Looking Ahead

Ideas I Want to Implement:

This is a glimpse into my plan book, I suppose. It shows how much I brainstorm, at least.

Spiral notebooking

(For keeping up with assignments and teaching the habit of taking ownership)

Update: I started this [notebooking] when we returned from spring break.  My son’s feedback: “Mommy, I like doing school this way better than the old way.”  That’s all I needed to know. The child is task oriented like his mommy and daddy.  He gets it honestly.  The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  He’s a chip off the old block… OK, you get it. 

The block schedule – Elsie at Farmhouse Schoolhouse does a wonderful job explaining how she implements this!  She is truly an inspiration and wonder!

            Below, I have my tentative block schedule for my family, suited for our needs.

7:00 Kids Wake Up

Morning Habits Block morning chore brush teeth make bed practice piano for 5 minutes

BREAKFAST 8:00 (I eat beforehand)

8:00-9:00 *Morning Time

3-ring notebooks TABS entitled:  Hymns Sheet Music, Math Loop (hundreds chart, number of day, differentiated word problems from Bedtime Math), Ancient Times Study (maps, coloring pages, review cards), Memory Work, Teaching Others

Materials I need to get started: Simply CM Hymn study, Simply CM Picture Studies, Simply CM Music Studies, R.E.A.L Science- Earth and Environment, Pond and Stream Companion, The Story of the World, My Bible Story Coloring Book- The Books of the Bible, Catechisms, joke books, poetry books

Morning Time Block (during breakfast) Materials: We will not need all of these materials each day, as we move through Math, Memory Work, and Beauty Loops 1)Memory work notebooks 2) 3 THREE-ringed binders with dividers: Hymns Sheet Music, Math Loop (hundreds chart, number of day, word problems), Ancient Times Study (maps, coloring pages, review cards), Memory Work, Teaching Others 3) Catechism (BOOK II) 4) Narration notebook (for me, to record all narrations) 5) Hymn Sing (Singing the Great Hymns) 6)Bible (My Bible Story Coloring Book) 7) Bedtime Math book 8) Story of the World book, maps, coloring sheets, questions 9) Colored pencils/crayons 10) Simply Charlotte Mason picture study portfolio/composer study materials 11) Joke book 12) Poetry book ORDER: Catechism Hymn Sing Bible *Memory work review Loop*(rotate subjects) Math/English-History/Timeline- Geography- Latin/Science (use memory work notebooks they can take notes/doodle inside) *Math Loop* -Counting Exercise  -Number of the Day -Word Problem -Telling Time Practice *Beauty Loop* -Picture study/music composer study combo -Joke book – Hymn study (to introduce the new hymn and to sing hymns learned) -Poetry   Ancient Times Study – I need a three-ring binder to keep all materials 1) Map work (CC laminated blob map, Story of the World maps). Preschooler can decide which map to work on 2)Listen to Story of the World chapter (can work on coloring page at the same time) 3) Review Questions 4) Narrate (EVERY FOUR CHAPTERS, color REVIEW CARDS TOGETHER)   Friday – No morning time block, but during breakfast, talk about upcoming week’s presentation and do Friday Exam (in memory work notebooks) to music

Morning Block Week

	Monday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Child 1	Math, Phonics/Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Spelling	Math, Phonics/Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Spelling	Math, Phonics/Reading Comp., Grammar, Spelling Test	NATURE TRIP NATURE JOURNALING
Child 2	Phonics, Reading Comprehension, Highlights, Math	Phonics, Reading Comprehension, Highlights, Math	Phonics Game, Reading Comp., Highlights, Play with Math Manipulatives	NATURE TRIP NATURE JOURNALING

Morning Block Block  

1:15

Lunch

Read Aloud during and after we eat: Examples: Burgess Book, Story of the World Literature Suggestions

2:00

Afternoon Block Week

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Child 1	Science-  Pond and Stream (Term 1) REAL Science: Earth and Environment Level One (Term 2), Independent Reading + Narration (choice)	Copy Work History Sentence, Independent Reading (choice) + Narration	Science, Independent Reading (choice) + Narration	Handicraft, Independent Reading + Narration (choice)	Free Play
Child 2	Science, Free Play	Sensory Learning, Free play	Science, Free Play	Handicraft, Free Play	Free Play
Child 3	Science, Free Play	Sensory Learning, Free Play	Science, Free Play	Handicraft, Free Play	Free Play

2:00

Afternoon Block 

*Science:

Term 1 (Biology) – Pond and Stream

Resources needed for Biology Study: *Pond and Stream by Arthur Ransome—This delightful book is available free online at gutenberg.org.

*Pond and Stream Companion (Simply Charlotte Mason)

• Favorite Poems Old and New selected by Helen Ferris

• Nature notebook, one for each person • Field guide for amphibians • Field guide for flowers • Field guide for birds

Note: There are 60 lessons in the Pond and Stream Companion. We will probably complete 32 lessons total (at two lessons per week), then move on to Earth Science to finish out the second half of science for the year (at two lessons per week). 

Term 2 (Earth Science) – R.E.A.L Science, Earth & Environment Level One

Note:  There are multiple labs involved.  I plan on taking one day to introduce the lesson and lab, and the other day science notebooking (based on that lab).  We will  probably get to about half of the lessons in the book, and I will handpick the ones that align with our CC Cycle 1 science memory work content. 

Note:   I do believe this is a secular, old earth science curriculum.  Heads up.  Just because it teaches from this perspective does not preclude anyone from using it as he or she sees fit.

  *Sensory Learning: wiki stix, play dough, sight words with play dough, Math Mat, Hands-On Science Bin (including human body model and body chart with organs), forming sight words with magnetic tiles, Tinkergarten activities.

*Handicraft: cutting with scissors, weaving with paper, woodworking kit, book making, making crafts for a craft fair, crochet (anyone want to teach us?), soap making, soap carving, LEGO building…does gardening count?.

*Copy Work: CC history sentence for the week. Start with print first, then move to cursive, when I see he is ready.

Child 1	Science/Copy Work/Handicraft	Independent Reading from Book Bag (Science literature/biographies)
Child 2	Science/Sensory Learning*/Handicraft	Free Play
Child 3	Science/Sensory Learning*/Handicraft	Free Play

2:00-4:00 I try to do something for myself, at some point during this period.

3:00

Intentional End-Of-the-Day Recap on whiteboard.  Kids use section at end of morning time binder called “Teaching Others” to show what they have learned today.  Based on their drawings, they should be able to teach someone else. 

Tea Time (once/week) Thursdays (in place of intentional recap)

During Tea Time, we will share poetry we like (from First Language Lessons, Beyond Little Hearts, poetry books, etc.)

4:00

Blessing Hour and Piano Practice, Monday Taekwondo/Thursday Piano Lesson

6:00

Dinner

& Our 24 Family Ways Devotion

7:00

After-Dinner Chores

8:00/8:30

Bedtime – read a short picture book aloud to all 3

Obviously, this is an “ideal”. We will not always get to everything, and there will be days that are completely “OFF”! I know that. I am not naive nor too idealistic. I just like to have something to aim for, so I can keep on towards the goal of giving my children the feast that is found in a CM and a classical education. I will try to keep you updated.