Regina (7th) is our lone middle schooler this year. At St. Augustine's, the Middle and Lower Schools cover American History in the Modern History year. St. A.'s will also teach Literature, Composition, Taxonomy, Latin and, Schola. This is the grade St. A.'s students transition from one day a week in Lower School to two days a week in Middle School. They've hit the big time. :)
Regina will finish Saxon 65 at home and move into Saxon 76.
For her first year of Confirmation preparation, Regina will read St. Patrick's Summer A Children's Adventure Catechism, A Philidelphia Catholic in King James Court and learn the Friendly Defenders Cards. These materials make an enjoyable beginning apologetics course.
Dominic (5th) will begin Lower School!!!! His St. A.'s year will cover American History (which includes a great deal of literature and geography), Latin, Bible, Life Science (loads of hands-on activities) and, of course, Schola. I think he has had his backpack ready to go for months now!
Dominic is on the young end of the age range for Lower School and still struggles with fluency in his reading. This will be a challenge for us, so he and I will be working closely together to accomplish the work.
At home, Dom will finish Seton Math 4, map skills, Seton English 3 (I think this is one of their best books from a busy teaching mom point of view) and Handwriting. We have a very, lonnnggg, list of read alouds that correspond to our history and science.
Come to think of it, this is Maria's (3rd) curriculum as well. She won't be doing Latin with Dom, and she will be in Seton Math 3 but everything else will be together. Dominic and Maria are nearly at the same level in most areas so grouping them makes sense and neither of them likes to work alone.
I will be using the Baltimore Catechism with all three of these children.
Schooling less independent students isn't always very linear. Moms attention gets diverted to a broken washer, a sick child or untangling an insurance problem requiring valuable time on the phone. Although I love my lists and checking the boxes, I do endeavor to let our interests go down a rabbit trail when a child indicates a desire. I have even enjoyed a little deviation from the plans on occasion. My main goal for this year is consistency but to use the inevitable real life distractions as a teaching tool when possible as well. And not to begrudge those rabbit trails. :)
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