2008 Term 2

I am feeling better about the blog now. I feel that by calling myself classical, I set up an image that I then try to fulfill or project in some way, but I just want to be myself, whatever that is. I am not that educated. There was a wonderful debate on the WTM message boards recently about whether the progym is a better way to go with teaching writing, than modern programs. I realised how highly educated some of these women are! I have a gut feeling, an intuition about things, and I follow my passion or enthusiasm, and I learn as I go. But I am not in any way, over the next few years of homeschooling my kids, going to be able to draw from the experiences and knowledge these women can draw from, for example with teaching writing.

But, although I am a bit in awe of them, I don't feel I am any less qualified to homeschool my kids. One things I notice is that a lot of people on the boards spend a lot more time doing academic work than I want to, even as the kids get older. I am feeling far more attracted to the Charlotte Mason ideals of a rich, "generous" education. Lots of exposure, lots of experiences, lots of books read. And, I still feel that it is good to go into some things more deeply, so that things don't become shallow.

Here is a list of our plans for next term:

Both kids (age 12 and 13/14) will do their maths (Haesse and Harris), music practice, Queen's Language Lessons (which include copywork, dictation, editing, writing), and Latin programs pretty much daily, although Latin often drops to 3 days a week because we leave the house so early on Mondays and Fridays. Gen will do Analytical Grammar part 2, and some Biology from Singapore's Biology Matters. She outlines this one week and does the workbook the next.

Then both will read from this list of books. We will be studying Ancient Greece for 10 weeks, using K12's History Odyssey as a spine. I love this book. Other books:
Children's Homer (we have already studied the Iliad in depth. I have decided we have covered the Odyssey enough, so Children's Homer will do.
Geurber's Story of the Greeks.
Hawthorne's Greek Myths, with a written narration each week. They both love to do this- write the myth in their own words, and Gen loves to illustrate as well, sometimes with a watercolour painting.
Wise Guy a book about Socrates.
They will also read an Australian history book each this term (Gen- My Story. Jared- Verity of Sydney Town.) Jared will also read Little Men.
And, they will read the 1st half of Augustus Caesar's World (which is Roman, and we will read the 2nd half in 3rd term).
They will do a history assignment or other narration as well.

And then together we will read:
Plato's Republic, and perhaps some Spophocles and or Aristphanes, time depending.
Poetry by Sappho.
Theseus' life by Plutarch.
Shakespeare's Hamlet (we have an audio and a highschool text with notes).
French together- we have an informal class with another mum who speaks French.
Poetry - Robert Frost
Artist- Waterhouse
Thinking Toolbox for Logic.

I am excited! The intention is about 90 minutes to 2 hours on independent work in the mornings. Then an hour or so together doing read alouds and oral narrations and discussions. Then another hour on their reading and on some days, another hour on writing. Since we are out of the house on Mondays and Fridays, and only get basics done, I don't mind if they do 5 hours on T/W/Th, but its up to them whether they want to work on Fridays rather than play, while the other is doing their Science class.