Today we finally finished The Spear. This book was our Lenten reading but it is a long book, 400 pages long. It is the story of Cassiua Longinus a Roman soldier whose father is betrayed and cheated out of his family fortune. Cassius sets to avenge his father's misfortune and ends up first a slave and then a soldier in Judea. In Judea he comes on contact not only with the puzzling Jews but with the even more puzzling followers of Rabbi Yeshua.
The books is masterfully done. De Wohl pulls together Scripture and his own imagination, and the result is a believable and well told story. The descriptions were in tad too long for the kids. It was a little anti-climatic to read the scene of the crucifixion on Easter Monday but, it was compensated by the reading today of the events following Pentecost. It was a great story and it really enhanced our Lent by fleshing out the events leading to the death of Our Lord.
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Nature Study: We did it!
N. and I went for a nature walk today. Honestly speaking, I wasn't planning on it but, I have made the mistake comment to N. yesterday. Sure enough, today he reminded me. I didn't have an excuse. So armed with binoculars, magnifying glass, baggies, and a camera, we went for a walk around the block. We took samples of leaves, put them in baggies and brought them home to identify. It was a fun experience. N. was all into it. It kind of make me feel a tad guilty that I haven't taken him on more outings.
To identify the leaves we used this Virginia website as well as some field guides we have at home. We learned ( and I really mean we, not a figure of speech) about the parts of leaves, and what to look at when trying to identify them.
We also did some leaf rubbings. Even A. got involved. It was fun experimenting with different leaves and colors, different coloring media (pastel, crayons and coloring pencils) and different patterns.
To identify the leaves we used this Virginia website as well as some field guides we have at home. We learned ( and I really mean we, not a figure of speech) about the parts of leaves, and what to look at when trying to identify them.
We also did some leaf rubbings. Even A. got involved. It was fun experimenting with different leaves and colors, different coloring media (pastel, crayons and coloring pencils) and different patterns.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Classical Conversations
Every now and then I get asked about Classical Conversations. I am trying to put my thoughts together so I can just direct people here.
We are on our second year with this program and it has been a good experience. I have always felt an attraction to classical education. I have seen the good results that a good Classical school produces. I have met countless articulate, thoughtful, smart kids that have come out from Trinity Schools. As good as Trinity is, it is not a possibility for us- geographically speaking. So through our 10 years of homeschooling I have dabbled in classical education on and off. I have read about it but never felt I could implement it at home successfully. I could somewhat handle the Latin (knowing Spanish helps), I could study the Logic,and I could even handle the memorization proper to the Grammatical stage, if I could only be consistent about it. But the discussions, the learning community, the Socratic discussions, that I couldn't provide at home. Classical Conversations have enabled us to give classical education a more consistent, serious try. So far it seems to be working.
Classical Conversations consists of two main programs: Foundations and Challenge. Foundations is subdivided in Foundations and Essentials of the English Language. Foundations is for students roughly 5 to 12 and Challenge includes what in traditional school would be Junior High and High School. Presently, I have two children enrolled in the Foundations program and one in the Challenge program. Leigh Bortins, the creator of the program encourages parents to think beyond the traditional view of grades. The important thing is that the student is prepared to handle the work, brain development and maturity wise.
One big question that we had to answer for ourselves before we decided to give this program a try, was the faith issue. As Catholics, we are always cautious about using non-Catholic curricula. I was concerned about the world view that was going to be presented or the use of material that could have any anti-Catholic bias. So far we haven't had many problems. The main issue has been the Veritas Press Timeline cards. A few of the cards have very blatantly anti Catholic remarks as well as incorrect information. The good news is that the only thing is required for the kids to do is memorize the name of the timeline cards. So we don't even bother in reading the back of the cards (of course I wish they didn't use that resource since the cards ARE spreading falsehood). The other resource we had an issue with was a book used in Challenge II art history seminar ( How Then Should We Live by Francis Schaeffer) but the tutor handle the issue very graciously making sure she pointed out the possible points of disagreement. This brings me to the next point: the group.
I think the CC experience have two essential components that can make or break the experience: the tutor and the group. We have been blessed with a great group of women both the ones that tutor and the moms who participate. This has been an added bonus I wasn't looking for. I wanted and needed a good social environment for my high schooler but I never thought of the support I would get. It has really been a good surprise.
The other big question we have to answer was the money issue. Is it worth the money? We are spending a lot more money that we have ever spent in homeschooling before.For us it has been worth it. When we started CC last year my daughter was beginning High School. She wanted to go to school, we weren't thrilled with the idea. We didn't want to send her to a public school and the local Catholic school was a big expense we weren't sure we wanted to make. CC allowed us to homeschool high school and provide the social contact my daughter wanted, at a fraction of the cost! So for us the money has been well spent. In all honesty, I am not sure I would've looked at the Foundation and Essentials programs if I didn't have the pressing high school issue. Now I am glad I did.
Another question I get asked is what else do I do with my kids, do I supplement? Last year I had to get used to the idea of having this program. I had to transition from wanting to do whatever I was doing before and adding CC to the mix. It was too much! This year I have taken a different approach. This year I have let CC be my guide... for real. I have taken the multum non multa approach of sorts. I have concentrated in the basics and have concentrated in doing those well. The basics for us are: CC memory work, reading, writing and math for my youngest; CC memory work, Essentials work and math for my 11 year old and religion for both. We add a history program because I like history but we take it slowly mainly reading living books.The same goes for science. For my oldest, the only thing we have added is Religious Education and we are working very slowly through an Ancient History Book.
So my advice to parents considering CC is this: read at least the basics regarding the Classical Method of education.These are some starting points: Memoria Press and Dorothy Sayers' essay The Lost Tool of Learning Then commit yourself to this method and do yourself a favor, don't try to do two programs at the same time. CC is not a co-op we tag along to every thing else you are already doing. You are paying for this service, make it work for you and don't try to re-invent the wheel.
We are on our second year with this program and it has been a good experience. I have always felt an attraction to classical education. I have seen the good results that a good Classical school produces. I have met countless articulate, thoughtful, smart kids that have come out from Trinity Schools. As good as Trinity is, it is not a possibility for us- geographically speaking. So through our 10 years of homeschooling I have dabbled in classical education on and off. I have read about it but never felt I could implement it at home successfully. I could somewhat handle the Latin (knowing Spanish helps), I could study the Logic,and I could even handle the memorization proper to the Grammatical stage, if I could only be consistent about it. But the discussions, the learning community, the Socratic discussions, that I couldn't provide at home. Classical Conversations have enabled us to give classical education a more consistent, serious try. So far it seems to be working.
Classical Conversations consists of two main programs: Foundations and Challenge. Foundations is subdivided in Foundations and Essentials of the English Language. Foundations is for students roughly 5 to 12 and Challenge includes what in traditional school would be Junior High and High School. Presently, I have two children enrolled in the Foundations program and one in the Challenge program. Leigh Bortins, the creator of the program encourages parents to think beyond the traditional view of grades. The important thing is that the student is prepared to handle the work, brain development and maturity wise.
One big question that we had to answer for ourselves before we decided to give this program a try, was the faith issue. As Catholics, we are always cautious about using non-Catholic curricula. I was concerned about the world view that was going to be presented or the use of material that could have any anti-Catholic bias. So far we haven't had many problems. The main issue has been the Veritas Press Timeline cards. A few of the cards have very blatantly anti Catholic remarks as well as incorrect information. The good news is that the only thing is required for the kids to do is memorize the name of the timeline cards. So we don't even bother in reading the back of the cards (of course I wish they didn't use that resource since the cards ARE spreading falsehood). The other resource we had an issue with was a book used in Challenge II art history seminar ( How Then Should We Live by Francis Schaeffer) but the tutor handle the issue very graciously making sure she pointed out the possible points of disagreement. This brings me to the next point: the group.
I think the CC experience have two essential components that can make or break the experience: the tutor and the group. We have been blessed with a great group of women both the ones that tutor and the moms who participate. This has been an added bonus I wasn't looking for. I wanted and needed a good social environment for my high schooler but I never thought of the support I would get. It has really been a good surprise.
The other big question we have to answer was the money issue. Is it worth the money? We are spending a lot more money that we have ever spent in homeschooling before.For us it has been worth it. When we started CC last year my daughter was beginning High School. She wanted to go to school, we weren't thrilled with the idea. We didn't want to send her to a public school and the local Catholic school was a big expense we weren't sure we wanted to make. CC allowed us to homeschool high school and provide the social contact my daughter wanted, at a fraction of the cost! So for us the money has been well spent. In all honesty, I am not sure I would've looked at the Foundation and Essentials programs if I didn't have the pressing high school issue. Now I am glad I did.
Another question I get asked is what else do I do with my kids, do I supplement? Last year I had to get used to the idea of having this program. I had to transition from wanting to do whatever I was doing before and adding CC to the mix. It was too much! This year I have taken a different approach. This year I have let CC be my guide... for real. I have taken the multum non multa approach of sorts. I have concentrated in the basics and have concentrated in doing those well. The basics for us are: CC memory work, reading, writing and math for my youngest; CC memory work, Essentials work and math for my 11 year old and religion for both. We add a history program because I like history but we take it slowly mainly reading living books.The same goes for science. For my oldest, the only thing we have added is Religious Education and we are working very slowly through an Ancient History Book.
So my advice to parents considering CC is this: read at least the basics regarding the Classical Method of education.These are some starting points: Memoria Press and Dorothy Sayers' essay The Lost Tool of Learning Then commit yourself to this method and do yourself a favor, don't try to do two programs at the same time. CC is not a co-op we tag along to every thing else you are already doing. You are paying for this service, make it work for you and don't try to re-invent the wheel.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Unschooling Experiment
Every single time I read a post on unschooling my heart ticks faster. I so want to try this. I so want to see my kids own their own learning life. I want them to follow their passions and discover new ones. I want them to learn how to think for themselves. I want them to think out of the box.
The thing is that I don't think I can do it. I don't know how to go about it. We are at a perfect place to try an experiment. We just finished our first year with Classical Conversations
It has been a great year. Now we have about a month before the "official" school year is over. We got a lot done this year. Now I feel I could try my hand at something more relaxed. I would like to pursue some art, some gardening, some nature walks. Or I could try letting my kids, especially A., to be the one leading the way. Honestly, I don't know how to do that. I don't fill comfortable just letting him be. I think that for us "flexibility within structure" would work better. Tons of ideas flow through my mind:
This brings me to a complete new thought: Why do I feel as if I have to have something to show or as if the accomplishment has to be measurable? Whose accomplishment should it be mine or my children's? Do I need to prove myself to someone? Why I feel so scared to try this?
The thing is that I don't think I can do it. I don't know how to go about it. We are at a perfect place to try an experiment. We just finished our first year with Classical Conversations
It has been a great year. Now we have about a month before the "official" school year is over. We got a lot done this year. Now I feel I could try my hand at something more relaxed. I would like to pursue some art, some gardening, some nature walks. Or I could try letting my kids, especially A., to be the one leading the way. Honestly, I don't know how to do that. I don't fill comfortable just letting him be. I think that for us "flexibility within structure" would work better. Tons of ideas flow through my mind:
- I could re-implement some of Bravewriter ideas. We used to do teatime and read poetry and freewrites. The kids loved them.
- I could do make sure we read poetry every day. One poem a day. I have several Spring poetry books on hold at the library. I could combine those with the teatime.
- I could do some art. I have discovered some interesting blogs on art lately here and here. They both look interesting, and they seem to have lots of resources for me to explore. I am creating a list of projects for the summer.
- I could try our hands at some architecture, one of A.' passions. They have some cool links to explore.
- I could do more science. We discovered this videos from Youtube. We can explore these more and see where it would take us.
- I could let him work on a project from the Dangerous Book for Boys.
This brings me to a complete new thought: Why do I feel as if I have to have something to show or as if the accomplishment has to be measurable? Whose accomplishment should it be mine or my children's? Do I need to prove myself to someone? Why I feel so scared to try this?
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