Case in point... remember that journal we thought would work for The Professor? Didn't even last a week. I ended up making him a lesson journal just like the girls' with a boyish touch, of course. And personalized to The Professor's taste.
Character: Elrond from the Lord of the Rings movies
If you'd like this version for yourself, you can find it here:
Boy lesson plan book
I printed 40 or so first pages and then flipped them over and printed the second page on the back side with an extra one sided page of each for the first and last page. Just ignore the blank third page.
Oh...and that history we planned on using, upon closer inspection, isn't going to work for us right now. I'm not making a judgement call for anyone else, but the mature content in the first reading selection isn't appropriate for our freshman young man. He still wants to read The History of the Peloponnesian War and maybe The Persian Expedition but with the help of an advisor, we are backtracking to American History and will tackle World History next year with a third history course to be determined after that. We really love the Catholic Schools Textbooks Project history texts (lots of great UD connections) but seeing as some of them might be a little light weight for high school, we are supplementing with lots of good reading and primary sources, which is the best way to study history says my history buff husband.
We also made a last minute switch to the girls' history plans. They are very excited to use Professor Carol's Discovering Music course this year. It was such a last minute decision that I didn't have time to look it over. I just opened it up and started watching the first DVD and soon found all of the big kids surrounding me watching along. Sounds of disappointment all around when I turned it off. That's a good sign, I think.
Does the picture mean Professor likes or dislikes algebra? Is that excitement or frustration? I think my son would like a picture of Frodo on Mt. Doom, getting ready to pitch in an algebra book.
ReplyDeleteThere are some chapter excerpts on the Cristero Revolution from the yet to be printed high school American history book from CSTP here: http://catholictextbooks.blogspot.com/
Um... definitely frustration. He loves your idea. I don't think I have the photo editing skills to pull it off but it would be awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that link. I was wondering if the last book was going to be more history or more government. I had already ordered Light to the Nations 2 just because he wanted to read it. He really enjoys these texts.
I was looking for a history class for Monica (8th), too. I basically follow history chronologically and guide her as to what to read. However, this year she wanted something with more accountability. After much deliberation, we enrolled her in Mem. Press's U.S. History course. I only mention it because you mentioned American History. Here's the link: http://www.memoriapress.com/onlineschool/fall12/msushistory.htm I noticed they also list an Am. History course, but is more expensive but meets 4 days of the week from what I could tell. Just a little FYI for you. Who is he taking his online Latin course with? Just curious.:)
ReplyDeleteHe's doing Latin with The Lukeion Project.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I remember you mentioning that in another post. Well, have a blessed school year.:)
Deleteare you using any of the kolbe guides/planners?
ReplyDeleteWe are using their literature and their English vocab and comp.
ReplyDeleteThat algebra book made me laugh! This is our first year, and I have two children that have been in private schools since the beginning - so we have been trying little mini sessions to explore our curriculum and see how the two younger ones adapt to me working one on one with my two older ones. My two year old is indeed the "baby" and often thinks he needs a lap or somebody's full attention. We would do a little bit and then take a few days off so I could reflect and adapt my plan. Yesterday and today were pretty good days. I'm worried about Math, but I am going to take it slow and evaluate in a few months. I know what you mean about being disappointed when things don't go according to plan. That is why we haven't declared a "first day of school." I think I maybe set my expectations too high but now that I've had a few trial runs, I am feeling better about what we are accomplishing.
ReplyDeleteWe are most definitely waiting until after labor day!
ReplyDeleteI love the lesson planners, and am going to try and make them this week. I probably asked you already, but did you just use cardstock for the cover? I'm wondering if I should laminate the cover page to make them more durable? Your kids are older than mine, and probably a little easier on them. :)
I used photo paper to give a nice crisp image or the cover and then when they are bound, there is a clear cover on the front of the book that you could tape on the edges to protect it.
DeleteHow do I print out the lesson plan pages? I don't see a "print" tab.
ReplyDeleteKatherine,
DeleteWhen I open the link, I see a long orange button on the right side that says Download or print. I'm using Firefox and Safari.
Our year has been going for a month and I am already making changes! The toddler is so demanding that I am going to start doing some school on Saturdays when hubby is able to help. Also, my first grader is needing more challenge in her subjects so I am speeding up with her.
ReplyDeleteThat is the best lesson plan book ever.
ReplyDeleteFrom a certified Tolkien geek.
My mantra for the first two weeks of school each year..."This, too, shall pass." That or a Hail Mary! :) Those are the two things that do stay consistent. LOL Praying for all the wonderful home school mamas at Mass today!
ReplyDeleteI have another two weeks to get ready. We moved the school room into another area of our home, so I'll be fiddling with where things (and kids) go for a while. I'm gleaning some great organizational things from these posts :) I love the color coded sheets and the idea of binding the planning sheets. I'll bet I can cobble something together in the next two weeks...
ReplyDeleteAh yes. I had very low expectations for our first week of school. So low, in fact, that our days are going marvelously by comparison. ;) We don't too many first day celebrations. We just go out to ice cream with daddy at the end of the first day, and I gave each kid a small gift (like, really small). I plan to do a not-back-to-school day on the day after Labor Day when all the school kids around here head back to school, but the kids don't know that yet. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe're easing in sooooo slowly and it's going so well that way. I just started with the most important stuff, and will just layer in one more subject at a time over the next couple of weeks/months. Whenever we hit our maximum threshold, I'll have to decide that whatever we aren't getting to isn't that important after all! :) I'm pretty convinced that a sane and peaceful mama is more important than a full array of subjects anyway.
Anyway, nice chattin' with ya. ;) I'm not getting online much so I feel kind of out of the loop, but I did want to pop in and say hello!
We start school on Monday. Slowly. I'm trying not to worry about it, or get anxious or frustrated. School with a newborn is tough. I think we'll just ease into it and take it gently.
ReplyDeleteFreshman history with Mother of Divine Grace is American history. Let me know if you need any book suggestions. They have book lists broken down into different time periods and the student selects a certain number to read. They also list great speeches from the different time periods. History is mainly done through historical fiction with some texts as the framework.