Courageous Joy

School Notes

* We have just begun unit two. This is a good time to do a "quick" overview of school.

Youngers (2nd, 3rd)

We have left the 1920's behind and moved into the 1930's. TOG suggested *Potato, A Tale from the Great Depression* and *Angels in the dust* for lower grammar students. We read both and they were fine. I felt that I wanted the children to have a bit more of a feel for the depression. I'm looking for some good "fiction" about that time period for a 2nd and 3rd grader. We welcome your suggestions.

Since we had finished the reading for week 9,- we moved into week10. Ah - the 1940's....not sure we are ready to leave the 30's. I found *Children of the Dust Bowl by Jerry Stanley* and am reading that to the younger two. The narrative is fairly easy to follow. It tells a story but lets you know over and over that you are hearing quotes from REAL people. The photos are haunting. They are photos of real "Oakies" along Route 66. Living in this part of the country, having traveled some of the route this summer, and having had family living in Bakersfield, CA.....makes this a story that lives for my children. They can relate to no rain, WIND and dust....and I point out that as dusty and dry as it's been here the past two years it was way worse for 5 years in the 1930's. This was a great find for Arielle and Nolan and will round out our study of the depression. I'm still contemplating a fictionalized account of the depression. I will have the boys watch *The Grapes of Wrath* and briefly talk about how the book was banned and the controversy over the book, rather than have them read it.

I don't want to delve too deeply into biographies of FDR and Eleanor with Arielle and Nolan but felt it would be good to do something. We can't find the books recommended by TOG but did find *Eleanor by Barbara Cooney* at our library. My favorite part of this book is the illustrations. The book does present Eleanor's rotten childhood and her desire to help others with less than she had.

Nolan has speech exercises, motor development exercises, Sing Spell Read and Write, Explode the Code and lots of living math. Arielle has 30 minutes of reading a day, MCP spelling, Wordly Wise, lots of living math and is writing daily as well.

We have played many math games, read many grammar books, and completed two lap books. Our first lap book was on the books of the Bible and our second was on Thanksgiving. We are gearing up for a Christmas lap book.

Jared (7th) is reading:

*FDR by Russell Freedman* and *The Children's history of the 20th century* for spine books of this time period.

FDR provides a well-written, sympathetic look at Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his presidency. Jared receives a counter-balance to this view by listening to his older brothers and I discuss various aspects of the Roosevelt legacy.

*The Children's History of the 20th century by DK* is proving to be a great overview for Jared, as well as for Nolan and Arielle. The book moves year by year through the century....each two page spread offers a quick summary and then the pages are filled with various news stories from the years in question. Along the bottom of the book is a time line with more events to study. This is a great DK book to own.

*Onion John by Joseph Krumgold* is a book listed in our TOG manual. Jared (JUST NOW) reports that the book seems to have nothing to do with the 1930's or 1940's. He says the plot is predictable (Father wants to plan son's future, son is rebelling) and boring. He isn't enjoying this book at all - and only has 40 pages left to read. Hmmm....time to tell the children again that if a book is a clunker I'm open to making changes! Jared is telling me that he doesn't like to complain to me about the curriculum....he only complains to his brothers, who can't change the situation. ::snort:: More life lessons to follow spurred by this book - I'm totally perplexed as to what we were supposed to learn from this book. What are we missing about this choice???

I assigned an extra reader which Jared is enjoying, *Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor*. This powerful book is set in the 1930's and chronicles the struggle of an African American family during this time period.

Jared is reading *Watchman Nee:Man of Suffering by Bob Laurent * for worldview. I really need to work more biographies of the "greats" of the faith into the children's lives. We used to read biographies during Family Read Aloud time. I think I'll work one or two a month in to that time frame again. Children need heroes - real heroes.

*The Great Depression by Michael Burgan* has provided an easy to read overview of the Depression era. I plan to go through this one with the younger two, as well. Hakim's edition for this time period finished Jared's list of history.

In addition to history, Jared is doing TOG writing, Saxon 8/7, MCP Spelling, and Apologia's General Science.

The older boys (10th and 12th) are reading *The Century by Peter Jennings*, *FDR by Russell Freedman* (excerpt above), *A History of the American People by Paul Johnson* and *The Red Pony by John Steinbeck*. They have some rather strong opinions about FDR. The Century and Freedman are from more of a "liberal" or "pro" FDR slant and Paul Johnson provides a conservative view of the same topics.

In addition to TOG, Jamin is doing Saxon Alg 2, Foundations of Fitness, Culinary Art, and Christian Writers Guild. Our Rosetta Stone disc cracked and I've been trying to figure out what to do about it as he is 1/2 way through the program. I HATE that I have to pay $300 for a program that must be inserted into the computer every time it's used and I'm unable to make a back up for it. So...we are still deciding what to do about Spanish 2. We also deleted TOG world view and will be adding some other materials for this. I could easily pull together my own course but it would look very much like what TOG does - and that isn't working for him. I'm leaning towards Understanding the Times.

In addition to TOG, Josiah is working and doing some SAT prep.