We have been homeschooling for eight 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 March:
13 Art Techniques Children Should Know by Angela Wenzel - portion on Albrecht Durer
50 Artists You Should Know by T. Koster - portion on Albrecht Durer
Usborne Book of Famous Artists - portion on Albrecht Durer
The Jesus Storybook Bible*
The New Answers Book by Ken Ham
Heroes of the Bible Devotional by Joshua Cooley
Jonathan Park Audio Adventure Series #1 & 2*
Kirby McCook and the Jesus Chronicles by Stephen Arterburn*
VeggieTales DVD
The Book of Missionary Heroes by B. Matthews
Tuttle Twins show on YouTube
Tuttle Twins Podcast
Tuttle Twins and the Little Pink House by Connor Boyack
The American Boy's Handibook by DC Beard
Richard Halliburton's Book of Marvels - The Occident
The Care and Keeping of You 1 by V.L. Schaefer
Carry a Big Stick by G. Grant
Beware Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer*
Fearless Girls, Wise Women and Beloved Sisters by K. Ragan
Imperfect Union by S. Inskeep
Abraham Lincoln's World by G. Foster*
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick
Elizabeth I Queen of England by B. Hollander
The Story of Inventions by M.J. McHugh & F.P. Bachman
George Washington Carver by David Collins
A Child's History of the World by VM Hillyer*
Parables from Nature by Margaret Gatty*
The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
The Jungle Book by R. Kipling
Harold and the Purple Crayon by C. Johnson*
The Age of Fable by T. Bulfinch
Kim by R. Kipling
Who was Wolfgang A. Mozart? by Y. McDonough
Dream More by Dolly Parton*
Ultimate Dolly Parton CD*
My Life and Other Unfinished Business by Dolly Parton
Tyrannosaurus Rex by C. Lennie
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien*
YouTube videos comparing the production of canola oil and olive oil
Can You Tell a Triceratops from a Protoceratops? by B. Silverman
Iguanodon by G. Hanson
Dinosaurs of Eden by K. Ham
Jurassic Park DVD
Wild Animals I Have Known by E.T. Seton
Christian Liberty Nature Reader, Book 5
The Crazy Makers by Carol Simontacchi*
Science for Kids -Dinosaurs - DVD
Outdoor Life Emergency Survival Guide by B. Dalrymple
Bush Craft 101 by Dave Canterbury
Homemade Wanderlust on YouTube - Continental Divide Trail*
My Patients and Other Animals by S. Fincham-Gray*
Licking Valley Vet Podcast
Veterinary Surgery Prep on YouTube
Helen Hunt Jackson Poems
John Greenleaf Whittier Poems
*Books marked with an asterisk are my personal favorites and highly recommended.
Here's a list of more "formal" curriculum products that we have used during the month of March:
Beautiful Feet Books - Teaching Character Through Literature
Geography for All Seasons
Story of the World
Song School Latin
Critical Learning Company - Building Thinking Skills, Mind Benders, Creative Problem Solving
Life of Fred
Right Start Math
Abeka Readers
Young Explorer Series: Exploring Creation with Zoology 3
All About Spelling
New American Cursive
English Lessons Through Literature
Fix It Grammar
Writing & Rhetoric
Here are online classes that we have enjoyed:
Intro into Microsoft Excel
Foundations in Personal Finance for Middle Schoolers
Here are a few games/activities that we have enjoyed:
Uno
Animal Box
Ticket to Ride
Here are a few field trips/activities that we have participated in:
The kids attended an art class at Firing Squad Ceramics. I was unable to attend, but according to the reports of others, the teacher did a great job and the kids had a lot of fun!
We attended a rally for the Peoples Convoy at Beans Cafe in Dry Ridge, Ky. It included guest speakers, music and food. The convoy's goal was to have the Declaration of National Emergency removed and the return of constitutional freedoms. The speakers included political figures and a preacher from Canada that described his experience of forced church closings during their national lockdowns.
Our oldest son has been working with his uncle in building a deck on their house. He is learning great carpentry skills and I've noticed his math skills have improved dramatically after having this hands-on experience.
Our son restarted horseback riding lessons at Riding with Rhythm. He loves spending time with the horses!
We attended a homeschool skating event at The Independence Skateway. The kids are getting much better at skating and it allowed them to express some pent-up energy.
We were invited to participate in a bowling event with other homeschoolers at Sports of All Sorts. We definitely are not pros but we learned more about the game and had a great time!
The girls and our oldest son started their soccer season with the Boone County Youth Soccer Association. We considered finding a soccer program closer to home but we were so fortunate to have the BEST coaches and teammates last fall that we relented when the kids asked to remain on the same teams.
**pictures are missing because we completely dropped the ball on this one!
The hubby and son travelled to Louisville with our church to participate in the SuperStart! preteen event.
*I blacked-out the faces of individuals that didn't have the opportunity to approve the use of their image in the blog.
This trip allowed his siblings to understand the difficulties that he faces with his morning chores of feeding and watering the animals.
We had a late season snow.
The goats weren't very patient as the hay was being delivered to the rotating fenced area.
I am excited to experience all that April has in store for us!
In case you are interested, here are some links to the places/items mentioned above:
(13) Firing Squad Ceramics | Facebook
Riding With Rhythm – Riding School
Independence Skateway (theindependenceskateway.com)
Boone County Youth Soccer Assoc. > Home (boonecountysoccer.com)
(417) Continental Divide Trail Documentary: CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE - YouTube
Education – Licking Valley Veterinary Service
(417) Surgery Prep: Scrubbing In - YouTube
SuperStart | A 2-Day Event For Preteen Students | CIY
South Fork Christian Church – Verona, KY – Changing our community, one HEART at a time.
What a productive month !!
How about that a Tuttle Twins YouTube series !! My people watched it 3+times and beg for more !!