Through Golden Windows

This is a set of books published by the wonderful Grolier company in the late 1950's/ each volume contains stories centered around a particular theme.  We bought our beloved set from a used book store in Oak Ridge, TN several years ago. Two of the volumes deal directly with American History, including stories about the great explorers.  We have brought these volumes down to the school room and we're making good use of them.

This year with Virginia's history work, we are taking a very unique approach. We are reading and reading and reading some more--a textbook, story books, and  biographies (including some that Michael had bought many years ago for his nephews).  We are acompiling a notebook of work as well:  copywork, artwork, maps, and so forth completed by Virginia will give her at the end of the year almost a scrapbook. with her History projects.  I love the notebooking method of homeschooling, and think it can be adapted successfully with almost any curriculum or learning styles.

Some thoughts about A Beka:  their product is unbeatable in quality of teaching and organization. I have just never seen anything better.  But I really missed doing  the work with the kids like we did when we first started. This year, I took Virginia out of the A Beka program.  We have a very strong collection of curricula from which she is working--we returned to Modern Curriculum Press for some items for one last year. I think we will return to A Beka, at least in math and science, next year.  But I have to tell you., returning to working with Mom has brought us closer together.

I'll give an update on the boys next time.