Category Archives: PreSchool

classical liberal arts education, Cor Iesu Academy, curriculum, high school curriculum, PreSchool, preschool curriculum

Our Homeschool Curriculum for 2012-2013 for Cor Iesu Academy

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After much testing, trying, and searching for the right curriculum, we believe Todd and  I, have found the right one for us.  I am so excited!  We have selected the curriculum for next school year!  We first began by looking for something just for our rising high schooler but decided that all the kids needed to be on the same page.  We are going to follow the St. Thomas Aquinas Academy Classical Liberal Arts Curriculum.

Why Classical Liberal Arts Education?  We really would love a program that would allow for at least some of our children to work together, in addition to allow a natural approach to learning (read not so much seat work).  From our experience thus far, with our children, they strive best when they are challenged and engaged in learning (maybe all children are like this?  I’m not sure.)  In addition, our homeschool has a strong devotion to the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and this program not only is named after the patron of our school but his works served as excellent model for the classical liberal arts approach!  The Classical Approach has an emphasis on what is known as the “trivium” – teaching in the sequence of grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The classical method is decidedly better at training the mind to think, reason, and even to contend and argue one’s case against contrary ideas.  The way things are going in our world, we believe this is one of the best ways we can better prepare our children through home education.

This statement, from their website, is what finally SOLD us on using this curriculum for our family:

“Our program gently prepares the child to learn from the great books and understand the great ideas essential to that same work of integrating faith with reason. A classical presentation of English and Latin grammar and the arts and sciences equips the student with the tools of learning; a cyclical study of the grand eras of western civilization–Greek, Roman, Old World and New–guides the student (and the teaching parent!) through the historical and literary masterpieces that for centuries have inspired students to such noble academic effort.”

There are Cycles to choose from, and after a thirty minute conversation with a representative of their’s I believe this is what we are going to set our goals towards (before you say it’s too expensive, please see my suggestions at the bottom of this post on ideas of saving on books):
Our 2012-2013 Curriculum



Grade 9: Greek Cycle:  Greek History & Astronomy
1.  RELIGION:  Old Testament I & II:
  • Introduction to the Bible
  • Ignatius Bible

2.  SOCIAL STUDIES / WORLD HISTORY:  Greek History I & II:

  • Christ the King: Lord of History
  • Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures: A Concise History: Volume I to 1740, 3rd Edition
  • Old World and America
  • Herodotus’ The Histories
  • Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War
  • Xenophon: The Expedition of Cyrus (Anabasis)
  • Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures: A Concise History: Volume I to 1740, 3rd Edition
  • Plutarch’s Lives, Volume 1 (Modern Library Classics)
  • Plutarch’s Lives, Volume 2 (Modern Library Classics)
  • Great Dialogues of Plato
  • Alexander the Great: Man of Action, Man of Spirit
  • Alexander of Macedon: Journey to World’s End

3.  LITERATURE:  Greek Literature I & II:

  • Bulfinch’s Mythology: The Age of Fable, The Age of Chivalry, and Legends of Charlemagne
  • Homer : The Iliad
  • Iliad, The (Cliffs Notes)
  • Herodotus’ The Histories
  • Homer: The Odyssey
  • Odyssey, The (Cliffs Notes)

4.  FINE ARTS:  

A)  Art Appreciation &; Analysis: 
  • Art And: Critical Thinking and Art Analysis
B)  Greek Playrights:
  • Aeschylus : The Complete Greek Tragedies: Aeschylus II
  • Aeschylus : The Oresteia : Agamemnon; The Libation Bearers; The Eumenides
  • Sophocles : Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Electra (Oxford World’s Classics)
  • Euripides: Medea, Hippolytus, Heracles, Bacchae (Focus Classical Library)
  • Great Dialogues of Plato
  • Aristophanes: Four Plays by Aristophanes: The Clouds, The Birds, Lysistrata, The Frogs
    5.  SCIENCE:  Astronomy I & II:
    • Creator and Creation, 3rd Edition
    • Brother Astronomer: Adventures of a Vatican Scientist
    • Essential Cosmic Perspective, The (5th Edition)
    6.  LANGUAGE ARTS
    A)  Formal Composition II:
    • Format Writing
    • Great Writing: A Reader For Writers

    B)  Formal Grammar I:

    • Jensen’s Grammar 

    C)  Formal Logic:

    • Traditional Logic 1 : Intro. to Formal Logic 
    D)  Pennmanship:
    • Handwriting 5 for Young Catholics (to review the basics)
    E)  Punctuation:

    • Jensen’s Punctuation
    7.  FOREIGN LANGUAGES:  Classical Latin I
    • Wheelock’s Latin : 6th Edition, Revised
    • Wheelock’s Latin : Workbook for Wheelock’s Latin, 3rd Edition, Revised
    • Wheelock’s Latin : A Comprehensive Guide to Wheelock’s Latin: Newly Revised for Wheelock’s 6th Edition

    8.  MATHEMATICS:  Algebra II

    • Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2 Kit
    NOTE: I wish my kids would be ready for Cycle E:  Greek History & Astronomy so that they would be able to discuss things with our older son but that Cycle is labeled as appropriate for Grades 4 – 8, my two would be too little for their book selection.
    1.  RELIGION:  Religion 4
    • Faith and Life 4: Jesus Our Guide
    • Baltimore Catechism
    2.  SOCIAL STUDIES / WORLD HISTORY: Classical History
    • Story of the World : Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Revised Edition
    • Story of the World Vol. 1 : Ancient Times, Activity Book
    3.  LITERATURE:  Literature
    • Landscape With Dragons, A : The Battle for Your Child’s Mind
    • Paideia Program
    • Let the Authors Speak : Guide to Worthy Books
    4.  FINE ARTS:  
         A)  Art Appreciation:
    • Faith and Life 1: Our Heavenly Father (Student Book)
    • Faith and Life 4: Jesus Our Guide (Student Book)
    • Art-with-an-Active-Eye Notebook
         B) Art Practice:
    • Art With a Purpose : Artpac 3
    • Art With a Purpose : Artpac 4
         C) Music Appreciation:
    • Classical Kids
    • Mozart’s Magic Fantasy: A Journey Through ’The Magic Flute’
    • Hallelujah Handel!
    • Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Audio CD)
    5.  SCIENCE:  Anatomy & Health
    • Body Book, The
    • Blood and Guts: A Working Guide to Your Own Insides
    6.  LANGUAGE ARTS:
         A)  Grammar/Composition 2:  
    • Voyages in English 2006 Grade 2, Student Edition
         B)  Pennmanship:
    • Handwriting 2 for Young Catholics
        C)  Reading Skills:
    • Catholic National Reader Volume 2
         D)  Spelling/Reading Skills:
    • Explode the Code Book 5
    • Explode the Code Book 6
    7.  FOREIGN LANGUAGES: Latin Chant
    • Minimum Repertoire of Plain Chant
    8.  MATHEMATICS:  Mathematics G
    • Math U See Gamma : Student Kit
    • Math U See Gamma : Teacher Pack
    • Starter Set 1 (Manipulatives)
    • Skip Count and Addition Facts CD and Book
    • Math in a Flash Multiplication flashcards

    1.  RELIGION:  Religion 1

    • Faith and Life 1: Our Heavenly Father

    2.  LANGUAGE ARTS:
         A)    Grammar/Composition 1

    • Voyages in English 2006 Grade 1, Student Edition

         B)  Pennmanship:

    • Handwriting Without Tears 2 : Printing Power
    • Handwriting Without Tears : 2nd Grade Printing Teacher Guide
    • Handwriting Without Tears : Slate Chalkboard

         C) Reading/Spelling Skills

    • Little Angel Readers Set A-D : Readers, Workbooks, and Teacher’s Manual
    3.  MATHEMATICS:  Mathematics B
    • Math U See Beta : Student Kit
    • Math U See Beta : Teacher Pack
    • Starter Set 1 (Manipulatives)
    • Skip Count and Addition Facts CD and Book
    • Math in a Flash Addition flashcards

    LITTLE ONES

    For the little ones ages two (2) and four (4), we are going to use a new curriculum (which I will also be reviewing):

    Preschool
    by Sarah V. Park (Hillside Education)

    In this creative curriculum, you’ll find easy-to-use activities to introduce your preschooler to the alphabet. For each letter, Sarah has provided:

    1) Saint of the Week suggestions
    2) Virtue and Scripture verse,
    3) Crafts & Activities,
    4) Collage ideas,
    5) Picture Book lists, and
    6) Recipes.
    Tot School

    For our two year old we will also use a little of the Preschool curriculum above but mostly Montessori Activities: Puzzles, board books, hands on activities!

    Three Simple Strategies on Funding this Approach:
    The Classical Liberal Arts approach *can* be pricey and when I posted our curriculum selection, that was one of my friends pointed out.  I will be taking advice from veteran homeschool moms whom have been using this approach in the past.  
    1)  Use your local public library:  You *can* buy all the books and build your library but if you don’t have the money to do that, you can always use your local library system and supplement your curriculum (this just requires more planning on your part ahead of time).  

    2)  Buy your curriculum by Semester:  Plan your lessons ahead of time by semesters and months.  Look up what you need and budget yourself so that you purchase it in two parts.  Semester One would be ordered in the Summer and Semester Two books would be ordered in the Winter (December)

    3)  When possible, buy used:  There are so many ways (when allowed by the publisher) to buy books and textbooks used.  You can do this by either asking locals in your area if anyone happens to either be selling a book or have one sitting on their shelf without being use (who knows maybe they might even loan it to you, if they know you and would like to do it?).  Another method is to look online.  Here are three places I search for used curriculum:
         A)  CathSwap (on Yahoo Groups)
         B)  Catholic Swap/Chat (on Facebook)


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    catholic abcs, catholic homeschoolers, catholic icing, PreSchool, preschool curriculum

    A Catholic Preschool Curriculum – Introduction and a Giveaway {Catholic Icing}

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    Homeschoolers, looking for a great Catholic Preschool Curriculum for your little one?  Lacy has come out with a book she is selling just in time for the new school year.  What’s more, she is hosting a giveaway, that’s right!  Two blessed mommies, will get a chance to win her new book!  🙂   Here’s some info:

    “This Catholic preschool curriculum is hands on all the way! From the unit studies, to learning the alphabet, to crafting, singing, and counting- this book strives to make learning (and teaching) fun! Hey, why shouldn’t it be fun?

    I designed the book to engage visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. The activities in this book help develop gross and fine motor skills. I believe that children learn best when they have multiple senses engaged, and when they have meaningful experiences that they can connect with. This book definitely helps you create these kind of experiences with your preschoolers. 

    Catholic ABC’s has 26 lessons that are based on the letters of the alphabet. They’re meant to be used weekly. Each lesson includes a craft, bible verse, saint of the week, full color visual aid (usually in the form of beautiful artwork from the masters), and many lessons also include a bonus activity. The 5 unit studies follow the liturgical year and have directions for making unique learning tools to teach the story, and again, make it fun! The unit studies also teach the kids counting and numbers, and they all include a fun learning song.
                   Unit Studies:

    1. Ordinary Time 1 – Creation
    1. Advent/Christmas – Nativity
    1. Ordinary Time 2 – 12 Apostles
    1. Lent – Stations of the Cross
    1. Easter – He is Risen!
    Ready to try to win one for your homeschool?
    Hop on over to Catholic Icing!
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    homeschooling, PreSchool

    Catholic ABCs – A Curriculum

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    This year will be a very exciting one for our family….most of our kids (four out of five) are ready for some type of schooling!! Our eldest is flying solo in middle school, but our three middle kiddos are 2, 4 and 5 so they will be doing similar activities with different expectations regarding outcome. I was putting something together that revolved around the Saints and Liturgical year as well as teaching the three Rs and such. As of today, I have three weeks to square things away so as soon as I got a chance this morning, I got online for some more gathering of ideas at my usually favorite sites.

    So I have some very exciting news; that is if you are a mommy to a pre-schooler! Catholic Mama Blogger, Lacy, over at Catholic Icing is going to share a preshool curriculum she designed for her Co-Op. She will begin posting it weekly commencing the first week of September. So click on this logo and go visit her. Go on, what are you waiting for? Oh and if you’ve never been to her site, be prepared, grab a cup of coffee or tea because she has a plethora of ideas to celebrate the Liturgical year! Thank you, Lacy, for sharing with us!


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    Barbara Curtis, homeschooling, PreSchool

    Why Homeschool Preschool? Part 2

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    The Best Classroom Has No Walls
    By Contributing Mama Writer: Barbara Curtis
    Barbara is a seasoned homeschooling mommy of 12 (yes, twelve blessings), now a grandmother of ten, and a happily married wife. Barbara is a “revert”, she was baptized Catholic then Evangelical for many years and has come back to our beautiful Faith! Barbara and her family are a ” Family-First kind of family.”

    [This is the second in a four-part series: Why Your Preschooler Can Thrive at Home taken from a chapter from my book, Mommy, Teach Me! The first part is The Best Teacher is Forever.]

    I mentioned how the modern approach to education – compartmentalization – has produced the idea that only professionals are qualified to teach.
    A second mistaken notion is that education is something that happens in a building designated for that purpose.
    Nothing could be farther from the truth. From the get go, a baby is learning from everything around him. From the time he first grips a rattle and brings it to his mouth to explore with all his senses the size and shape and sound and texture – to his first steps, first torn picture book, first scribble on the wall – your child is expressing his potential for learning in everything he does. The first torn picture book and scribbles on the walls are like beginning science experiments: What are the properties of paper? What is cause and effect? Which is why, though we train children not to repeat destructive behavior, the first time it happens there is no basis for punishment. Until the child knows what is right and wrong, he is conducting research like any good scientist.
    So God has given us this setup: A child who loves to learn and a mother who has the potential to be the best teacher her particular child will ever know – two perfect partners in a world perhaps best described by Robert Louis Stevenson:
    “The world is so full of a number of things,
    I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings”
    And what is their classroom?
    Quite simply, The World: Whirligig seeds fluttering down from maple branches. Bees buzzing in a thicket of lavender. A salamander slithering from under a rock. A bobwhite’s nest built in the middle of the action. A mother kitten and her babies. Lightning and thunder and sunshine and snow. So many different clouds. Produce aisles. The sights and sounds and smells and textures in the kitchen. The order of a place setting at the table. The mail box and the person who comes each day to fill it. The plumbing problem and the person who visits occasionally to fix it. The grief-stricken family for whom you made dinner.
    t seems ridiculous to think we have relegated education to a big building with a bunch of rooms – each room filled with same-age children and one grown-up whose specialty is teaching one grade. And even more absurd that we allow the distraction of TV and video games to undermine the child’s natural sense of wonder at all that reality has to offer.
    Do I know that kids gravitate toward the distractions? Well, since I have kids, I certainly do. And something inside us allows it because we ourselves are jaded. How else to explain parents allowing kids to watch a DVD in the backseat rather than looking out the window at the world around them? We’ve forgotten our own innocent delight at the world around us.
    If you have young children, now is the time not only to keep pointing your child toward the wonder of the world around him, but to rekindle your own sense of awe.
    Later we will discuss how to prepare your home environment to better teach your child. But don’t get stuck in the idea that any particular place you set aside is your child’s classroom.

    With you as teacher, the whole world will be his to learn from.
    For more information, see my website Mommy, Teach Me! or click on Categories, then Montessori, Preschoolers or Homeschool above. Come back tomorrow for Part Three.
    Love,

    Photo credit: Lisa (Stretch Mark Mama)’s son decorating the table with nature’s beauty. And below, Lisa’s sons cleaning up a public park.

    Once again, Barbara has helped me focus on what is important for my own four children. I’ve been a little stressed thinking that my kids NEED a specific room for homeschooling and after reading this article I realize how wrong I am. With all the rooms in my home and the most important location is our back and side yards! AKA, our newly favorite classroom without walls. This brings back joyous memories of Literature at a Catholic school in Florida. My favorite days (and that of my almost 35 sixth graders) were when we would move our lesson outdoors under the canopy of this wonderful tree. We would “jump-in-read” the next chapter of our favorite book and enjoy the outdoors. What a concept! It was the times when my students paid the most attention, can you believe it?

    Although Barbara is referring to preschoolers in this article, I learned through experience in teaching middle schoolers for seven years that they too enjoy the things we normally label as “for smaller children”. One prime example, they love to be read to. Reading under the natural shelter provided by that wonderful tree God created were the happiest and most delightful of my teaching days. I’ve always said that middle schoolers are just little kids in big kids’ bodies. For more neat ideas by this Blogging Mama, please visit her Homeschooling journey: Mommy Life.

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