If your student can write a five-paragraph essay, use basic grammar and punctuation, recognize abstract ideas, and are able to learn high school–level vocabulary, they are ready for this course. Each week follows a similar pattern of study. Each week starts with a special feature, alternating between historical excerpts, a picture, hymn, or poem, or a Scripture study. Then, on Day 2, students work on grammar and punctuation skills (such as infinitives and antecedents), progressively moving through identifying and applying different parts of speech in context. Diverse types of communication skills are practiced on Day 3 (oral presentations, creating a bibliography page, or Charlotte Mason–type studies: hymn, scripture, biographical excerpt, or picture study). Vocabulary/spelling tasks are taken from the nonfiction selections and Scripture tie-ins. Students will learn passages from the Psalms, the prophets, and the New Testament. On day 4, students will read and engage with assigned pages from the required biography, Life of Washington. A convenient package of the consumable student text and this biography is available. Throughout the year, students will also be assigned to read excerpts from The Gifted Mind (Inventor of the MRI) and The Summit. Students could choose to add these last two books as part of their independent reading assignments. Finally, Day 5 is reserved for review and completion of weekly assignments. Rubrics are provided for grading each writing assignment.
Reading assignments guide students through the Life of Washington, and students will be encouraged to read additional books of their choice, recording these on the provided Reading List chart. While this year emphasizes nonfiction, your student should feel free to explore fiction reading as well.
Students are guided through the writing process incrementally, with tips for summarizing, creating strong writing, formatting a final draft, etc. The composition assignments will help students practice writing historical narratives and definition, persuasive, and reflective (from a personal point of view) essays. Students are led systematically through this process. Writing skills will emphasize nonfiction skills of biography and autobiography. Students will choose their subjects, learn to work from outlines, create cover sheets, and write five-paragraph essays (including biographies). I appreciate the step-by-step guidance in preparation for research writing. For example, the text shares an original quotation, paraphrases it, and then the student practices the same skill. MLA is taught and researching skills are woven throughout. At the end of the course, students will give a biographical and an autobiographical oral presentation.
Lessons take about 50 minutes daily, and this course requires the following additional supplies: 3x5 index cards, a notebook, Bible, dictionary, thesaurus, and independent reading books. The Summit and Gifted Mind are utilized frequently and are recommended for additional reading. Scriptures are taken from the KJV, ESV© 2001, and NIV© 2011.
