Ninth Grade using a Classical and Charlotte Mason approach
In this lens you will find a list of all the resources we pulled together for our ninth grade year. I hope you find it helpful in planning your year.
The Overall Plan for Ninth Grade
using The Well-Trained Mind and Charlotte Mason
This year has been a leap of faith for us. We were not sure that our plan to use a combination of The Well-Trained Mind and Charlotte Mason's ideas would work for our family but the first semester has been a huge success.We have been following the Well-Trained Mind outlines in our homeschooling for the last few years and have now decided we are much more of a Charlotte Mason sort of family. I decided to make the best of both worlds and use the outline of a classical school but use a Charlotte Mason style for teaching.
I have found the mix a very ideal method for our family.
Classical Education and Charlotte Mason
Are they compatible?
Quote from Susan Wise-Bauer:
"Are Charlotte Mason methods incompatible with classical education? Certainly not; Miss Mason was a classical educator herself, and although some of her recommendations differ from our recommendations, you should always remember that everyone who does classical education (including Charlotte Mason, the Bluedorns, Doug Wilson, Christine Miller, and ourselves) is adapting an old model to a modern context. In effect, we're all "neoclassical" educators, modifying, improving (we hope) and changing the ancient ways of learning so that they make sense for students today."
Link below for complete article
"Are Charlotte Mason methods incompatible with classical education? Certainly not; Miss Mason was a classical educator herself, and although some of her recommendations differ from our recommendations, you should always remember that everyone who does classical education (including Charlotte Mason, the Bluedorns, Doug Wilson, Christine Miller, and ourselves) is adapting an old model to a modern context. In effect, we're all "neoclassical" educators, modifying, improving (we hope) and changing the ancient ways of learning so that they make sense for students today."
Link below for complete article
- "Charlotte Mason and Classical Education"
- Here's the complete article written by Susan Wise-Bauer. (author of The Well-Trained Mind.
Reference Books for this Year
Ancient History
- Tapestry of Grace Year 1
- This thorough plan for history has been the foundation of our history program. We are using the rhetoric stage plan for history as well as some of our literature. I love the structure but also the flexibility to pick and choose how to use the materials in our family.
It does take some planning upfront. I spent a few hours per unit planning out the books and activities that we would include in our study.
The discussions at the end of each week have become something we look forward to. The teacher's notes make a discussion possible even if I haven't read the books.
We don't complete very many of the worksheets provided with the program but I do use the discussion questions as the basis of my son's written work. My son likes to use the notebooking pages from History Scholar to record his studies.
Spine Texts for Ancient History
These books are used for Tapestry of Grace
History extras
- History Scholar
- These are fantastic if you have a child that likes a flexible fill-in-the-blanks type notebooking page.
Literature or Great Books
I started with the list in The Well-Trained Mind and mixed in the plan from Tapestry of Grace and came up with a reading list.
- The Well-Trained Mind
- Source of the reading list
- Tapestry of Grace
- Additional resources
- The Teaching Company
- Excellent source for DVD courses to supplement our literature.
Great Books for Literature
- Bible: Genesis-Book of Job
- Gilgamesh
- Iliad
- Antigone
- Bible: Book of Daniel
- Last Days of Socrates
- Life of Alexander the Great
- Beyond the Desert Gate (Tapestry of Grace literature)
- God King (Tapestry of Grace literature)
- Tales of Egypt (Tapestry of Grace literature)
- Hittite Warrior (Tapestry of Grace literature)
- Twice Freed (Tapestry of Grace literature)
- Caesar's Gallic War (Tapestry of Grace literature)
- Bible: Book of Galatians
- Ben Hur (Tapestry of Grace literature)
- Bible: Book of 1 and 2 Thessalonians
- Bible: Book of Ephesians
Literature at Amazon.com List 1
Literature at Amazon.com List 2
Teaching Company Courses used for Literature/History
- Iliad of Homer
- This course taught by Elizabeth Vandiver really helps with our understanding of the Iliad. We use the book that comes with the DVDs to plan out our reading for each week.
- Books that Have Made History
- Rufus Fears teaches this course that has helped us with our understanding of Gilgamesh, the Iliad, the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible book of Exodus, Pericles, Euripedes, Socrates, Aristotle, the Bible book of Job, the Gospel of Mark, and Confucius.
Literature supplements
When you need a little extra help
Scenes from Our School Year So Far
Science
Ninth Grade-Apologia Biology
We are loving this course and I am learning (or relearning) right along-side my son.
- Apologia Biology
- We are using the book, the companion CD, and the dissection kit from Apologia.
- Dissection kit
- This is a must have for the second semester.
- Slide Set
- We have learned a lot by viewing these under our microscope.
- Biology Learn N' Folder Notebook
- This is a great tool to use with the Apologia Biology. This lapbook sort of product is designed especially for this text and has really helped my son complete the On Your Own Questions and the Study Guide in a way that makes it interesting and the information easy to remember. It is a hit at our home.
- Free Schedule for Apologia Biology
- Free schedule for completing Apologia Biology in one year at donnayoung.org She also has bookmarks with each module's vocabulary on them as a free download. There are also printable lab sheets to go along with the textbook. This is a great resource.
- The Sonlight Ultra Microscope
- We have been using this now for about a year in our home. My boys both find it easy to use and very useful in their science studies. It is powerful enough to use with our biology studies.
- Apologia Biology and Charlotte Mason
- This link will explain in detail how we adapted this textbook into a more Charlotte Mason style of homeschooling.
Science Biographies to go with Biology
Other Supplemental Science Books
Reading these Charlotte Mason style-a few pages a week
Algebra
Math U See
We are finishing up Math-U-See Algebra and then moving on to geometry. This book has been a perfect fit for our family. We enjoy the DVD lessons and the pace at which this book moves along.
I have had some fellow homeschoolers criticize the Math-U-See program but for our family it is a perfect fit. One page per day and we move right through the lessons. I know the boys are understanding their math and I love the DVD for teaching and then reinforcing the concepts.
We actually like using the blocks with algebra and I think for my one son it has made him "see" his math as never before.
I have had some fellow homeschoolers criticize the Math-U-See program but for our family it is a perfect fit. One page per day and we move right through the lessons. I know the boys are understanding their math and I love the DVD for teaching and then reinforcing the concepts.
We actually like using the blocks with algebra and I think for my one son it has made him "see" his math as never before.
- Algebra
- This company is very nice to work with. I always take the time to stop by their booth at our local homeschooling convention and they are very helpful.
- Math Mammoth 1-B
- We are using these for quick reviews and quizzes.
Language Arts
Vocabulary, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, Dictation
We are polishing up our skills in this area.
- Vocabulary from Classical Roots
- Our main text for vocabulary. Each workbook lasts us about a year. We cover a lesson a week. My son completes the workbook pages and then I correct them. We go over any words he missed or was unsure about and I verbally quiz him to see if he needs further review. My older son made flashcards for all the roots but I no longer require the younger boys to do that.
- English from the Roots Up
- We have been slowly making our way through these roots for the last three years. I use only the box of cards and we cover one root per week.
- Institute for Excellence in Writing
- This is the gem of our year. We have thoroughly enjoyed working through these DVD lessons each week. I take the concepts from the DVD lesson and apply them to my son's writing assignments in history, science, and literature.
- Science Roots
- This is a new program for us this year and it has been a little rocky getting started. We have used it alongside the Apologia Biology and have found it very useful with all the vocabulary. I would suggest starting this before you do the Apologia Biology but you can use it side by side. I would also recommend buying the blank card set.
- Spelling Wisdom
- This is also a new program for our family this year but it is a big success. We are using one copywork sheet per week and at the end of the week, I dictate the selection to my son and he writes it down as perfectly as he can. It incorporates lots of different skills: grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and listening. I highly recommend this program.
Language Arts Materials on Amazon.com
Spanish
- The Easy Spanish
- We have struggled with several different Spanish programs before landing in this one. I love the Charlotte Mason approach to learning and my son is making so many connections with this program and is able to have conversations in Spanish now.
- Rosetta Stone
- We have been going through the Rosetta Stone Spanish program for two years but this year it has really clicked and I hear a big difference in my children's confidence in Spanish. I think the combination of The Easy Spanish and the computer work with Rosetta Stone has been a great way to increase their vocabulary and their conversational skills.
Spanish supplements
Art History
- Harmony Fine Arts
- This is my newest year that I have put together for my art and music appreciation program. It will soon be available for purchase on my website.
- Artistic Pursuits Sr. High Book One
- This art program is an option to go along with Harmony Fine Arts.
- Hearts and Trees Notebooking pages
- I am also using the notebooking pages that Amanda offers for her online art show studies. These are a fantastic resource.
Art History resources
These are planned out in Harmony Fine Arts 9th grade plan
Music Appreciation
- Free Harmony Fine Arts plan for music
- I offer my ninth grade music appreciation program for free as a download from my website. This 16 page PDF file gives you a whole year of music appreciation planned out for you. You can see the materials used in this plan below.
Music Appreciation Resources
Want to join a Well-Trained Mind group?
How about a Charlotte Mason group? or Tapestry of Grace?
- Well-Trained Mind board
- These are the boards to read if you are getting started with the Well-Trained Mind method of homeschooling. Lots of answers and ideas here.
- WTM High School Yahoo Group
- This group is specific to high school using the Well-Trained Mind method of homeschooling.
- Charlotte Mason-Ambleside
- This group is specific to those that are using or thinking of using the free online Ambleside Online curriculum for the upper grades.
- Tapestry of Grace Yr One
- This yahoo group is for those that are using or thinking of using Tapestry of Grace year one (ancient history).
New Guestbook
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StephenC
Terrific Lens! Liked the information. Will come again! Posted September 25, 2008 |
Sahamamama
Thanks, Barb, for all your work in putting together this curriculum for your boys. I am LOVING this site & your blogsite! We have 3 girls (little ones), and we plan to homeschool in a WTM/CM/LCC sort of way. You have combined WTM & CM very beautifully! Thanks! Now all I have to add in the Latin. :) -- Sahamamama from WTM Boards
Posted September 05, 2008
Betsy
Barb,
Can you go into detail about how you use Vocab From Classical Roots? How do you schedule that out on a day to day or weekly basis?
Thanks!
Posted May 13, 2008
socksandbooks.blogspot.com
What a wonderful resource. Many thanks for sharing your inspiring studies.
Posted March 23, 2008
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SavvySenseGuy
Wow, a lot of ninth grade resources that can benefit others as well! I salute you in your homeschooling efforts and I can see it has been successful. You, and others who homeschool their kids, might take an interest in online studies for future adult courses. It shies away from traditional studies (like a classroom setting) but still quite similar to homeschooling. You could combine old homeschooling methods with some online studies plan and see how it works. Good job on the lens! Posted March 11, 2008 |
Linda in NM
Thanks--we're looking forward to next year with Apologia biology--you've given me lots of food for thought!
Posted December 20, 2007
