Current Reader for Chloe {8}

Chloe has just recently finished reading these two books:

Grade 2 reading.

We've been reading them at a much faster pace than would otherwise be expected.

Now she is currently reading:

Quite a little step up in how many words appear on a page.

Grade 3 reading.

Includes poems throughout as well.

What are your children reading?

Latin - Prima Latina

Now that we are moving back over to a more classical model I have added in the study of Latin.  I say moving back because this is not the first time that I have had my hand in the classical - or rather neo-classical style of education cupboard.  I'm still on the fence as to how much of a role Latin { or Greek } will play in our current homeschool though.

Many years ago when the boys were in their elementary school years we gave the classical model a bit of a run.  So within that context they were exposed, with a considerable amount, to both Latin and Greek.  Move forward about 7 years in time, which brings us to today, { like all good curriculum junkies } I still had a bunch of these resources available on my shelves.  In particular, I have some of the best grammar stage handy dandy Latin materials available for beginners.

Introducing: Miss Prima Latina by Memoria Press.  Perfect for absolute beginners at roughly Grade 3 { or Grade 1 too if you want a little one to tag along with an older child for the ride. You must promise not to get pedantic or pushy about the grammar though }.  Our main focus is just to acquire some basic vocabulary and introduction to the subject.

I figure that we could get a LONG way even without the workbooks, especially for this particular year / course.  I may look at investing in the workbooks for the following years though since they require a bit more focus and attention.  We'll see how the girls take to doing Latin.  

{ Teachers Manual and CD }

{ A heap of flash cards - mostly Latin }

These were made roughly 2005/2006.  There are a LOT of cards in here, all printed and cut.  The only bad thing about it all is that they are all totally jumbled up.

This leaves me with the despicable and arduous task of trying to find the ONE card that we need each day.  Something that I am not looking forward to having to do.  So, I am actually tossing to and fro in my mind as to whether or not to just make new cards as we require them.

* * * * * * *

A fun message for my Latin buddies.

So, tell me, do you do Latin in your homeschool?  What do you use?

Today I'm going to link up with:

I hope you can join us.

Lorna Doone

We recently finished this lovely, new version novel. It was a nice quick read over 2 days.  I like those types of books.  Long drawn out novels don't tend to give me as much satisfaction, since I'm an instant kind of girl and all. 

Title:  Lorna Doone
Author: R. D. Blackmore
Illustrator: Jan Scherpenhuizen
Pages: 175
Publisher:  Hinkler Books
Year:  2003

Easy to read.

Beautiful illustrations abound.

The girls really enjoyed it as well.  Bonus.  :o)

Update on Tick List

Well, as it turned out my entire Tick List got remodeled and now looks like this:

Daily Work Tick List

Chloe { 8 }	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri
Bible
Spelling
Reading
Maths
Dictation / Grammar
Copywork / Writing
Latin / Greek
History / Science
Art / Project Work

I did one the same for Phebe too.

I'm still tweaking this classical model.  I've had to do some quick perusing from the book shelf to help get me going again, but it is starting to take shape.  :o)

Yep, as you can see I've now slipped in Latin and Greek too. :)

Melbourne Conference in June

I just wanted to quickly pop on and let you all know about an up and coming conference in June for Melbourne, Australia.

Be sure to click on the conference picture below to open a separate browsing page that will take you to their website to find out more about it.

"On this tour, we will focus our teaching on matters of church and family life. While families are in a state of frustration and even collapse all over the world, we bring a vision of hope. That vision is the biblical vision for family life. This conference series is designed to deliver that vision of hope by explaining from the scriptures and how family life is designed to operate in the midst of church life and economic life.  These issues of church and family begin with understanding that scripture is sufficient for all things – including church, family and economic life. Our desire in fulfilling the great commission is to do what Jesus commanded His disciples, to "teach them to obey all things that I have commanded them" (Matt 28:20). Our Lord, in His Word has spoken on a multitude of practical church and family issues to instruct His people how they ought to live in harmony with His Word."

Schedule:

• FRIDAY, JUNE 7TH:

  To be announced
  
  

  SATURDAY, JUNE 8TH:

  8:30-9:00 Registration
  9:00-10:00 Session 1, Building a God Centered Family
  10:00-10:45 Session 2,  The Power of a Happy Marriage
  10:45-11:00 Break
  11:00-11:45 Session 3, God’s Beautiful Design for Discipleship in the Church
  11:45-12:00 Questions and answers
  12:00 to 1:30 Lunch
  1:30-2:30  Session 4,  Preparing Boys for Battle

  2:30-3:15  Session 5,  Preparing Girls for Dominion
  3:15-3:30  Break
  3:30-4:30  Session 6, Building a Family Economy
  4:30 to 6:00 Supper
  6:00-7:00 Session 7, Nurturing Beneficial Family Affections
  
7:00-8:00 Session 8, A New Kind of Father

I'm going.

But I didn't really know much about who these people were, nor about their backgrounds, what they believed in, or what type of information they'd be likely to deliver.

I've even read some cautions about the conference on a forum.

So, I betook myself to doing a little research.  I went to their website and started perusing.  I skipped around until I found their confession, and other interesting pages.  I started reading what their website had to offer.  I even watched some of their little video's.  In particular, I stopped when I got to this one:

My interest was piqued, so I went toddling off to my dear friend Book Depository.  This led me to wondering about the original work, so from there Google and I buddied up for a quick little spin.

It wasn't long before Google found me an online copy { maybe a couple of minutes } for FREE.  I was quite impressed.  He had found an original scanned copy of the book.  You know, where words with / s / are written like / f / and / v / is written like a / u /.  Yep, pretty old.  In fact 1622 old.  It's just a good thing that Google likes to show off, and he's quite sweet on me too, so he also found me an updated modern version pdf of it as well { in two parts, with a total 339 academic pages }.  See, that's why we are friends.  He brings me presents.

Long story short - I didn't have to purchase the { albeit updated, re-written, newly presented } book from our modern day peers.  I got the original deal.  The original thoughts - and oh, but let me be quick to interject that I am SURE that this is NOT the only genesis of their thinking - it would appear that they have quite a broader Puritan, Apostolic, and Biblical background, but it will suffice to supply me with a taste of their overall belief system and what type of things they teach on family / church no doubt, which is what the conference is all about.  The type of thinking that would be typical of their mind sets, and what type of hearing I could expect at the conference.

So now I don't have to go to this conference blind sighted.  In fact, I'll know exactly where I stand.  You can know where you stand too.  Their whole website will give you a feel for who they are, what they believe, what their mission and goals are, and what they teach.  If you are in Melbourne and could attend this conference, please do take the time to peruse their website.

I hope to see you at the conference.  In the mean time I have a rather chunky book to read.  *smile*

Touch Maths Flash Cards

     Something that's been super handy to have recently has been the Flash Cards from Touch Math.  Specifically the Grade 2 cards, Representing Multiplication with Objects - Unit 3, Set 3.

     We've also been enjoying the Skip Counting Cards by 5's, 10's, and 100's as well.  Unit 2, Set 3.

Do you use flash cards in your maths program? 

Anchor Charts for Skip Counting

We've been doing quite a bit of skip counting at our house lately, so I decided to ADD some skip counting anchor charts.  They are scrapbook 12 x 12 in size. 

{ Skip Count by 2 }

{ Skip Count by 3 }

{ Skip Count by 5 }

{ Worksheet skip counting by 2 }

It might be almost time for me to put together a 4x multiplication packet soon.