Our 2020-2021 Curriculum
– Excerpted from a speech originally given by Fr. John Hardon, S. J.
Technically she only needs to take Chemistry+LAB, Theology, and just one elective to complete the requirements for the Summa Cum Laude diploma from Kolbe Academy!
Our Moral Life in Christ
with Our Moral Life in Christ Student Workbook
Science: (1 Credit + LAB)
Exploring Creation with Chemisty (2nd Edition) plus Solutions and Tests
Chemistry: Essential Practice for Key Science Topics (The 100+ Series)
Student Lab Notebook, Lab Kit and Kitchen Scale
Muse on the Loose: Survey of Greek Literature in Translation (Fall)
Muse Re-Loosed: Survey of Latin Literature in Translation (Spring)
She has really loved taking Dr. Fisher’s Latin 1 & 2 the past two years (completing Wheelock Latin) but, rather than move on to translating, decided to take her Literature course this upcoming year.
Additional English/Literature: (1/2 semester each)
The Illiad by Homer with Joseph Pearce
The Odyssey by Homer with Joseph Pearce
using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections
Mathematics: (1/2 Credit)
Foundations in Personal Finance (Fall)
Possible dual credit Math course in Spring 2021, still undecided
History: (1 Credit)
Government, Democracy, and Citizenship with Ed Rivet (Fall – 3/4 semester)
American Elections:Democracy in Action with Ed Rivet (Fall – Audit Class Oct 1-Nov 5, 2020)
Economics as if people matter! with Philip Campbell (Spring)
using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections
Fine Arts: (1/2 Credit)
Choir
High School Golf (hopefully competitive!)
Mathematics: (1 Credit)
Saxon Algebra 2 Solutions Manual and Homeschool Testing Book
English: (1 Credit)
Elegant Essay (Fall)
Live Online Class through Stylistic Scibe
Portable Walls for the Essayist
Speech Boot Camp (Spring)
English/Literature: (1 1/2 Credits)
Mansfield Park, Oliver Twist and North and South
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (Fall)
using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections
History: (1 Credit)
Additional literature chosen from Connecting with History, Volume 2 – The Arrival of the King and His Kingdom, New Testament and Early Medieval History:
One Hundred Saints, Their Lives and Likenesses Drawn from Butler’s Lives of the Saints and Great Works of Western Art
A Graphic Life of Jesus Christ
Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome
The New Penguin Atlas of Medieval History
Lives from Plutarch
Mythology
Unit #1: Julius Caesar, Ben Hur (audio)
Unit #2: The Spear: A Novel of the Crucifixion
Unit #3: Story of the Last Days of Jerusalem from Josephus, Quo Vadis
Unit #4: Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch
Unit #5: St. Athanasius, St. Monica, Beowulf: Illustrated Edition, Confessions of St. Augustine
Unit #6: Two Lives of Charlemagne
Unit #7: Hamlet, The Ballad of the White Horse
History Through the Ages Record of Time – Timeline
Chemistry + LAB with Mrs. Taylor over at Taylor Science
Exploring Creation with Chemisty (2nd Edition) plus Solutions and Tests
Chemistry: Essential Practice for Key Science Topics (The 100+ Series)
Student Lab Notebook, Lab Kit and Kitchen Scale
Foreign Language: (1 Credit)
Latin II using Wheelock Latin, 7th Edition
Live online class, Lukeion
Fine Arts: (1/2 Credit)
Choir
Physical Education: (1 Credit)
High School Golf
Religion:
The Highway to God: Highway to Heaven Series Book 7/8
with Practical Problems in Religion
Additional Reading Assignments/Saint Stories
Mathematics:
Saxon Algebra 1/2 with Solutions Manual and Tests
Mastering Algebra John Saxon’s Way: Algebra 1/2 DVD Set
Language Arts:
Phonetic Zoo, continue Level B
Writing Our Catholic Faith – Grade 8 Cursive Writing
Literature:
The Chronicles of Narnia, Part One and Part Two with Kevin O’Brien
using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections
Chronicles of Narnia Book Set
History & Geography:
Light to the Nations, Part One
Additional literature chosen from Connecting with History, Volume 2 – The Arrival of the King and His Kingdom, New Testament and Early Medieval History:
57 Stories of Saints
Famous Men of Rome
Famous Men of the Middle Ages
Roman Britain
Augustus Caesar’s World
A Graphic Life of Jesus Christ
Unit #1: Julius Caesar, Ben Hur (audio)
Unit #2: The Bronze Bow, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Unit #3: The Ides of April, Beyond the Desert Gate
Unit #4: The White Isle, Galen and the Gateway to Medicine
Unit #5: Beowulf the Warrior, St. Helena and the True Cross, The King’s Thane
Unit #6: Fingal’s Quest, King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table, St. Benedict: Hero of the Hills
Unit #7: The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, The Sword of Clontarf
History Through the Ages Record of Time – Timeline
Various Mapping Assignments, Activities, Puzzles and Games
Exploring Creation with Physical Science (3rd Edition)
with Solutions and Tests and Student Notebook
Golf
Mathematics:
Saxon 5/4 with Solutions Manual and Tests/Worksheets
Saxon Teacher Math 5/4 Lesson and Tests CDs
Language Arts:
Fix It! Grammar: The Nose Tree (Book 1 Teacher/Student Combo)
Writing Our Catholic Faith – Grade 5 Cursive Writing
Supplemental Readers and Additional Literature
Literature:
The Chronicles of Narnia, Part One and Part Two with Kevin O’Brien
using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections
Chronicles of Narnia Book Set
History & Geography:
Additional literature chosen from Connecting with History, Volume 2 – The Arrival of the King and His Kingdom, New Testament and Early Medieval History:
57 Stories of Saints
Famous Men of Rome
Famous Men of the Middle Ages
Roman Britain
Augustus Caesar’s World
Ancient World (Usborne)
Spend the Day in Ancient Rome
Twelve Bright Trumpets
A Life of Our Lord for Children
The First Christians
Unit #1: Cleopatra, City, Ben Hur (audio)
Unit #2: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Mary My Mother, Good St. Joseph
Unit #3: City of the Golden House, St. Peter the Apostle, The Apostles of Jesus, St. Paul the Apostle
Unit #4: The Roman Colosseum, Gladiator, No Tears for the Bride: A Story of St. Perpetua
Unit #5: St. Helena and the True Cross, Beowulf: A Hero’s Tale Retold, St. George and the Dragon, Word to Caesar
Unit #6: St. Benedict: Hero of the Hills, The Silk Route, Life in Celtic Times Coloring Book, Color Your Own Book of Kells, Bring Me and Ax: A Story of St. Boniface, King Arthur: Tales from the Round Table
Unit #7: Beorn the Proud, Hide the Children: St. Bernard of Clairvaux, D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths
History Through the Ages Record of Time – Timeline
Various Mapping Assignments, Activities, Puzzles and Games
United States Elections Unit Study
Science:
Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day
with Audiobook, Lab Kit and Notebooking Journal
Fine Arts:
Religion:
The Life of the Soul (Highway to Heaven Series Book 3)
Supplemental Religion Books and Saint Stories from Our Monthly Book Baskets
Mathematics:
Math Mammoth- Little Blue Series 3
Language Arts:
Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level A
Writing Our Catholic Faith – Grade 3 Beginning Cursive Writing
Supplemental Readers and Additional Literature
History & Geography:
Additional literature chosen from Connecting with History, Volume 2 – The Arrival of the King and His Kingdom, New Testament and Early Medieval History:
Once Upon a Time Saints
More Once Upon a Time Saints
Famous Figures of Ancient Times
Famous Figures of Medieval Times
Time Traveler
Spend the Day in Ancient Rome
A Life of Our Lord for Children
The First Christians
Unit #1: How to be a Roman Soldier, City, Ben Hur (audio)
Unit #2: Mary My Mother, Good St. Joseph, The Miracles of Jesus, Jesus With Us: The Gift of the Eucharist, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Unit #3: Pompeii- Buried Alive, Story of St. Peter, Story of St. Stephen, Story of St. Andrew the Apostle, The Adventures of St. Paul
Unit #4: St. Valentine, Story of Agatha, Story of Cecilia, Story of Cyprian, Story of Sebastian, Story of Lawrence, Story of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Story of St. Christopher, Story of St. Lucy
Unit #5: St. Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, The Saint Who Fought the Dragon, St. George and the Dragon, Nicholas, the Boy Who Became Santa (DVD), Brigid’s Cloak, Story of St. Blaise, The Queen and the Cross
Unit #6: We’re Riding on a Caravan, Story of St. Benedict, The Sword in the Tree, Celtic Treasures (CD), Caedmon’s Song, Saint Brendan and the Voyage Before Columbus
Unit #7: Vikings: Dress, Eat and Play Like the Vikings, Margaret, Story of St. Wenceslas, Leif the Lucky, D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths
History Through the Ages Record of Time – Timeline
United States Elections Unit Study
Science:
Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day
with Audiobook, Lab Kit and Junior Notebooking Journal
Fine Arts:
Meet the Masters
Physical Education:
Self Defense / Martial Arts: Jiu Jitsu
Grace :: Pre Pre-K (Age 3)
Catholic Children’s Treasure Box Books 1-10 and 11-20
Feast Day Picture Books
Seasonal Picture Books
Lots of fun learning Toys and Puzzles
Occasional Crafts and Baking with Older Siblings
Nothing formal, yet… basically just living life in a large family!
#1 – Kolbe Academy
Our high schoolers all work towards the Magna Cum Laude Diploma. I love the flexibility offered by Kolbe and that we can continue tailoring our curriculum to our family’s preferences and our children’s needs. I submit graded samples twice a year and they keep all the necessary records for the transcripts. We have two students currently enrolled in Kolbe Academy.
#2 – The Lukeion Project
Charlotte was the one to introduce us to Lukeion and the live classes my high schoolers have taken have all been excellent. After just completing Wheelock Latin, our eldest daughter is moving on to a Literature Course and daughter #2 is taking Latin II.
To quote Lukeion: “There are many programs now available for younger students. In our experience, however, these programs demand a lot of busy work but deliver very little in the way of learning the functional nuts-and-bolts of Classical languages. Students are not generally prepared to master these languages until they have reached the logic stage. You will accomplish much more in a fraction of the time if you wait until your student is 12 to 15 before you start formal instruction in Latin and Greek. Better still, waiting to start these logic based languages may mean your student will enjoy them more.”
#3 – Homeschool Connections
We’re still paying the $30 per month for access to all of their recorded classes which the kids can take at their own pace. Middle School favorites have included science classes with MacBeth Derham and history classes with Philip Campbell. For high school we have loved Joseph Pearce, Gregory Pyne, and Eleanor Bourg Nicholson’s literature classes, as well as American Sign Language. My high schoolers can’t get the “Kolbe designation” on the non-Kolbe courses, but they still qualify for high school credit (the high school level courses do anyway, with pre-approval from Kolbe) and they have worked well for us!
#4 – Taylor Science
My three oldest all loved Mrs. Taylor’s biology class. This year the older girls are taking her recorded chemistry class. So awesome!
After taking a couple year break from IEW’s Structure and Style writing classes, I’m so excited to get back to it this year! I was just going to dust off all my old materials, but after checking out the awesome new updated versions, we are making the switch!
Back-to-School :: 2020-2021
I was questioning my younger self yesterday, as I assembled this year’s Back-to-School Schultütes… “WHY did I start these little annual traditions all those years ago?!?” I just don’t have the energy I had when I was younger… However they really didn’t take that long to assemble, and the smiles on all my children’s faces made it worth the extra effort!
A is for Angel (not Anger) 😉 |
On the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Early morning Mass (for some of us), classes, then back-to-school treats, an extra decade of the rosary while lighting ten candles, and birthday cake for our dear Mother Mary! We technically started our new school year a couple weeks ago, at least most subjects-when online classes began for my high schoolers and the boys started their sophomore year at Christendom, but we officially celebrated today.
St. Rose of Lima, Ora Pro Nobis!
Christendom Bound :: A Cross-Country Road Trip
I was fine until I hugged them both goodbye… then the tears started falling! The last five months, despite all the craziness, has been such a gift and a wish come true to have all our children at home “just a little longer.” We had so much fun together!
John was supposed to arrive at Christendom last Sunday night for soccer camp starting this pst Monday (his flight was supposed to be the 16th and James was going to follow on the 22nd) tomorrow and James’ was next Saturday) but the coaches said it was fine if he arrived a day or two late… James however was not allowed to stay on campus until Saturday, so after dropping John off he headed back to Maryland to spend four nights with his cousins.
Sponsor Love: Updates & Current Specials
It’s been a couple years now since my last sponsor update. I had to discontinue my quarterly updates right around the time we moved, which was quickly followed by another surprise. Now that our sweet baby girl is almost a year old, and we are finally getting a little more sleep, I wanted to take a minute to share another sponsor update.
Here are some of my new sponsors! Please check out their websites when you have a minute or two:
In addition to visiting DevoutDecals.com, you can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram!
I’m currently giving away the Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Catholic Decal Set over at Instagram! Click over to enter.
+ + +
Check out all the Online Classes for Fall 2020
You can also follow Stylistic Scribe on Facebook and check out the video she recently shared for more information!
Prayer Pillowcases
Prayer Pillowcases are more than just a pretty place to lay your head! They’re a unique way to bring Catholic art and prayer into your home and a practical way to share the Faith with your family and friends. Our distinctive line combines original art and favorite Catholic prayers that appeal to all ages and transform pillows from the ordinary to the divine! Honor a special occasion or make any occasion special with the gift of a joyful, lasting (and personalizable) Prayer Pillowcase. We’re always working on new designs and hope you’ll visit again soon to see even more ways to help your loved ones begin and each day with a prayerful heart.
Free Shipping (4+ Pillowcases shipping within US)
Saints Around the World
Featuring a different saint from a new country every two months, this subscription is a perfect way for me to easily incorporate a little more theology and geography for my younger ones with very little effort! Plus my older children were all more than happy to join in and help too.
Culture of Life Studies Program (CLSP)
The Culture of Life Studies Program serves teachers and parents as they guide their students in building a culture that respects and protects the dignity of every human being regardless of age, appearance, or ability.
Lisieux Nail Polish
We are a young Catholic company with a passion for sacred scripture, Church traditions and the New Evangelization. There is so much beauty in our faith that we decided to bottle some of it up! Our goal is to equip women with a new, simple and fun way to express their faith and share it with others. We also wanted to create a way to have a holy reminder with you at all times.
We were inspired (and helped) by Saint Therese, the Little Flower of Lisieux and Saint John Paul II. Mother Angelica was also an inspiration for her wisdom regarding holy reminders.
It was really important for us to have quality nail polish so we are proud to say Lisieux is professional grade polish that we had our friends and family of various ages and vocations test out.
All of the polishes on our website have been handpicked for their color, ease of application and longevity.
Almond Rod Toys
Almond Rod Toys makes Saint Blocks that are just the right size for little hands and can be used for imaginative play, building, stacking or collecting. The front has a print of original watercolor artwork. The back has a quote or a prayer chosen to inspire little ones and the one that cleans up behind them. The saint’s name, feast day and patronage are also listed; just enough to be a reminder and an inspiration for further learning.
We really love the new Rosary Blocks! |
All of our aprons are embroidered, not screen printed, giving them a rich, elegant, look! Our durable 100% cotton-twill aprons, with soil-release finish for added stain protection, provide ultimate full length cover and comfort.
May God bless you all!
The Catholic Child and the Sacred Heart
Donut Ever Grow Up :: A 3rd Birthday Party
“Dough-y!!” 🍩 A certain little girl has really missed her donuts after Mass on Sundays, so last Monday we celebrated her 3rd birthday with a donut themed party!
Celebrating Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church
Since Pentecost if the Birthday of the Church, our family always celebrates with a birthday cake! Our cake is usually a white cake with white frosting since Pentecost is also known as Whitsunday. The large candle in the center represents Christ our Light, who promised to send the Holy Ghost, and the 12 smaller white candles represent the 12 Apostles and the tongues of fire. The 7 red hearts (strawberry slices on this cake) represent the 7 gifts of the Holy Ghost, and the 12 strawberries, placed around the cake, represent the 12 fruits of the Holy Ghost.
I didn’t realize until looking back through some past pictures that “Rose” wore that same rose covered outfit as a baby on Pentecost Sunday 10 years ago… How has that possibly been 10 years already?!?
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