We have been homeschooling for many years and I sometimes forget that what we do isn't the same for others. So, I decided to try 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 October:
*The Holy Bible
VeggieTales episode
*Heroes of the Bible Devotional by Joshua Cooley
*Tuttle Twins and the Search for Atlas by Connor Boyack
The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit
*The Tuttle Twins Podcast
Various YouTube videos on cooking
Elementary Geography Charlotte Mason
*Minn of the Mississippi by Holling C Holling
Richard Hallibuton's Book of Marvels - Orient
B is for Bluegrass A Kentucky Alphabet by Mary Ann McCabe Riehle
The Ultimate Guys' Body Book by Walt Larimore
*This Country of Ours by HE Marshall
*Answering the Cry for Freedom by Gretchen Woelfle
*George Washington's World by JoAnna Foster
*Augustus Ceasars World by Genevieve Foster
The Story of the Greeks by HA Guerber
Abigail Adams by Natalie Bober
We Were There at the Battle of Gettysburg by AS Malkus
Our Island Story by HE Marshall
*Benjamin Franklin by Ingri DAulaire
50 Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin
*Genesis Finding Our Roots by Ruth Beechick
The Colony of Virginia by Brooke Coleman
Don't Know Much About the Kings and Queens of England by Kenneth Davis
Powhatan Indians by Suzanne Williams
Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff
Age of Fable by T. Bullfinch
*Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
*Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb
Poetry for Young People - Edgar Allan Poe
Variety of Sandburg poems
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
*Aesop's Fables
A Childs Book of Poems by Gyo Fujikawa
*Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
*Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Plutarch Project by Anne White
No Fear Shakespeare - Twelfth Night
A variety of Wordsworth poems
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
*The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Blue Fairy book by Andrew Lang
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.
Listen various Renaissance songs on YouTube
Reba - My Story by Reba McEntire
Hymns and Folksongs on YouTube
Watch YouTube videos on photography
The Warlords Puzzle by Virginia Pilegard
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DeCamillo
Tree of Freedom by Rebecca Caudill
The House at Pooh Corner by AA Milne
The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Frog and Toad Collection by Arnold Lobel
Little Houses in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Storybook of Science by Jean Henri Fabre
*Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley
*The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton Burgess
*Listen Burgess Bird Playlist on YouTube
The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson
It Couldn't Just Happen by Lawrence Richards
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick
The Ocean of Truth by Joyce McPherson
The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin Wiker
Watch YouTube: @petersonfieldguides
Paddle to the Sea by Holling C Holling
Inside your Outside by Dr Seuss
*Herb Fairies Book 9 by Kimberly Gallagher
*Parables From Nature by Margaret Gatty
A Mink A Fink A Skating Rink by Brian Cleary
Here's a list of more "formal" curriculum products that we have used during the month of October:
Beautiful Feet Books - Around the World with Picture Books
Song School Latin
Right Start Math
Life of Fred - Apples
Life of Fred - PreAlgebra 0 with Physics
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology
Here are some online classes that we have used:
Here are a few games/activities that we have enjoyed:
Dominoes
*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 October:
- We continued with our homeschool co-op. The high school and middle school kids participate in an Art class focusing on charcoal and 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.
- We participated in a bat walk event hosted by the Boone County Conservation Office. We had a great time and learned a lot about bats by using their echolocation detection devices.
- Our son explored the idea of setting up a microgreen station in the basement. He did research and designed it out before deciding that he didn't want to take the time to pursue that particular project at the moment.
- Our son continued his season with Bluegrass United Soccer. They participated in two tournaments, including the National Homeschool Soccer Championship in Chattanooga, TN.
- Our daughter worked to cook a few dishes on her own. These included breakfast puff cake (similar to a pancake) and prepared salads.
- The girls attended a field trip to Evans Orchard. I was unable to attend, but luckily their grandmother stepped in. They had a great time!
- Our son maintained and updated his worm farm. He is using this as his FFA project. After independent research, he obtained aged cow manure as a supplement for his worms.
He sold worm tea fertilizer at the Farmers Market all season. He earned enough money to purchase a custom, handmade knife from a local artisan. He loves his new knife! If you are interested in these knives, contact Willow Bend Farm at willowbend01@gmail.com.
- The girls decided to sleep outside in a tent before the weather became too cold. They set up the tent with all of their books, lights, pillows and blankets. They attempted to allow the cats to sleep with them, but they were too playful throughout the night (or so I was told!). When we looked outside in the morning, our dog was lying in front of the tent door to ensure that they were protected throughout the night.
- The boys participated in an FFA Fundraiser at Culvers. I think the kids had more fun than the customers.
- Our son and daughter finished up their soccer season with Georgetown Football Club. We are very grateful for their caring and dedicated coach. He does an amazing job with the kids.
We started using a new wagon help haul our chairs to and from the sidelines. The baby is a fan of this new method.
- The boys attended their FFA Meeting at the Grant Co Library. The topic discussed was greenhouses and the various possible setups. I even shared a little bit about our experiences with our greenhouse.
- We said goodbye to our pigs as they were taken to the processor. They are now providing delicious meat for several families.
- We started a project to setup water and electric in our barn. The boys assisted with this activity and learned how this process works.
- Our oldest son participated in his first dance. It was a Barn Dance and Pie Social hosted by Bluegrass United. They had a professional group teach the students various dances including line dancing and swing dancing. The kids had fun and are looking forward to attending this event next year.
- We hosted a couple of playdates and sleepovers. The kids love hanging out at home with our friends.
- We attended a field trip to Wilson's Nursery with our FFA group.
- We celebrated our daughter's birthday. She is growing up so fast!
- A couple of the kids helped to work a booth at the Harvest Festival on Stepping Stone Farm.
- We attended a Halloween party.
We had great hosts that always make us feel welcome and throw a great party.
If you are interested, here are some links to the places/items mentioned above:
Boone County Conservation District – Boone County Conservation District, KY (bccdky.org)
National Homeschool Soccer Championship (sincsports.com)
Einkorn Puff Pancakes - Farmhouse on Boone
Evans Orchard - Market & Cider Mill - Georgetown, KY
Home | Harrison Co Farmers (hcfmky.com)
RightStart™ Mathematics by Activities for Learning, Inc. - (rightstartmath.com)
Georgetown Football Club | Home (georgetownfc.com)
Home | bluegrass-united (bluegrassunited.com)
Leesburg Christian Church - Co-op
Home | Wilson Nurseries | Kentucky's Plant People (wilsonnurseriesky.com)
Pumpkin Patch | Stepping Stone Farm | Paris (steppingstonefarmky.com)
*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.