Cornish Family Homeschool Review for 2021-22
We only have three students (of ten) left in our homeschool - where did the time go?
This year, we continued our classical education focus, which revolves heavily around the study of Latin. Our favorite homeschool publisher is Memoria Press and this is where most of our materials are purchased. Every morning began with a core focus time spent on Latin and math. Each child also worked on a rigorous grammar curriculum that puts a strong focus on all components of language arts (grammar, sentence diagramming, vocabulary, spelling, and composition). Dad, a mechanical engineer mostly still working from home due to the pandemic, assumed oversight of the children's science education this year. We also continued our enjoyable afternoon enrichment time that encompasses much of our "content" work, such as history, classical studies, literature, and the arts.
Every morning, I worked with Selah, age 10, on her math and Latin. Josiah, 17, and Helena, 15, worked on these subjects mostly independently. After a brunch break, I resumed tutoring Selah in her grammar, spelling, memorization, recitation, U.S. History, and French. Then we had our afternoon group time, which will be detailed below. Lastly, I did Latin with Josiah, and in the evenings, graded paperwork for the older kids in Latin, grammar, and math.
JOSIAH CORNISH, Grade 11
Josiah completed geometry this year. He also continued a challenging Latin program that he has been working on since 5th grade. He did physics with Dad (which will be ongoing through the summer) and the grammar/language arts program mentioned above. He enjoyed art projects and piano in his free time.
Some materials used:
Learn Math Fast Geometry
Memoria Press Latin, Level 4
Introductory Physics
Hake Grammar and Composition
HELENA CORNISH, Grade 9
Helena finished Algebra 1 in March. She did the same Latin program as Josiah, two levels behind. She also did physics with Josiah and her dad and the grammar curriculum described above. She is a dutiful and focused student, who works about seven hours per day. Her hobbies included crochet and knitting.
Some materials used:
Saxon Algebra 1
Memoria Press Latin, Levels 1 and 2
Introductory Physics
Memoria Press Traditional and Material Logic
Books read and to be continued this summer:
Pride and Prejudice
The Scarlet Letter
Julius Caesar
Romeo and Juliet
SELAH CORNISH, Grade 5
Selah continues to be a super scholar, working with a drive and ambition perhaps greater than any of my previous children. She did grade 5 of Singapore primary math and two levels of Latin. She also did two grammar curricula. She pursued geography and Japanese studies independently, and read all the books in the Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables series, among many other titles. She is an avid reader and challenges herself to read and memorize large amounts of poetry, Bible, and history facts. My job is not to nod off while she recites them all every day after lunch.
Some materials used:
Singapore primary math, levels 4A, 4B, and 5A, completed May 2.
Memoria Press Latin, Latina Christiana levels 1 and 2
Hake Grammar and Composition
Memoria Press/John Tiner science titles read and workbooks completed:
The World of Astronomy
The World of Chemistry
Planet Earth
The History of Medicine
Two biographies of Isaac Newton
Memoria Press literature novels read, plus workbooks:
Homer Price
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Lassie, Come Home
Other titles read:
Little House books, whole series
Anne of Green Gables, whole series
Heidi, plus sequel
Understood Betsy
This year our afternoon enrichment time followed this schedule:
Monday: History Part 1 (Renaissance)
Tuesday: Literature (Norse Myths)
Wednesday: History Part 2
Thursday: Literature (Shakespeare readings)
Friday: Special unit of U.S History
We used these resources:
*Story of the World, Volume 3, Renaissance period
*D'Aulaires Norse Myths
*Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare
*Memoria Press publisher: 200 Questions About U.S. History
*Online documentaries to supplement above topics
A page from my planner detailing each week's afternoon enrichment work:
All three have been working on a U.S. history program published by Memoria Press which features the memorization of 200 important facts having to do with the history of our country.
Music and art have always been done informally in our homeschool by listening to music, looking at art prints, and reading biographies of composers and artists. Josiah plays the piano and Helena creates knitting and needlework projects all the time. Selah prefers to observe and learn about art and music through her copious reading.
We also pursue physical education in this natural, "lifestyle" manner. The kids walk, run, and cycle, and we discuss nutrition and health issues as a family.
As we school year-round, our summer term (May-August) will feature the composition component of the grammar curriculum for all three children. (The grammar instruction alone is 700+ pages long, and was deemed sufficient for September-May work). Selah will continue her free reading, while the older children work on the rest of the literature titles in their program. Also, Dad will continue to teach the older children physics with an eye on beginning chemistry this fall.
Thank you for reviewing and please let us know if additional information or documentation is needed.
Craig and Lisa Cornish
myeightarrows@aol.com
301.535.8458
No comments:
Post a Comment