Foundations

Since beginning CC, I have been a Foundations Tutor, and more recently I've spent several practicums as a Tutor Trainer.  I love the Foundations program!  I remember reading Susan Wise Bauer's Well-Trained Mind before I even began educating my children at home.  I thought, "This is what I want.  But how do I get there?"  Two years later, a CC campus launched in our town.

Your Foundations Guide is your best source of information for what you are trying to accomplish.  If you are not reading it, or utilizing it regularly, I challenge you to log off the internet and go do that.  Now.  Read the sections on The Classical Model and The Importance of Memorization.  In the Appendix, read the teaching tips for How to Memorize.  My homeschool materials consist of our Foundations Guide, our Essentials Guide, and a math textbook.  That is all.

I don't have many learning enrichment activities for Foundations because we drill memory work.  Again, we drill memory work.  We spend the best hours of my children's day drilling memory work.  Occasionally, if my children have a huge interest in something they've drilled that week, we will investigate that topic further.  Otherwise, I let my children enjoy the Grammar stage for what it is.  Our educational vision for our children has always been that they will complete CC in its entirety with all the Challenge levels.  Until then, I believe that children should be allowed to be children.  All subjects will be expanded on and taught in the Challenge levels.  For now, my most important role is to help them have pegs in their minds to hang ideas on.  I believe that when you approach Foundations with the mindset that it is cyclical and repetitive, it gives you great freedom in your homeschooling.

My advice to new parents in the program is this:  Drill memory work.  Draw maps.  Read to your child everyday.  Have them read to you.  Do Math.  Listen to music.  Practice an instrument if they have one. Memorize a poem or two.  Let them play and draw and create and solve puzzles.  Enjoy being with them.  Foster a love for learning.  Pray that your children will learn that they have the ability to teach themselves anything.  The end.  It really is that simple.

Timeline --

Veritas Press Timeline Cards

Classical Acts and Facts History Cards

Geography --  I have lots of Geography links because I believe you should draw maps.  And draw more maps.  And draw even more maps.  It's the classical way.

Mastering Geography with Color

Geo-Drawing Camp

Map Work (Cycle 1)

South America (Cycle 1)
 
Even More Map Work (Cycle 2)

Map Work (Cycle 3)

More Map Work (Cycle 3)

History --

History Sentence Lap Books (Cycle 3)

History Sentence Timeline (Cycle 3)

Science --

Edible Animal Cell (Cycle 1)

Detective Senses (Cycle 3)

Math --

Multiplication Drills

Liquid Equivalents

Algebraic Laws Foldable

Latin --

Latin Verb Endings -- First Conjugation (Cycle 2)

Fine Arts Drawing --

Pick and Draw

Abstract Art

Let's Draw
 
Review --

Memory Work Folder

Reviewing with Legos

Reviewing with Pictures

School on the Patio Sliders

Scrabble Tiles