Catherine Love~ Ramblings from my Heart and Home

Our Homeschool Open House

Welcome to our Homeschool Open House! 

If this is your first visit here, my name is Catherine, and my husband Carl and I have 3 lovely daughters ages 9, 6 & 5.  We live right in the heart of Texas (which is a great place to homeschool by the way).  We've been homeschooling for 6 years, since our oldest, Sarah, turned 4. 

Our homeschool is very eclectic, somewhat "unschoolish", and we do try to implement some of Charlotte Mason's ideas into our days.  We do use curriculum for Math and Language Arts, though very loosely, and mostly as a guideline.   

This year my tentative plan is:

Sarah (9 years old)

Bible- Daily family Bible reading, scripture memory, Bible notebook, etc. 

Math- Saxon 5/4

L. Arts- English from the Roots Up, Dictation & Copywork from Literature and Poetry selections (Ambleside Online and our own choices) for Spelling, Grammar & Penmanship practice, Easy Spanish, and a typing course.

History- Lots of living books, crafts, etc. pertaining to the Civil War era and moving forward.  US Geography, mapwork, begin Book of Centuries.

Science- Apologia Zoology (?), Ambleside Online selections, Nature Study and Notebooks, Gardening, delight-driven studies, etc.

Art- Artist studies from Ambleside Online, drawing and painting lessons with Dad.

Music- Composer studies from Ambleside Online, piano lessons, children's choir, etc.

P.E.- Ballet, Trampoline, Swimming 3x/week, and running and bike riding around our yard!

* We are also planning to begin working on some of the projects in the Keepers at Home book; and hopefully will at some point begin a group with other young ladies.

Hannah (age 6)

Bible- same as Sarah

Math-  actvities from Miquon and An Easy Start in Arithmetic

L. Arts- Phonics Pathways and A Strong Start in Language, Copywork, etc.

Science, History, Art, Music- these we study as a family, so they will be the same as for Sarah above.

Cana (age 5)

I tend to go very lightly in the early years, as I've learned that they pick up so much just by participating with the older children and learning as they live.  Yet, Cana doesn't want to be left out of "school", so I will plan some learning activities and lessons for her using:

Bible- same as for Sarah and Hannah

Math-  activities from Cuisenaire Alphabet Book and  An Easy Start in Arithmetic

L. Arts- begin Phonics Pathways and a few activities from A Strong Start in Language, copywork, etc. 

Science,History,Art,Music,etc. same as for Hannah.

OK, that's my curriculum plan- which may change as days go by, and we add to our studies, eliminate things and make changes as we see the need.  Also, as I said we are somewhat "unschoolish" and when necessary, I will put away the textbooks and planned lessons and just enjoy a period of "living and learning" as we go. 

As for a schedule.....

I try to begin our lessons at 9 a.m. when at all possible, and we do our "table time" studies- Math, Reading, Writing, Spelling, etc. first thing every morning.  Then, we add in our other studies throughout the day, making adjustments as we feel the need.  Normally, we will do a Science or Nature activity or History reading or project before lunch; then the afternoon is free for lots of read alouds on a variety of subjects, Art, Music, Handwork, P.E., etc.   

In the past we've done Monday thru Thurday school, with Fridays as Free Days or Catch Up Days; but this year I plan to do Mon. - Fri., with "Free Days" added in as necessary. 

I do not keep a detailed lesson plan or schedule- I record each days lessons and activities as we go, and simply check off our "school days" on my attendance calendar. 

That's a little glimpse into our home-school.  Thanks for visiting !

Click here to go to the Homeschool Open House 2007 page.

*As I was typing this entry my girls got out their notebooks and began preparing them for a new school year, completely on their own.  Sarah added pages I had copied from here to the pockets on the front and back of Cana's notebook, got out the chalkboards and chalk, and taught Cana her vowels from one of the pages.  Cana came in and proudly showed me her copywork and read the vowels to me.  Hannah is working on some little project of her own, that she'll show me when she's ready..... I love homeschooling!

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11:08 AM, Wednesday, August 1, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Sounds like you really have it together! Thanks for letting us visit in your homeschool!

Hugs!
Kristi

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11:40 AM, Wednesday, August 1, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Wow you seem so organized! I keep hearing about this Ambleside Online......I need to check into it.

Thanks for sharing about your homeschool

Theresa,
#14 on the list

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2:36 PM, Wednesday, August 1, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Your curriculum is very similar to ours over the years. :)
Cindy

www.homeschoolblogger.com/westward

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7:46 AM, Thursday, August 2, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Your school plan sounds a lot like ours! Have a blessed year!

Melissa
www.melissaomarkham.com

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2:20 AM, Friday, August 3, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Thanks for letting us have a glimpse into your homeschool. I always enjoy reading what others are doing.

Have a great year!
JoAnn
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolingmommaof4/

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10:04 AM, Friday, August 3, 2007 .. Posted by Katie

Thank you for sharing your homeschool, I enjoyed reading about it! It sounds like you have some great girls, and it is so great to hear that you enjoy homeschooling so much!! I am excited about starting for the first time this year!

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10:05 AM, Friday, August 3, 2007 .. Posted by Katie

Oops, I forgot to leave my link!

Katie
http://bimw.wordpress.com

Thanks!

10:18 PM, Sunday, August 5, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Thanks for sharing your school day and curriciulum! You are very organized... much more than me! God Bless!
~Tr@cy~

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ctnjm324/

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12:16 AM, Monday, August 6, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed visiting your homeschool open house.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/servingtheKingofkings/

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10:56 PM, Tuesday, August 7, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Thanks for sharing your homeschool with us.

*Kristie*

#5 on the list

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8:59 PM, Wednesday, August 8, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Your plans sound wonderful! Your teaching story is so cute - I love that about homeschooling! Thanks for sharing with us!

~Andrea
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/andijeane/

Thank you

7:21 PM, Thursday, August 9, 2007 .. Posted by Alex in Canada

Thank you for welcoming us into your homeschooling home! I especially like the link for the mini office, I am going to make some up for my kids.
www.canadianhomeschool.blogspot.com

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8:24 AM, Saturday, August 11, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Enjoyed reading about your plan!

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1:10 PM, Saturday, August 11, 2007 .. Posted by Tiany

Thank you for taking the time to participate in this “Homeschool Open House 2007” It has been such fun putting it together but getting a peek into your homeschool days and sharing our homeschool life has been the real blessing in all of this! Making some new friends is the icing on the cake!

I loved your post and have to agree that the little ones just seem to pick it all up on there won whilst listening or watching. I love it!

I pray you have a very blessed, fruitful and productive homeschool year!

Please email me with the subject “Open House” and in the email please send your link number from my post so that I can get your gift to you!

Tiany@cox.net

Hugs & Blessings~
Tiany
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tiany

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8:18 PM, Tuesday, August 14, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Best wishes on a wonderful school year!

Blessings,
Mrs. C
http://riverbend-ramblings.blogspot.com