For the record

Almamater reporting here...

Last Friday, Firstborn, Sunshine and Rosebud attended a Mozart piano concert and we did no additional school work. Actually it was a bit of a crazy-chase around sort of day. But I think they enjoyed the concert in the morning and the change of pace.

Today (Monday 28 Jan), we really didn't do much work either. Sunshine is really under the weather. But we did put our pens to paper and get a whole lot of Christmas thank you cards written up. Hoping to finish tomorrow or Thursday so that these are sure to be out before Lent begins next week.

We are trying to finish up our latest "Caroline" book, too, so that we can concentrate on more spiritual reading during Lent. I am also hoping to use "My Path to Heaven" to guide the children on a bit of a retreat during the forty days. (That link, crazily enough, takes you to Target online, where apparently you can purchase this book) For our read alouds, we'll concentrate on saints and the like. Yikes! It's all just around the corner...

digging in

We have been off to a pretty good start this Autumn. I am attempting to prepare a daily ordo for each child--a list to have ready for each child when they awaken in the morning. It includes the date, feast day, domicile contributions for the day, R & D assignments, listing of any out of home activities and a list of current and near future events of interest. For me, this is an advanced level of planning ahead and seems to be much appreciated by the children.

Here are some general ideas of the concentrations of study for the time being:

Rosebud (5yo, Kindergarten):

• Penmanship...she already had learned cursive letter shapes from the sandpaper letters last year. Now we are embarking on the Getty-Dubay italics print book along with alternative "writing" materials. For example, some days she "writes" and spells using the moveable alphabet and other days with rubber stamp letters. I am taking this nice and slow as a) I know how tiring writing is to the young arm and B) I certainly don't want to make anything about writing feel negative or overwhelming. The joy of writing is a difficult attitude to recover once trampled upon.
• Catechism...She is unintentionally learning the First Communion Baltimore catechism right along with her older sister and enjoys listening to the FHC stories I am reading Sunshine. In addition, she and I agreed to read stories together from her children's bible each week.
• Math...Again, I know better than to push this subject on any child who is young and not yet thirsting for it, but Rosebud was really thirsty. She did a grocery store pre-school math book this summer just for fun, but was begging for the real thing. So imagine her excitement when I agreed to purchase the Math-U-See primer for her. She loves it and is doing well.
• Reading...Tempered enthusiasm on this subject. She wants so very much to be a reader but considers the process to be hard work. So little snippets is our approach. One page or one story a day from the Little Angel Reader, Level A. But, she is showing progress even at that. Also encouraged when I show her a word in a book or on a sign that she can successfully sound out.
• Sewing...We will continue to work on this ever popular activity...more button sewing and then onto some large square gingham for little stuffed pillows and animals
• Music...to include piano study and concert attendance

Rosebud

• Penmanship...also has some mastery of cursive, but now we are switching to Getty-Dubay italics. I think she is enjoying this and does a page daily.
• Latin...Of course she already knows the prayers and phrases we use daily, but this is Rosebud's first formal study of Latin and we will use the time tested Prima Latina for her.
• Math...continuing on in Alpha...a topic not as beloved as it used to be, but not despised
• History...A semester long study of American history with her big brother and then it is back to Creation. We are trying out From Sea to Shining Sea this term.
• Catechism...Two-fold. Preparation for First Holy Communion, including memorization of the Baltimore Catechism, many read aloud books and an Album. Also, an in-depth study of the Mass to include DVDs, texts, and the creation of an Album.
• Science...nature walks and wherever they take us.
• Music...piano lessons, concert attendance
• Geography...Holling C. Holling books and study
• Home arts...embroidery...she is beginning a counted cross stitch sampler

Okay, it is getting late. I will write an overview of Firstborn's fifth grade course of study tomorrow evening. However, the goals listed above are limited primarily to the check list academics but not reflective of my real goals for the year. I am determined that we WILL cook more together, indulge in a museum membership and ballet subscription, seek out more concerts, learn water color painting, go on regular nature walks, and, of course, continue our constant read alouds.