2016-2017 Catholic Charlotte Mason Curriculum

It's that time of year again! We are wrapping up our school year soon, and I am getting together the necessary paperwork for next year for homeschooling in Ohio. One of the requirements is a brief curriculum outline. I like to have everything done and ready to hand in to the superintendent's office in early June. The only thing I have left is the portfolio assessment of Beezy's work by a certified teacher. I encourage you not to wait to prepare such documents, as you don't want to have this hanging over your head all summer.

I'm more excited about this curriculum than any I have designed in the past, because I think I have finally incorporated all of the elements of a Charlotte Mason education. Except for Religion, the subjects listed are those required to cover by the state. You will notice that many subjects overlap, and a number of these books could have been put into multiple categories. I divided them up as it made most sense to me and according to how I have them organized on our homeschooling bookcase. Except for the books we will borrow from the library, which are happily a great many, I have acquired everything on the lists! Many books can be used for multiple years. I think I spent a total of about $75.00.

In other years I have loaded each subject with a ton of potential books and resources. This time I worked very hard to streamline the curriculum and include only those items that we will realistically use in one school year. We may not get to all of them, and we may include items not listed here. Home education is always a work in progress and a journey of learning for both parents and children, and flexibility is key.

This curriculum is designed for the 6th grade, for my only child. However, many of these choices could be used with multiple age levels, and with either younger or older children. I hope something in this will be of use to readers, and I welcome questions and observations in the comments section at the end! Also, feel free to "borrow" anything here for your own reporting needs.

2016—2017 Homeschool Curriculum Outline

I. Vintage Catholic Home Education: We will be using a self-designed curriculum incorporating the philosophy and method of Charlotte Mason, drawing from the books and resources listed below. "Living books" will be the predominant choices for lessons, which are those written by an author who takes special interest in his subject and in which facts are presented in story form. Classical learning tools such as oral and written narration (composition), copy work, dictation, memory work, and recitation will be utilized, with a core of Religion and the traditional liberal arts.

II. Curriculum Books and Resources:

- The Charlotte Mason Original Homeschooling Series (six volume set)

- Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home by Elizabeth Foss
- Mater Amabilis: a Charlotte Mason Style Curriculum for Catholics (www.materamabilis.org)
- Ambleside Online (www.amblesideonline.org)
- The Year and Our Children: Catholic Celebrations for Every Season by Mary Reed Newland

- Seton Home Study School (www.setonhome.org)

- The Holy Bible, 1953 Catholic Confraternity Edition       

- Catholic Heritage Curricula

III. Subjects and Books/Materials:

Language Arts – "Faith and Freedom" Ginn Readers; The Winston Readers; classic literature (Anne of Green Gables series, Little Women, Little Men); Poetry for Children and Other People; Ingri and Edgar Parin d' Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths; Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb; Bard of Avon and Good Queen Bess (Stanley/Vannema); public library visits and programs; Kids Stuff Spanish (Pirz); Everything Kids’ Learning Spanish Book (Sojo); Spanish flash cards (eeBoo); Language of God (Grammar & Composition, CHC); Handwriting 3 for Young Catholics (Seton); correspondence (letter writing)

Religion – Prayers for Young Catholics (Daughters of St. Paul); Religious Education class at Sacred Heart Church; The Baltimore Catechism, No. 1; The Loyola Treasury of Saints; Journeys with Mary (De Santis); The Guiding Light: The Bible in Pictures; Bible History for Young Catholics (Seton, Old and New Testament volumes); King David and His Songs (Windeatt); Augustine Came to Kent (Willard); St. Thomas Aquinas: The Story of the Dumb Ox (Windeatt)

Geography and History – Fifty Stories from Ohio (Martzolff); America's Founders and Leaders  (William H.J. Kennedy & Sister Mary Joseph); A Child's Geography of the World (Hillyer); Our Catholic Legacy Vol. 1 (world history, Seton); Columbus and the New World (Derluth); Pocahontas (Bruchac); Madeleine Takes Command (Brill); keeping a book of centuries; Native Americans; cultural, seasonal and holiday traditions; visits to Sauder Village living history museum; The National Parks (Tilden); world globe; The Usborne Essential Atlas of the World; States & Capitals flash cards

Mathematics –  Hamilton’s Essentials of Arithmetic (First and Second Books); measurement; fractions; time and money; place values; addition and subtraction with regrouping; multiplication; division; decimals and percentages; related manipulatives; flash cards; calendar; mathematician biographies; board games

Natural Science – Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock; The Story Book of Science by Jean-Henri Fabre; nature walks and nature notebook; Time-Life animal classification cards; study of trees and leaf collection; study of flowers and flower pressing; study of insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and dinosaurs; the seasons; climate; sustainable living and organic gardening; science museum visits; ecosystems/animal habitats; chemistry kit experiments; dog training classes; volunteer work at the Humane Society

Health Education – Study of bacteria, mold and viruses; nutrition; food preparation and baking; herbology; vegetarianism; The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls by Valorie Schaefer and The Feelings Book: The Care and Keeping of Your Emotions by Dr. Lynda Madison (American Girl); practical life skills

Physical Education – Gym class at St. Patrick Catholic School and participation in sports programs; dance; daily outdoor play; hiking; sledding; trampoline; running; swimming; scooter; pogo stick; horseback riding; bicycling; dog walks

Fine Arts – Art class at St. Patrick School; The Rosary in Art (Seton); The Story of Painting (Janson); Claude Monet (Nunhead); Linnea in Monet's Garden; Anholt’s Artist Books for Children series; Beethoven Lives Upstairs (DVD & CD); The Composer’s Special Series (Bach’s Fight for Freedom, etc…, DVDs & CDs); poetry, art, and music (classical composer studies, folk songs, hymns) appreciation; painting; drawing; pottery; art museum visits; attendance at plays and concerts; dramatic play; Parks and Recreation/library arts and crafts programs; Fayette Opera House concert series; piano lessons and recitals; movies and documentaries; needlepoint; crochet; creative writing

First Aid, Safety, and Fire Protection – Continued reinforcement of these subjects through library materials, field trips, and home safety plans