School Plans this time

Jules-Alexis Muenier - La Leçon de catéchisme

What's happening at the Brown Home Academy in the 2014-2015 school year?

So, this post will only interest a few. Perhaps, in a few years it will just be a nice way to remember "How in the world did I ever do that?!?!" Because it won't be long and we'll begin to graduate'em and my class size will begin to decrease rather than all the increasing it's done every year. And this year we've had a big increase. But we've also had a tad more self-discipline and are trying to learn to be better stewards of time (works in progress).

This year Jacob is finally serious about learning, so long as it doesn't take up to much time and part of it seems fun. And Josiah will sit still for just a few minutes. Not sure with him how much is actually being retained but at least he's being "exposed" to learning (rather than just walking around exposing himself).
And we've added Brent who is 29 days younger than Alex but 3 times his size. It's like a chihuahua next to a doberman, although while the latter boy very much resembles a chihuahua the former is much more docile. He's cute and sweet and is finally adjusting to life with the Brown clan (we may be a little "different" than he's accustomed). His Papa brings him punctually each morning and that helps us remember to get up.

This year, in order to attempt to get it all mostly done I made a big Daily Schedule. Dividing the day  into 30 minute increments and began plugging in things to do - beginning with me getting up early and doing my very own prayer and devotions (fall off the horse, get back on) and including eating and chores and an extra section for Wednesdays when we go to Community Bible Study (CBS).

In the middle of doing that I was planning lessons - or lesson flow for all the subjects being taught this year - including time on the computer for various things like foreign language.

Top left: Checklist on clipboard on top of "Mama's Brian's"
innards; Top right: close up of Jacob's Weekly Checklist;
Bottom Right: Mama's Home School Brain - aka: Mama's Brain
Bottom left: Josiah's practice from a few weeks ago (just cause) 

To aid in planning for each child I used  Weekly Checklist (taken directly from the schedule) kept in Mama's Homeschool Brain (the same one I've used for many years). Each person (students and the teacher) has a clipboard with their own Weekly Checklist. They check off as they complete each assignment and any thing on loose papers (or not in a workbook) is kept in the clipboard behind the checklist until the end of the week. Over the weekend the teacher (that's me) checks each students work. Continuing assignments (like Science) are placed back under the new weeks checklist as well as worksheets for the next week and completed work is placed sideways on top to be put neatly away in their own binder (everybody's got a binder with dividers).

Attendance, and High School Planning

Also found in Mama's Brain is Attendance charts (one per child - we no longer have to turn them in BUT we are responsible legally for doing 180 days of "school" and so I do keep attendance. Plus, if any "official" ever wants to question us I've got plenty of documentation - and HSLDA - to back us up) and High School planning/records (so we can formulate a transcript sooner than we'd like to think). We do give credit for each class completed and they must have a certain number to graduate (sounds a lot like real school when they get to High School - bleck!)

Pray Pledge Praise Ponder signs;
Pledges, the Christian Flag, school rules
and school verse
Stuff on the walls: math, history, French

We start each day (just like last year) with Pray, Pledge, Praise & Ponder. We don't always do both of the last two but we try.
I normally pray but often ask one of the bigger children to ask blessings on our day. Then we Pledge the American flag, the Christian flag and the Bible and sometimes we remember to recite our school verse, 1 Peter 2:9.
We sometimes sing our Praises and we learned the song "Dare to be a Daniel" (verse by verse) which we counted for praise and ponder.
We started a Bible Study book over the summer and so we did that for Bible time until CBS started then we finished it up for our Ponderations.  And now we've re-begun the Catechism for Young Children. We started this a few years ago but never made it through. Gene and I felt that we needed to try again. This will also keep me free from looking for new things to ponder for a little while.
(those colored links will take you to a YouTube video and a Catechism website so you'll know what I'm talking about - not too very many years ago I'd never heard of such things).

And here's the lowdown on curriculum this year from the School Curriculum Coordinator (that's me too).

Bible & Math

Bible: We finished Volume 2 of the What We Believe Series: Who Am I? And What Am I Doing Here? ; in CBS we are studying Servants of God: Joshua through 2 Samuel.

Math: The bigger children (Ava, Autumn, Elijah, Alex & Brent) are doing Life of Fred. Each one is just where ever they need to be. I had them begin at the beginning (Apples) last year (except Brent who began this year) and work at their own pace. So some have made it to Algebra and other are in Intermediate Arithmetic books.
The littler children (Lora, Jorja & Jacob) are doing Math Lessons for a Living Education. And Josiah is just learning his numbers with Picture my Numbers!
I just realized that I got all my math books from Queens Homeschooling.

Language Lessons, Literature, Handwriting

Language Arts: Come to think of it, I got a lot of our language arts books from Queens too!
Everyone but Ava is doing their Language Lessons.
Jacob's is modified because he is also doing Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons as well as Donna Young's 133 Manuscript Handwriting Lessons for Beginners which follow that learning to reading book. So, in his Language Lessons I leave out the lessons about letters and we practice singing the alphabet or writing his name on those days.
Ava is on the final book in the Learning Language Arts Through Literature: The Gold Book - British Literature. We are considering letting her take some college courses online next year since she'll have completed what we have planned for her. Otherwise she'll read/study classics not covered already.
Brent is just beginning Cursive handwriting and using the same thing I started everyone else on New American Cursive. The other big kids are supposed to do some of their assignments in cursive. (They need reminding often).
Lora and Jorja are using Pictures in Cursive: Book A. I love the beautiful art and thoughtfulness that Queen's puts into their books. I have the girls read the sentences to me when we begin a new picture (week - but our weeks are wonky), then they copy one sentence a day. When they finish Book A we'll go to Book B.
We are working hard on reading comprehension this year! Everyone (except Ava and Jacob and Josiah) are doing book/literature studies by Memoria Press. Love these books! I have the children
read on day one then do the questions and activities on day two (looks like: Day 1 = Monday/Thursday & Day 2 = Tuesday/Friday).
I bought through the 5th grade level last year and plan to buy the rest this year. It seems to be a good investment.

Science and History

Science: We are still doing Apologia Science.
Ava is in Biology. Autumn is in General Science.
Those 3 boys are doing Human Anatomy and Physiology. And the 4 littlers are in Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day.
Thankfully, I can hand Ava and Autumn their Lesson Plans and theirs is self guided. The boys need prodding but also receive a Lesson plan to complete and work together. They listen to the books author, Jeannie Fulbright, read to them on MP3 (at the computer).
I'm reading Zoology 1 to the littles. We are enjoying learning about birds together. Even the little boys enjoy most of it.

History: The little girls and the 3 boys are continuing The Story of the World. We are still working our way through Volume 2: The Middle Ages. But since we are sticking to our schedule we are making better progress this year. This is still the first subject that seems to get pushed to the side while life happens but this year is going much better.
For Ava and Autumn we concocted our own syllabus for United States Studies in which the girls are to research a time period and turn in a report every two to three weeks. We, the school administration, just had a very lengthy conversation about this today. And are rethinking it. They are doing the work but we just don't think it is cohesive or that they are actually learning much, plus they are not taking advantage of all their resources (like the library), and their work is never complete. So while it looks like a great plan on paper, we may have over thunk it and are researching other options.
Autumn is teaching the little boys their history (go back and read that again! - she's doing a pretty good job). They are doing History for Little Pilgrims. This is one of my favorite books. Cute & easy! You can do as little or as much for each chapter/lesson as you'd like. So, I put everything needed for several weeks, including my lesson plans, into a manila folder and Autumn does the work.
Really takes a small load off of the mother and gives her good reading and teaching experience!

Electives: Rosetta Stone Spanish for Ava, Autumn, Elijah & Alex - each works at their own pace and
completes the supplemental, printable workbooks. (I called with several questions last year and wound up getting a GREAT deal and had another homeschool mother answering my questions. BIG recommendation!)
Hooked on French for Lora and Jorja. We are having a great time learning French together (finally something I know a little about!). (Nana picked up a "3-level program" at a yard sale and brought it to us. So, the price on this was better than great.)
For an easy foreign language program for younger children this is pretty good - not to hard. It says ages 4-6 but I think it may be helpful to either not read at all or be a reader already (know English) before trying to learn this way (unless suddenly your moving to France - in which case this would teach you the basics). It's got the same logo and look as Hooked on Phonics and published by Educated Products, LLC 2006 but I can't find it new online - I'm wondering if they still make it. It is on Amazon.
Ava worked through Health last year and this year Autumn is doing likewise. When Autumn finishes Health I'll have them begin Music together so they can listen to the accompanying CD's together.
Ava also completed Learning How to Learn - just as a guinea pig course. I haven't had time to put to much though into how to use it so I gave it to her. It's all about how to research to find things and use things like dictionaries, encyclopedias, phone books and such. I may use it in parts if I find someone is struggling to remember how to do what they should already know to do and it may come in handy with the little boys as they get older.

The big girls an I also had hoped to do Logic - but that's gotten pushed to the side. It will turn back up somewhere. 

Note that I wrote lunch and breaks into my schedule. I TRY to limit phone-calls to these times as well as my own study time and preparation for our little homeschool as well as CBS and Franklin County Right to Life and an occasional nap. I've tried to train myself to do certain chores (like mop and clean the bathroom) on certain days. But I am a work in progress. This homemaker thing does not come easy to me (cause cleaning is NO fun! - unless you dance or hire a maid - guess I'm gonna be dancing). 

Gene, our principle and eldest student, is half way through his fall semester with Liberty University Online and plans to have his Associates Degree in Religion in his hand next May. Hooray! 

We are ready for him to be done!

So that's what's happening with the students and faculty at BHA!

Love ya'll!

Up till now

I'll try not to overwhelm you with pictures from our recent adventures but I'm really thankful for this phone I didn't want and it's ability to take pretty decent pictures even after being run over by several cars.
I've realized I haven't blogged much this year when Ava decided that she wanted to blog. She has written a "guest post" and may have others as "Miss Modesty." We published her first post this morning. You can read it here. (or just scroll down).
We, as her parents, are VERY encouraged by her heart, her morals, her desire to help and encourage others, her willingness to be prompted by God's Word, and to fulfill those promptings in her own life (and on this blog). And that she worked on her post for several weeks and brought it to us. She might just turn out okay. (sigh of momentary relief)

Since I've started with last things first we'll just keep to it and run history backwards.
Thursday, we traveled a LONG way with the Petitt boys and their fabulous mother to Springer Mountain, where the Appalachian Trail begins and made the 0.9 mile hike up and back. It was a beautiful day for it.

Getting there and back

Ode to Springer Mountain
to the tune of "On Top of Spaghetti "

On top of Springer Mountain

All covered with trees,

Mother lost 15 pounds

when she fell on her knees.

We got to the top

There was a swell view,

Then we went back down.

And all said "phew!"

Group at the top, Trail sign from 1934, The children with Joe the hiker (got to the top with us after walking 5 days from somewhere in North Carolina), and the view from my resting place at the top (rocks make great chairs)

"Wildlife" seen along the hike: Josiah and Jacob; Jorja; Brent (resting with this old lady); Anne examining leaves with the littles (in true homeschooler fashion), the littles: Lora, Chance, Josiah, Jacob, Jorja (who was crying); and Josiah when he got to the top and did what I felt like doing.

Recently Gene had fall break from school, so we all took a break from school. We tried hard not to learn anything but that's just sorta what we do. Like on the Magic School Bus:

Miss Frizzle: Seatbelts, everyone!

Arnold: *Please* let this be a normal field trip.

All: With the Frizz? No way!

And: Miss Frizzle: Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.

So, we went camping (aka: a vacation that is really an extended field trip).

Our Camp Site 

Students finding a crawl-dad, Students at the water-wheel house,
Students with The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Statue, The Parents,
Students discovering a window in the water-wheel house.

Doing Stuff: Top: Hiking
Bottom: Square Dancing and Clogging
(the girls - most of us - joined in before we left)

Cool stuff we saw

The week before that we had school pictures taken - and then we went to Lake Hartwell and took our own.

BHA Students 2014

Those Brown girls

Those Brown boys

My "spare kid" Brent - cutie pie!

Those Brown Darlings

"What a nice little monkey," he thought.
"I would like to take him home with me."

And the week before that we stood on the side of the road for Life Chain 2014 (which we do every year).

The Daddy and some littles and Aunt Courtney

Life Chain 2014 - Lavonia, GA

We've gone on other "field trips" this year (aka: lets get out of the house and go walk around and find stuff = science/history/PE/math).

We've gone to Tugaloo

At Tugaloo 

And we've walked up a billion stairs at Tallulah Gorge.

The gang, the film, Grandfather snail, the view, the suspension bridge, the buzzard 

The gaggle, the turkeys, some plant, nearing the end (after the billion stairs)

And every Wednesday since the end of August (or since Jorja was baby) we've gone to Community Bible Study where we have and are learning LOTS!
Last Spring the Lord called this Mama to be Associate Teaching Director (ATD). The ATD (still has to look at her name tag to remember her title) supports the Teaching Director (which isn't hard since it's dear, precious Cindy), shepherd the Core Leaders (which is only hard because they are her mentors - mothers and grandmothers - but a great delight), welcome visitors (which is fun because she gets to talk about CBS and if she messes up the "first day sphill" they are new and don't know the difference), play nicely with the other leaders (Children's Director Michelle, Coordinator June, and Prayer Chairman Elinor - all sweet, smart and patient - so more delightfulness), and sometimes teach or give the weekly lecture in place of Cindy (which is overwhelming, and lots of work - time and effort and prayer - but has been a great time of being with God and having Him teach me through His Word - and the delivery has been FUN!)
I'm really enjoying this "job" God has called me to this year! I've still got a whole lot to learn but with much prayer and trust God's using "even me." He provides the words and I provide my time and stand there with my mouth open. It's amazing.

"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."

I Thessalonians 5:24

If you'd like to learn what we are learning so far in Joshua and Judges or just learn more about our class you can go to the class website toccoalavonia.cbsclass.org and listen to the lectures. (I've taught Lessons 5, 8 and 9 so far).

And there's this truth:

So, I think your caught up. 

I've not posted about what we are doing in school this year or how I'm managing all nine students plus the other stuff I do. Some of it is still experimental. (And we've just finished week 11) I'll work on that post next. 

Love ya'll!

Miss Modesty - You Are Beautiful

First of all, thanks for reading my blog post, I really hope I can touch a lot of girls with it.

I know in school, and pretty much everywhere else as well, there is a question EVERY girl wants answered. And she doesn't just want it from people who will tell her what she wants to hear. She wants to truly know if she is beautiful. Some girls will even take 'pretty' at the state they're in. Well ladies, guess what, I say you are sooo much more than pretty, you are BEAUTIFUL!

Then you ask, “How do you know? You haven't even seen me.” If you literally asked what was in that quote before you even saw it, then you obviously don't think very highly of yourself. That's sad.=(

The real problem with insecurity starts with you. Yes with you. You are the one who allows people to let you down by telling you you're ugly. And for this you are willing to destroy yourself further by cutting yourself, doing drugs, getting odd piercings, smoking, and even giving your body away.

And you argue, “But, you don't know what I'm going through.” And you're right I probably don't. As a matter of fact, I have no idea what some of you may be going through.

And may I just say something? Killing yourself is NOT the solution! So PLEASE don't even think about it! It breaks my heart to think that girls are going through this kind of stuff all over the world.

Did you know that the Bible says it's not the outward appearance that counts, it's who you are on the inside:

Charm is deceitful,

and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord,

she is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

And again:

Do not let your adornment be merely outward-

arranging the hair, wearing gold,

or putting on fine apparel.

But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart,

with the imperishable beauty of a gentle

and quiet spirit which in God's sight is very

precious.

1 Peter 3:3-4

In Proverbs 31:10 it says that the virtuous woman's worth is “far above rubies.”

So, it's what's inside your heart that makes you a truly beautiful person. And it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks of you, it's what God thinks of you. Did you know that if you have been saved and born again into the family of God, the King of Kings, then you are his daughter and are a joint heir with the Prince of Peace (Romans 8:12-17). In case you haven't caught on yet, you my friend are a PRINCESS! Yay! You are a princess, a daughter of the one true King and you wear an invisible crown on your head. In God's eyes you are the most beautiful thing He ever created.

If you're now saying, “But, I'm not saved, so, how could I possibly be a beautiful princess?”

It is SO easy!

All you have to do is ask God, your heavenly Father, to forgive all the sins you ever committed. And He can do it too. Ok, if you're a big girl and know your ABC's, then all you have to do is remember:

A= Admit you're a sinner.

B= Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He came to earth to die for you because He loves you.

C= Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved.(Romans 10:9)

And that's it! If you can do that, then you can know for a fact, and know in your heart that you are a princess, and that there is Someone who thinks you are beautiful. So, when someone treats you badly, or calls you names, you can turn the other cheek; because the reason they're treating you that way is most likely because they are trying to make you feel as miserable as they do.

So remember that you are beautiful and that God and some weird homeschooler thinks it of you.=)

If you have any questions or topics for upcoming blog post, please type them in the comment section below.

In case you are a bookworm (like me) you can check out these cool books at a bookstore near you!

So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore

Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy

Beautiful Girlhood by Karen Andreola

The Holy Bible by Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit;)

Music Freaks:

More by Matthew West

Something Beautiful by Newsboys

More Beautiful You by Jonny Diaz

What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction

Tell your friends! I'll do my best to blog every Saturday!

Melon Semper (Friend Always),

Ava Brown