CC For All Ages

I want to throw this out there:  Classical Conversations is made for all ages!

My three year old daughter is in love with the timeline songs and cards.  One day I found her in the living room with the cd playing as she flipped through our timeline cards. 

Then later she set it all up in a different area and began teaching her baby!  She is such a mini-me.

It is amazing how she is absorbing all of the information we are learning.  She hears it in the car, and she listens to us in the house.  I love to hear her sing about "Age of Ancient Empires" and "Minoans and Mycenaeans."  She randomly uses words like conjugation, 3000 BC, timeline, and 8 parts of speech.  :)  She may not know what any of that means...but one day she will be ready to learn about it and she'll already have that vocabulary in her smart, little brain.  

Along with her and the boys, I am also learning tons!  Years ago I never saw the value of knowing a history timeline or specific dates in history.  I loved hearing about history but I couldn't recall facts and dates.  Now with CC, I am learning all of those things!  It's beautiful to see how our timeline ties into our Bible studies and how our Bible studies relate to our history readings.  Everything is connected!

It all "reflects and relates back to the Creator and Sustainer of all things."  

Jenny

 Diagram and quote taken from: Classical Christian Education Made Approachable  

A Child's History of the World

Once we made the decision to join Classical Conversations in the fall, it was full steam ahead in the planning department.  Coming from an early American history overview for 1st grade, I wanted to give Old Crow a solid introduction into world history.  History sentences covered in Cycle 2 of CC cover a large time period.  I struggled with this for a long time.  Do we jump around in different Story of the World volumes to follow along?  Read only one volume of Mystery of History?  Or do nothing at all?  

I finally decided to give Old Crow (2nd grade) a gentle, one year world history overview.  

We chose A Child's History of the World (CHOW) by V.M. Hillyer. 

I like for things to be neat and tidy.  So I couldn't quite grasp how we could learn about Charlemagne on week 1 of Classical Conversations but then not read about him in CHOW until many weeks later.  So I went chapter by chapter through CHOW and correlated it with the history sentences in CC.

Charlemagne is first mentioned in CHOW in Chapter 47.  So we will be reading the beginning chapters over the summer and in August.  Then only 2 or 3 chapters per week are required to keep up with the pace of the CC history sentences.  CHOW's sequence actually goes along quite well with the sequence of the history sentences.  I will be reading the chapters aloud and then the boys will narrate.  While this book is geared perfectly for a 2nd grader, I will also have my Kindergartner listen along.  Hopefully, everything will go as planned!

Click here to download the CHOW chapter correlations.

Jenny

Big Change: Curriculum Choices for 2013-2014

We are making a big move this year...in curriculum!  ;)

Last year was wonderful as we used Heart of Dakota's program.  I even posted the top 10 reasons why we loved it so much.  It was perfect for Old Crow's 1st grade year.  As I began to look at how Heart of Dakota would fit both Old Crow in 2nd grade and Crazy Horse in Kindergarten, it became difficult to make it work.  Their learning would be completely different and their subjects would be separated.  I began to feel pulled in the direction of combined teaching or multiple-age learning.  I wanted as much of our learning to be together as possible.   So I began looking into new curriculum choices. 

I researched and researched until I felt physically sick (no joke).  My husband finally told me to stop looking at it.  I laid it all out for him and let him make the decision.  Wheewww!  The weight that was lifted off of me was indescribable.  Why do we moms do that to ourselves? :)  

Our final choice...We have joined our local Classical Conversations community and are so excited about beginning in August.

Taken from CC's website:

Classical Conversations is a leader in the home-centered education movement. It is a mission: To know God and to make Him known. It is a model: Classical Conversations combines the classical method of learning with a biblical worldview. It is a method: Classical Conversations families meet in communities where parents train parents to implement home-centered education well.

Here is the breakdown of our curriculum for this coming year:

Old Crow:  2nd Grade

Math: Singapore Math 2A/2B

Reading:  Heart of Dakota's Drawn into the Heart of Reading Program Level 2

English:  First Language Lessons Level 2

Spelling:  All About Spelling Level 3

Copywork and Writing:  Various portions of poems, classical stories, and scripture

Crazy Horse:  Kindergarten

Math:  Singapore Math Earlybird Kindergarten A & B

Reading:  All About Reading Pre-Reading

Handwriting:  A Reason for Handwriting Level K

Everything else we will all learn together through our Classical Conversations work.

Bible, History, Science, Geography, Latin, Fine Arts, English Grammar are all included with CC.  We will read living books and complete activities to expand on what is learned.

Looking forward to a new year,

Jenny

Tuesday's Top 10: Why We Love Heart of Dakota

As we near the middle of the school year, I like to reevaluate how our year how been proceeding to this point.  Is the curriculum working for us?  Have I seen growth?  Do I need to change anything?  There have been times (especially last year as we were in the beginning stage of our homeschool) when I needed to rework things.  But I am delighted that we are in love with our curriculum for this year.  Old Crow hasn't become bored with it and neither have I.  Each day he is excited to begin.  He is growing spiritually, academically, and developmentally.  We couldn't have asked for a better year...and I am so thankful that I found Heart of Dakota when I did.

So today's Top 10 focuses on why we think Heart of Dakota's Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory is perfect for our family.

1.  Biblical learning is the center of each day. Many Christian-based curricula can be found out there, and the Bible lesson is usually a separate subject....something done first to begin the day and then you move one to the academics.  But Carrie Austin, the creator of Heart of Dakota Curriculum, weaves and integrates the Bible story and scripture into every subject...history, geography, science, storytime, and character education.  Everything!!!!  

2.  Daily lesson plans are created for me.  Once you open the teacher's guide, each unit and each day is planned for you.  I don't have to plan one thing!  It has been such a relief not to have to stress over plans...spending hours at the computer until my husband drags me away.  Within the guide though, there is room for flexibility and tweaking so that it can be perfectly adjusted to each individual child.  I enjoy creating thematic units and activities to go along with my child's interest at a particular time,  but it is now optional and something I don't have to stress over.

3.  It is easy to order.  Carrie Austin has done the research for me and compiled the best of all curricula available (grammar, math, reading selections, etc).  I am preparing for Crazy Horse's Kindergarten year and Old Crow's 2nd grade year, and it is so easy to purchase what I need.  It is all in one spot and with one click the year can be bought.  :)

             4.  This curriculum has been "piloted" and tested.  Carrie and her family (a family of educators and homeschoolers) have tested and used this curriculum with their own families.  They are so helpful with giving honest answers about concerns, scheduling, organizing, etc.

5.  They have great customer service.  On the Heart of Dakota's website, a message board has been created.  I can write in with a question or concern and other's using the program will lend support and advice.  Even Carrie or her sister Julie will chime in with their advice.  Everyone is extremely helpful and passionate about homeschooling and promoting this product.

6.  Heart of Dakota uses the Charlotte Mason approach.  I don't want to bore you with talk of teaching philosophies. :)  If you are interested in this you can read about it here.  But basically as I watched how Old Crow learned and how I enjoyed teaching, I realized we were gravitating towards the Charlotte Mason approach to learning.    Heart of Dakota incorporates many of these methods for teaching and learning.

7.  It incorporates living books and not textbooks.  One aspect of the Charlotte Mason method is the belief that children learn from living books, nature, and environment...not dry text books.  A living book is usually written by one person who has a passion for the subject, and it makes the subject "come alive" for the reader.  Here is a little more information.

             

8.  It offers poetry.  I have been pleasantly surprised at how much Old Crow likes the poetry section each day.  He loves reciting, acting out, creating hand motions, and using art to depict the poem.  He also copies part of the poem each day for his handwriting practice...this is probably the least favorite portion of his day as his hand "gets tired."  We are working on increasing his time and strengthening his hand muscles. 

9.  It takes into account all learning styles.  Auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles are reinforced throughout the day.  We manipulate objects for math, listen to read alouds, narrate, use movement to memorize scripture, copy poetry, listen to scripture in song, create art to reinforce history lesson, experiment with science topics.  These are just a few of the ways each child can learn and be successful.

10.  "...For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7  

This scripture is found throughout the Heart of Dakota website.  Their motto is "Training children's hearts and minds, one child at a time."  This scripture and their motto fit perfectly with what I pray and wish for my own children.  Carrie Austin has a wonderful gift in her ability to create and develop a curriculum that puts this desire into action for parents.  It is genuine Christ-centered learning.

In His love,

  Jenny

P.S. You can check out the Tuesday's Top 10 link-up over at Many Little Blessings. :)

2012-2013 Curriculum: Heart of Dakota

Last year, as I began our first year of homeschooling, choosing the curriculum was one of the hardest and most nerve-wracking decisions I've ever made.  I spent many hours on the internet reading reviews, had many discussions with other parents, asked my teaching sisters for their opinions, and prayed, and prayed.  I finally chose our curriculum, and it worked great for us...but it required a lot of planning on my part.  So with my busy family in mind, I began looking for something different for Old Crow's 1st grade year.

I wanted something Christ-centered and literature-based with a unit approach.  And something with a complete teacher guide!  I wasn't sure if I would find the right one!!  Then one night I was reading a question posted on The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Facebook page about this very thing...the overwhelming response and suggestion was Heart of Dakota Publishing. I had never heard of this curriculum before, but the more I read and researched, the more I was drawn to this program.  

Ordering Old Crow's program, Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory, was the easiest choice I've made since beginning our homeschool journey.  When our package came in the mail, everyone was so excited to open it up!  

Memphis Belle was so excited to see a book with a dog on the cover.  She gave it kisses!!

Old Crow looked through the books and found his Early Reader's Bible.  He also loved seeing Mr. Popper's Penguins.

Crazy Horse also enjoyed looking through the books...especially the silly penguins on the cover of Mr. Popper's Penguins.

I have high hopes for our upcoming year and can't wait to see how Old Crow matures in his learning with Heart of Dakota.  Crazy Horse and Memphis Belle will return to half-day church preschool, and I look forward to seeing them grow and develop both at home and church.  :)

In His Love,

Jenny

Family Fitness

When we decided to homeschool, I knew PE would be included in our days...I pictured us riding bikes, going for walks, playing in the yard, signing up for Tball, and taking swimming lessons.  I thought this would suffice as our physical education.  But I began to read more about the importance of organized and structured lessons that teach skills like balance, coordination, etc.  

We are using Family Time Fitness...a program that offers detailed lessons that 

help parents teach physical education to their children at home.  

So Daddy put on his gym shorts and pulled out the whistle :)

And the boys are loving it!

..

Some days Crazy Horse isn't too interested and at his age we aren't 

going to push (he'd rather play in the dirt).  

But today they both had their game faces on!!  Look out Georgia; here they come!

Jenny

Bible Time

In the beginning stages of my homeschool planning and trying to arrange our schedule, I decided to place our Bible lesson as the first activity.  We begin each morning with prayer and then we see what our lesson and Bible story has in store for us. :)  We are using Grapevine Studies...Stick Figuring Through the Bible.  I first found this curriculum reviewed on other homeschool blogs, and I thought it would be a great place for us to start. 

We are reviewing the Old Testament beginning with Creation.  After I read a passage from the Bible, Old Crow then draws the main idea/theme and character using stick figures.  It is a wonderful tool to help him remember the story.  Each day as we begin a new lesson, he is able to go back through his notebook and recall the previous days.  This was extremely helpful with the Creation story.  And now we are reviewing Adam.  I love looking at his drawings!

Along with our Bible curriculum, we have a weekly Bible verse to memorize (ABC Bible Verses).  Clark and I have found that we need this as much as our children.  Below are the two we have learned so far:

(My plan is to place them into a book as we learn them; this will make for a great review.)

We practice our verse each day and it is working!!!!  Old Crow was able to recite them to his daddy over dinner at Longhorns.

Jenny