We love Memory Work around here - it just seems to be so fruitful in the long run! Since my kiddos memorize well to music, we are able to get a lot of info into our little noggins in one year! So there are a number of things we will be memorizing this year, and since I love hearing about what you all are doing, I figured I would post what we are doing. Today I will focus on Memory Work, and later this week I will fill you in on the rest of our studies. Memory Work … [Read more...]
New Testament Greek – Memory Work
I love everything we learn in our Classical Conversations curriculum. It has opened my eyes to just how much we can memorize as a family through music and motion! While I see the value in learning Latin, I personally feel more challenged and earnest to learn New Testament Greek. Koine Greek is the language of the New Testament, and hearing the words of Jesus in the language he spoke is so incredibly motivating to me! What greater gift than to enable your children (and yourself) to … [Read more...]
Thoughts on Classical Conversations
I am so excited about Cycle 2 with Classical Conversations! When I first considered CC a few years ago and visited a classroom, it was so foreign to grasp the idea of the "memory pegs" - this type of "filing system" created by the memory work. I distinctly remember telling the Director that it all seemed somewhat "random" this simple memorizing of random facts, with no deep content. She described the memory pegs like a coat hook where … [Read more...]
Summer School
Since we had a difficult time getting the ball rolling again last fall once we had summer break, I decided to do summer school this year. It basically allows us consistency in our morning routine and around one hour of school work (if the kiddos stay focused). I made a deal with myself that whatever I scheduled them HAD to be able to be completed within one hour. So, here's what we are doing: Robby Roo - 6 yrs, Entering 1st grade this … [Read more...]
Creating a Family Schedule that Works for You: Day 1 – Developing the Vision
It's Officially Day One!!! I know - you're as ecstatic as I am. You could barely sleep last night thinking about scheduling....am I right? huh?....oh yeah, baby!! No?...... You're not that excited? Oh. Okay. In that case, it is a good thing we are going to take this one step at a time. Imagine you are preparing to shoot an arrow. You grasp the bow in one hand, line up the back of the arrow to the string, pull back and let go. … [Read more...]
Next Week…
I just wanted to write a quick note to let you know what is right around the corner!!! Monday I am going to kick off the week on Monday with our first ever blog-hop! Some great CC Smart Mama's out there will be reviewing the new Orchestra Study Guide and Lapbook and hosting giveaways! You can enter all of them! Be sure to jump around their blogs and see what other ideas they offer for your school year, or just encouragement while living in the trenches of raising our kids for Christ!!! … [Read more...]
It’s Here! The Orchestra Study Guide & Lapbook! {& Free GIVEAWAY!!!}
Introducing the Orchestra Study Guide with Lapbook For Use By Community Directors, Tutors, and Parents! Covering the Baroque and Classical Period, with composers Handel, Bach and Mozart! This resource is a week-by-week curriculum guide which spells out what to say, when to say it, and how to tie it all together! Just open it and go! Each week the student will make a corresponding lapbook page to … [Read more...]
Sneak Peek…The Orchestra Book!
The Orchestra Book is officially written and off to the editor! Designed to be used in a community setting or at home, the Orchestra Book includes a complete study guide for instruction, as well as lapbook components that record what the student is learning! My favorite piece has to be the Music Timeline with pop-up composers and major people and events during that time! I thought I would give you a sneak peek in pictures....Enjoy! … [Read more...]
Our Daily Schedule {with free download!}
If I can be totally honest, I've struggled at times with feeling like I am not accomplishing that which is most important. Don't get me wrong, we are busy all day, and our days are full of good and necessary things, but don't you ever have the feeling that when the end of the day comes you never really got anything done? I think part of that is just motherhood. I mean, is the laundry or the dishes really ever done? But some of that has to do with the way our … [Read more...]
Our 2012-2013 School Year Resources
I am putting the final touches on our school year plan. Actually, most of it has been planned since February or March! (I was a little excited to get started) I spent some time evaluating what worked well last year, what I hoped for this coming year, and from a practical standpoint, what I could actually be consistent in implementing. Things I learned last year: One thing that worked very well last year was to start gradually. Unfortunately we started school in September so … [Read more...]