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.
Here are some items that we have read, listened to or watched during the month of May:
*The Holy Bible
Read various journal articles, PowerPoint presentations and completed question worksheets about food science provided by their FFA teacher.
Watched various YouTube videos about food science provided by their FFA teacher.
Prepare agriculture speeches for an upcoming competition.
Complete practice activities on livestockjudging.com
Watch Veggietales episode
To a Different Drum by Pauline Hamilton
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
Heroes of the Bible Devotional by Joshua Cooley
Read various essays by Francis Bacon
Utopia by Sir Thomas More, Edited by Paul Turner
Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling
Richard Halliburton's Book of Marvels -The Orient by Richard Halliburton
Elementary Geography by Charlotte Mason
Marco Polo by George Makepiece Towle
Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft by Thor Heyerdahl
Watch The Strangest Places in the World that you won't believe exist - Geography Bible on YouTube
*Whatever Happened to Justice? by Richard Maybury
The Ultimate Girls' Body Book by Walt Larimore
Our Island Story by HE Marshall
The New World by Winston Churchill
This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall
The Voyage of the Armada by David Howarth
A Child's History of the World by VM Hillyer
Trial and Triumph by Richard Hannula
Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England by Diane Stanley
The Story of the Greeks by H.A. Guerber
Heroes Every Child Should Know by Hamilton Wright Mable
Augustus Ceasar's World by Genevieve Foster
Men of the Constitution by Pamela Bradbury
Watch Liberty Kids DVD
The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty
Mourt’s Relation: A Journey of English Plantation settled at Plymouth in NE by CJohnson
Genesis: Finding our Roots by Ruth Beechick
*The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Listen The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyon on Audible
*Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb
The Heroes by Charles Kingsley
English Literature for Boys and Girls by H.E. Marshall
American Tall Tales by Adrien Stoutenburg
The Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat
*Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad by Rosemary Sutcliff
Poetry for Young People - Carl Sandburg by Frances Schoonmaker Bolin
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Listen The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame on Audible
Plutarch's Life of Camillus Study Guide by Anne White
Parables from Nature by Margaret Gatty
Various poems by Hilda Conkling
Various poems by James Whitcomb
The Book of Virtues by William Bennett
Various poems by John Donne
Listen The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler
Watch Times Tales DVD
Watch Charity Begins at Home DVD
Listen/Study Hymn - Rejoice, the Lord is King
Listen/Study Folk Song - Leave Her Johnny
Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Ark by Margot Benary-Isbert
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
Henry and Mudge books by Cynthia Rylant
Listen Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
*Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
*Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
*Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra
Watch How do robots know where they are? - TeachKidsRobotics on YouTube
*The Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton W. Burgess
*Watch various episodes of Ryan Hall, Y'all channel
Rural Hours by Susan Fenimore Cooper
It Couldn't Just Happen by Lawrence O. Richards
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick
The Secrets of the Woods by William J. Long
Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin D. Wiker
Watch Wild Kratts episodes - Pedal Power, White Tail Deer, Tasmanian Devil
Here's a list of more "formal" curriculum products that we have used during the month of May:
The Art of Problem Solving, Introduction to Algebra by Richard Rusczyk
A Humble Place - Caravaggio Artist Study
A Bluestocking Guide: Justice by Kathryn Daniels
Mind Benders by The Critical Thinking Co.
*Life of Fred - Kidneys by Stanley Schmidt
*Life of Fred - Apples by Stanley Schmidt
*Life of Fred - Edgewood by Stanely Schmidt
Abeka reading books - these were gifted to us, and we use them for reading practice.
Completing entries in a Nature Journal
Apologia - Anatomy and Physiology
Rewriting misspelled words
Here are some online classes/resources that we have used:
Here are a few games/activities that we have enjoyed:
Rummy
Solitaire
*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 May:
- The kids continued to participate in their 4H livestock judging practices in preparation for the State 4H Livestock Judging competition at the end of the month. They all improved their skills and performed well. Our son placed in several categories.
- The kids participated a in chicken processing workshop with their FFA class. It was a great learning experience!
- In their regular FFA class, they shared pickle recipes, made cheese and parted a whole chicken. They even squeezed in enough time to practice their speeches for the state competition.
- The kids assist us with our booth at the farmers markets.
- Our oldest son finished up his elective classes with Bluegrass United in Comic Book Club, Introduction to AI and Events that Changed the World.
- We wrapped up the year with our co-op. They participated in classes for Art, Bible, Logic, PE and Science.
- They continued to participate in the youth group at church.
- Our daughters practiced their crocheting skills. They are considering entering an item in the county fair this year.
- Our sons attend an "80's Prom Gone Bad" Dance with their co-op. It was a murder mystery dinner event. They had a great time!
- Our oldest continued to practice his driving skills. He even purchased his own car with the money that he has saved from working and selling his own created items.
- The girls helped to pick strawberries and make strawberry jam.
- The boys assisted with operating the sawmill.
- We spent time with friends at various parties and gatherings.
- Our oldest volunteered with us to help cleanup areas affected by the tornado in London, Ky. We worked for a great organization called Grindstone Ministries. We helped to clear out a fencerow. It was hard work, but we were a small part in helping a couple return their livestock to their property.
- Our sons participated in Bluegrass United High School soccer team's spring training sessions.
- Our daughter competed with the Bluegrass United Girls Middle School Soccer team. She loves this team and is learning a lot!
- Our daughter continues to take pictures of farm life. She is creating cards and selling them at the market.
- Our son assisted in the creation of a custom order. It was a softball ring holder with the athlete's name and number engraved into it.
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