Here’s what we’ll be doing this first term of the school year…
Hymns & Prayer: We’ll sing the hymns that Mr. E and Mr. L are doing in choir at co-op. Jesus Shall Reign is September’s hymn.
Bible & Catechism: Essential Truths of the Christian Faith will continue to be our devotional reading. We’ll memorize one of my favorite Psalms, Psalm 121 and work on learning the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Poetry: I was thankful to find the currently very expensive Poetry for Young People edition of poems by Alfred, Lord Tennyson at our library. Hopefully I can renew it at least once to last most of the term. We’ll memorize Crossing the Bar together.
Music Appreciation: We’ll listen to the music of Vivaldi, and perhaps the relevant Classics for Kids episodes and Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery – but probably during Keeping Time or in the car. And we’ll continue watching the Young People’s Concerts on our Music Mondays.
Picture Study: I have no excuse not to follow the AO Artist schedule this fall, as each of the spring retreat attendees were given a packet of Bruegel’s paintings. And my library had Mike Venezia’s bio of Bruegel! We’ve just read about half of it yesterday, but I think his paintings are (unsurprisingly) going to be a hit with my 6-year-old. 😀
Geography: We’ll read a bit from Window on the World each week.
Shakespeare: We’ll read The Tempest over the next term-and-a-half, familiarizing ourselves with the story by reading the lovely retelling by Bruce Coville and Ruth Sanderson first. We’ll memorizing the passage beginning: “Our revels now are ended…” which is available as a PDF on the How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare website (also, that book is excellent).
Plutarch: We’ll follow up Cicero with Demosthenes – Plutarch ends Demosthenes by comparing their lives.
Ohio History: I found a copy of Heroes of Ohio by Rick Sowash at Half Price Books, and the short biographical sketches look perfect for Morning Time.
Logic: I picked up The Amazing Dr. Ransom’s Bestairy of Adorable Fallacies at the Canon Press booth at the convention this spring, and we’ve done a few so far.
