but it didn't take long for me to realize that I was out of shape!
- Our son updated and maintained his worm farm. He ordered new worms and integrated them into the system. He is expanding the red wrigglers and started a section for night crawlers in hopes to sell them for fishing bait later in the summer.
- We welcomed ducks to the farm! The kids showed an interest in ducks, so we ordered some from a local hatchery and placed them into our brooder. We plan to incorporate them into our systems.
- Our son attended the FFA Middle School Conference in Frankfort, KY with friends from his chapter.
- Our oldest kids continue to participate in the church's youth group activities. This involves a time for worship, learning and fellowship.
- The kids continue to take turns cooking meals for the family. We have a rule in place that whoever cooks the meal does not have to clean up the kitchen afterwards. This has been very effective in ensuring that we have an abundance of volunteers to cook meals!
- We attended a Knife & Indian Artifact Show in Cynthiana, KY. They spoke with friends and mentors. They admired the work of craftsmen and learned about flintknapping.
- Our son attended a Toby Mac concert. He had a great time!
- They helped to move our chickens from their winter home in the hoophouse outside and onto pasture. The chickens love being outdoors!
- Our daughter learned how to iron clothes.
- Our daughter got her ears pierced. She was brave even if it did hurt a bit.
Our lives are not what is considered normal, but we are loving it this way!
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If you are interested, here are some links to the places/items mentioned above:
Meade Tractor of Georgetown, Kentucky
Abundance Plus Referral Code: https://abundanceplus.com/?referral_code=DBgccacFBcgiHg
Facts-Based News for Christians | WORLD (wng.org)
(33) Farmhouse on Boone - YouTube
(33) Weird History Food - YouTube
Online and Onsite Instructor-led Training Classes | Webucator
Better Grades and Higher Test Scores — Guaranteed! - The Critical Thinking Co.
Harvest Right link: https://affiliates.harvestright.com/2487.html
RightStart™ Mathematics by Activities for Learning, Inc. - (rightstartmath.com)
Kentucky FFA Association | KY FFA
Leesburg Christian Church - Co-op
Leesburg Christian Church - Home
*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 links.