Seventh Grade, Fourth Grade, Second Grade, and Kindergarten

2016-2017 School Year Books and Resources

First Son - seventh grade, Mater Amabilis Level 3, Year 2
First Daughter - fourth grade, Mater Amabilis Level 2, Year 1
Second Daughter - second grade, Mater Amabilis Level 1A, Year 1
Second Son - kindergarten, some ideas from Mater Amabilis Prep Level

Everyone
  • Family Read Alouds - I try to choose from a variety of interest levels, alternating a book more for the older kids with one more for the younger ones. Most of the time, I'm amazed at how much they enjoy all of them. 
  • American History - Connecting with History volume 4 - This volume isn't complete, but we're going to start with Unit 5 and work right up to the World Wars. 
  • Ancient History - Connecting with History volume 2. We're going to start with unit 1 and get as far as we get during the year. (See a review I wrote here.)
  • Literature
    • Poetry - We read from a book of poetry once a week, just for the enjoyment of it.
    • Fairy Tales - The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
    • Saint Stories - The Book of Saints and Heroes by Andrew and Lenora Lang
    • Math Stories - PUT MATH STORY HERE
    • Shakespeare - We'll continue to memorize the selections in How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig. Read my review of the book here
    • Copywork - First Daughter (4th grade) has copywork four days a week. Second Daughter (2nd grade) has copywork two days a week. I have created a binder of poems, sayings on virtue, prayers, Scripture, French songs, and other items from which they can choose.
  • Virtue Study and Character Education - daily discussion of a virtue and the prayer from the Education in Virtue virtue cards
  • Music and Music Appreciation (a Listening Loop)
  • Art Appreciation - We'll cover four artists this year. I printed some paintings for each one for picture study and we'll read a bit here and there as well.
    • Botticelli
      • The Adoration of the Magi
      • The Virgin of the Book
      • The Allegory of Spring
      • The Birth of Venus
    • Michelangelo
      • the David
      • Pieta
      • The Holy Family
      • dome of St. Peter's
      • ceiling of the Sistene Chapel
      • Last Judgment
    • Raphael
      • Marriage of the Virgin
      • Saint George and the Dragon
      • Portrait of Agnolo Doni
      • The Madonna of the Goldfinch
      • The School of Athens
    • Jan van Eyck
      • Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife
      • The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin
      • Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (Ghent Altarpiece)
  • Memory Work - Everyone has memory work. We've started doing memory verses together (but each his or her own) during breakfast. Then I work individually for a few minutes with each child three times a week using our memory binders.
  • Faith and Religious Education
    • Prayer table - each child has one day a week to decorate the family prayer shelf
    • Scripture - I read a psalm with the children each morning.
    • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Level II for Second Daughter and Second Son, Level III for First Son and First Daughter)
    • PSR at our parish
    • Children's Adoration at our parish
    • Advent - picture book a day, Jesse Tree, and other activities (See some of our Advent and Christmas activities here.)
    • Lent - Lenten cross, flower prayer garden, sacrifice beans, and other activities (See some of our activities here.)
    • Regular letters to our Unbound friend
  • Practical Work and Handiwork
    • Gardening
    • Baking
    • Sewing (for the girls)
    • Knot rosary (for First Son)
  • Nature Study
    • weekly nature walks
  • Art of Letter-writing - The three older kids will write a letter each week to the person of their choice.

Kindergarten

Second Grade

Fourth Grade

 Seventh Grade
Links to Amazon are affiliate links. Links to RC History are also affiliate links. Many of these books are also available at Sacred Heart Books and Gifts (not an affiliate link) at excellent prices. Any comments or reviews are my honest opinion.