In this post I hope to share with you my Charlotte Mason inspired home school plans.
Our study begins at the breakfast table with Bible reading.
I am following a basic plan for our readings this year:
Mon - Thurs - we read the same reading each day. I am working through a long list of scriptures that teach about the life & gospel of Jesus Christ.
After i have read to my girls, on monday they begin a drawing of what we have read. They have the whole week to finish it, so they have created some masterpieces!
On tues I require my 7 yo to give a narration of the reading.
Wednesday is usually writing a title for the drawing.
Thursday is completing the picture & sometimes acting out a little skit, depending on the reading.
Friday - I have decided to work slowly through Leading Little Ones To God I used this as a daily devotional when my now seven year old was three.
There are 14 Parts in the book, split into 86 chapters. Each chapter begins with an introduction from the author, which the parent is to read to the child. Then 'Something to talk about' - questions to prompt discussion between the parent & child(ren)
A memory verse & scripture to read & finally a hymn.
I shall use this book as a spine for discussing our beliefs. We shall not be reading all of the chapters - some I do not agree with from a theological point of view & some, in my opinion contain ideas too old for my children.
We shall begin by reading the suggested scripture & then & shall read the devotional by the author, & use the discussion questions when appropriate, but we will not be using the memory verse or hymn.
Saturday - I read Genesis 1:1-2:7
Sunday - I read the psalm & gospel reading that will be read later that morning at our church.
Each morning after Bible Study we practice our memory verse for the month.
Here is a wonderful system that we use to aid our Bible recitation.
After breakfast & morning chores comes circle time
Prayer & hymns
We begin with prayer & then sing our hymn that I have chosen for the month. The girls used to add music with a shaker, or tambourine or some such thing, but they have their own hymn book now, of which they are very proud & has produced a more studious atmosphere!
Verses
We then have a poem or two that we are reciting together & a finger play.
I then read a poem from each childs poetry book.
Elianna has A Child's Garden of Verses
Rosie has Mother Goose
Maths Facts
Times tables, counting, skip counting etc is learned via movement - jumping, clapping, throwing beanbags, bouncing balls. We use a lot of energy here : )
French
We are still learning french via songs & rhymes. I am now on the lookout for a french program for us to follow next year, so if anyone has any suggestions, please do let me know!
Reading & phonics instruction
I am using Word Mastery for both my girls.
Elianna also reads from a reader & has spelling words that she learns - I give her five at a time - she writes them out each morning & when she knows them, she knows them! No race : )
We then take a wee break while Elianna makes a snack for both girls & I read from When we were very young for Rose.
Read Alouds
While the girls have their snack I begin the read alouds.
Monday
The Story of the World: Ancient Times v. 1
Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales
Little House in the Big Woods
Tuesday
The Story of the World: Ancient Times v. 1
Parables from Nature
Little House in the Big Woods
Wednesday
The Story of the World: Ancient Times v. 1
A Childs geography of the world
Little House in the Big Woods
Thursday
A Childs geography of the world
The Aesop for Children
Little House in the Big Woods
Friday
Fairy Frisket, Or, Peeps at Insect Life
Science
On mondays, after read alouds we do an experiment from Science Arts: Discovering Science Through Art Experiences
I cant recommend this book highly enough! Simple , quick fun experiments that can be carried out with supplies from around the home.
Fridays are Nature Study days!
We love nature study in our home : )
We use various read alouds & go on nature walks at least once a week.
I have found Handbook of Nature Study & Barb's Handbook of nature study blog
invaluable. Nature study is such a simple thing to do, with little or no preparation, but reaps great rewards.
Copywork
In between read alouds, mon to thurs, we a have a copywork lesson. I am using Peterson Directed Handwriting to teach cursive to both my girls. I decided to teach Rose cursive first as she is left handed. This was a freebie I found on a blog (& I cannot remember for the life of me whose blog!)
As it was a freebie, it cannot be printed out, but this has turned out to be a blessing in disguise!
We begin the week with me writing the letter on our blackboard
This method uses lots of movement & also rhymes to teach the letters. My 7 yo is whizzing along & producing lovely writing & my 5 yo is slowly building up her cursive too.
Maths
Maths Maths Maths!
Every so often I dither about our maths! I am not using a curriculum & have decided (I think! LOL!) to keep it that way for this year.
My goals are to commit to memory the 10, 5 & 3 times tables, master addition, subtraction, division & multiplication, Learn to tell the time for my 7 yo (who is only just beginning to ask about time - so far she has been wonderfully unaware & burdened : )
She is great with the four processes, but I intend to really work on these this year & also mental arithmetic.
We shall be doing a lot of abacus work. Here is a great PDF I would like to share that is very helpful for getting started.
Well, I hope this is clear. I am sure to have missed some parts of our school day out, I am sure - they will come to me if I have!
Picture study & music appreciation will come in another post!
One last thing I would like to mention - here is a great resource for those who are planning their own Charlotte Mason inspired home school:
Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education
I am off to bath my girls - they have just arrived home from the cinema & pizza with daddy : )
Bath time, supper & story for them & off to bed. A little knitting & a G&T for mummy!
Have a great Sunday!
