Lindy's Homeschool: History This semester

Thursday, September 1, 2011

History This semester

Yesterday was the first day of School for our town. It was also the first cold day for a long time. It seemed fitting. I spent the day visiting and relaxing. I've decided to start school on the first Monday of September. I know that day is a holiday, but since I have a husband that is his own boss, and I homeschool, silly holidays like labor day are meaningless to us. So Monday it is....am I ready? I hope so.

I thought I would write down this semester's ancient history plan, because I'm so excited about it. (And if I loose my paper, I would like a backup of my plan.) Note: I will not follow this perfectly.

September we're studying:

creation
dinosaurs
ice age
cave men

September's activities:

creation collage (finding flashlights for light, leaves for plants, feathers for animals etc...)
creation colouring pages and starting timeline
make fossil plaster blocks with dinos and things inside
make fossil casts
excavate fossil blocks
cave painting in huge box
spray tempra paint over hands and paint rocks
volcanoes!

October we're studying:

Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Israel

October's activities:

bas reliefs
crescent rolls and weaving baskets
sandpaper pyramids
mummies
king tut headdress
cartouches
moses in the bulrushes and parting the red sea
make Jericho's wall with cups and go around with trumpets
Slingshots, star of David, and crowns

November we're studying:

Persia/Arabia
Africa
Ancient India

November's activities:

Marbling
pitas and turbans
make magic lamps
oral bard and toe puppets
make african masks
batik cloth
decorate masks
Draw silhouettes w/ many arms and paint it blue
Taj Mahal mosaics in clay

December we're studying:

Ancient China

December's activities:
(December is only three weeks...Christmas)

Make paper
lanterns/paper dragon puppets
potato stamps/calligraphy
Yoga/Martial arts
origami
make fortune cookies

Doesn't this all sound so FUN!!! We're doing all this, but that leaves the last half of the year for Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Medieval ages (complete with camelot!), and Renaissance. YIPEE! I love my job. :)

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The "awkward and unprepared" Myth

There are many misconceptions and biases against homeschooling, and many people really think that I've never heard them or considered them. Many people worry about the "inevitable social awkwardness" of homeschoolers or that they are "unprepared for the world." In my experience, I've found that homeschoolers tend to be as socially "normal" or "awkward" as their parents. As far as "unprepared for the world" is concerned, that depends on how they are taught, but I have seen many successes first hand. Basically, I know the ins and outs of the decision I've made, thanks.

Why I Homeschool

When I was first married, I fell in love with the kids of the Leavitts and Schafers (my sisters-in-law families.) They were...and still are...confident, leaders, innocent where they should be innocent, creative, and accepting. They were also homeschooled. I wanted my future kids to be like them, and if homeschooling was part of that equation, then I was willing to make the sacrifice. Now, after years of study, prayer, and experience, I want to homeschool for many reasons. I want my kids to be family oriented not peer oriented. I want to include the gospel in every aspect of what they are taught. I want them to think out side of the box. I don't want them to be obsessed with what is "cool." I want them to feel loved by those around them. I want them to know who they are and what they stand for before they are bombarded by outside influences. I know that many families can do this without homeschooling, but it seems a lot harder to me. Basically, I'm a control freak. I want to be in control of my children's learning and social life....homeschooling makes that easier.

Also, now that I've realized they are severely dyslexic, I think homeschool is the best place for dyslexics to learn.

And there's the statistics.

My Schedule

7:15

START OUR DAY

Daddy does scriptures

Breakfast

Devotional w/ videos

Come Follow Me

Goals/mindfulness/memorization

9:00

School Starts

Maxwell

School of Hope Online

Hyrum's 3 "R"s

IEW Grammar and Writing

Video Text Algebra

Spelling (Word Wasp)

Daniel's 3 "R"s

Writing Prompts

Rightstart Math level "G"

Spelling (Wasp)

William's 3 "R"s

All About Reading

Creative Writing

Rightstart level "D"

Abraham's 3 "R"s

Logic of English

Handwriting Without Tears

Rightstart level "B"

Activity in afternoon:

Social Studies

Science

Art

Chess

field trips

Literature Club

WAS classes

My Curriculum

For math, I do RightStart Mathematics, which is an abacus based math, Times Tales to memorize multiplication, Video Text for Algebra, and Mathantics or other supplements on youtube.

For Devotionals, I use Come Follow Me.

For Reading, I have used the Barton Reading and Spelling program, but right now I'm experimenting with All About Reading and Logic of English.

For Writing, I use Handwriting Without Tears, IEW Fix It! Grammar, and IEW Student Intensive Writing.

For History, and Science, I use The Four Year Plan (which I LOVE.) This year we are using the "Family Jubilee" book which covers Biology, Modern World History, and New Testament.