No name

I have just finished planning the school year for my 5th and 8th graders using the new CHC Lesson Plan Guide for the Middle School Years, and I have never had such a productive and enjoyable time of it! Normally, I like to plan, but there never seemed to be enough time or information in one place to do it effectively or efficiently. I prefer a customized curriculum for each of my students, emphasizing their particular interests while shoring up their weaker subjects. With six students alongside little ones, planning the school year's curriculum is a very time-consuming process. CHC has made all the difference for me this year.

The Lesson Plan Guide is just that–-a complete guide to designing your student's studies for each of the middle school (grades 5-8) years. There is structure within flexibility, and many options to appeal to a diversity of students with different gifts and talents. This is not a "school-in-a-box" that you can open and immediately put to work. You will need to spend a few hours for each grade level, looking over the courses that are detailed for you, and considering your student. But, this investment of a few hours will provide you, as the teacher, with a firm overview of the path you will take to meet the goals at the other end of the school year. Having that "big picture" helps tremendously when motivation lags. Using the CHC Lesson Planner (reviewed elsewhere) will simplify this customization further as they were designed to be used together.

Each of the four years is laid out with a plan for core subjects, non-core and elective subjects, enrichment materials, and parent resources. Sample schedules for each grade level are provided as an example of a balanced workload for a typical student. Unique to CHC are the Independent Study Charts that show the student which material he should be able to work on without direct teaching. Six detailed hands-on student courses are provided for up-to-date, beautiful Catholic textbooks in the areas of history, virtues, and Church history. As if that weren't enough value for the money, the Guide also offers wonderful teacher resources that provide the "what-you-need-to-know-to-teach" writing, science, and world history at these grade levels. Several authors contributed these resources, and the different approaches to these subjects are refreshing in their variety.

CHC has managed to produce a wonderful plan for middle-grade students that features the best characteristics that we have come to expect from them:

do-able projects that the children both anticipate and cheerfully complete;
a unique hands-on approach to most subjects that truly engage the student on several levels;
an underlying structure that the teaching parent becomes familiar with as the year goes on;
a progression in critical thinking, the ability to work independently for longer periods, and solid academics at a comfortable pace as the years pass.

All in all, this book is one of the best investments available for a Catholic homeschooling family who prefers to individualize their student's curriculum, within limits, while providing a thoroughly Catholic education utilizing multiple methods of learning

This book contains:

Planning Guides:

Fifth Grade: (18 pages)
Sixth Grade: (18 pages)
Seventh Grade: (18 pages)
Eighth Grade: (20 pages)

Hands-On Student Courses:

5th Grade From Sea to Shining Sea Hands-On Study Guide (9 pages)
6th Grade All Ye Lands Hands-On Study Guide (9 pages)
7th Grade "The Virtue Tree" Student Course (44 pages)
7th Grade "Timeline of the Republic" Guide (19 pages)
8th Grade: 2000 Years of Christian History Study Guide (12 pages)
8th Grade: "Timeline of the Ages" (19 pages)

Teacher Resources:

"Jump Start Your Writing" (26 pages)
"Science in a Nutshell" (24 pages)
"World History Timeline" (46 pages)

Perspective:

Catholic

Reviewed by:

Susan Kalis

First reviewed:

8-23-05

Belles On Their Toes

Author(s):

Frank Gilbreth

Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Number of pages:

240 pages

1950

ISBN:

9780060598235

Publisher:

Harper Perennial (2003)

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

History

Resource Type:

Book(s)

DVD

Review:

This sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen is, if anything, even more hilarious. Both share a realism that only a true story can acquire. After Frank B. Gilbreth's death, his wife Lillian takes over his business as an efficiency engineer, traveling to conferences and teaching students in her home. The 11 Gilbreth children are growing up, and manage to find a hilarious situation in each new experiences. As usual, the Gilbreth family faces cigarettes, garden fertilizer, one piece bathing suits, and meetings with the president with equal aplomb and humor. This book is primarily the story of 'Mother', and the Gilbreths after their father's death. I recommend reading it after Cheaper By The Dozen for that reason. Both books contain examples of the prejudices and attitudes of the 'teens and 'twenties, and provide many opportunities for learning experiences.

Video/DVD: This book was made into a movie in 1952. It diverts more from the book than the Cheaper by the Dozen movie, and has taken the form of a musical. It is available on DVD.

Reviewed by:

P.S.

First reviewed:

02/10/2001

Cheaper by the Dozen

Author(s):

Frank Gilbreth

Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Number of pages:

224 pages

1948

ISBN:

9780060084608

Publisher:

Harper Perennial (2019)

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

History

Resource Type:

Book(s)

DVD

Review:

It's the Jazz Age, roadsters are the rage, and an engineer in Massachusetts is raising a vibrant family of 12 children. Welcome to the world of the Gilbreths, where everything comes 'cheaper by the dozen'.

Frank B. Gilbreth originated the science of 'motion study', to improve efficiency. He and his wife Lillian collaborated happily on books, factory layouts, and their large family. This book is essentially a family biography written by two of the Gilbreth children. Uproariously funny for families of any size, Cheaper By The Dozen will be particularly fun for homeschoolers to read. Mr. Gilbreth takes an active part in the children's education; painting glow-in-the-dark constellations on the ceiling and playing foreign language records during 'unavoidable delay' in the bathroom. Nuisance boyfriends, tonsil removal, and new babies are mundane occurrences at the Gilbreth home, and Father uses every event to teach science, and efficiency. The results are predictably hilarious.

Poignant, memorably funny, and always realistic, Cheaper By The Dozen can be read out loud or on its own. It is a genuine experience of life in the early 1900's, with all the attitudes and prejudices of that era, and will be a learning experience for your whole family.

Note: There is an instance of profanity in Chapter 2 which can easily be edited by a proofreading parent.

Video/DVD: This book was made into a movie in 1950 and is one of our family's favorites – a real classic. It is available on DVD.

Reviewed by:

P.S.

First reviewed:

02/10/2001

Thomas A. Edison: Young Inventor

Author(s):

Sue Guthridge

Illustrator(s):

Wallace Wood

Number of pages:

192 pages

1959

ISBN:

9780020418504

Publisher:

Aladdin

Binding:

Paperback

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Review:

This is a fascinating and often humorous story of one of the most renowned inventors of all time. As a boy, Edison was fascinated by the world around him and full of questions about everything. Although he had many mentors as a boy, his first grade teacher reacted so negatively to his natural curiosity that his mother took him out of school and taught him at home. His adventures involving chemistry, trains and printing newspapers make for enjoyable and interesting reading. Edison was clearly a boy of creativity and ingenuity and a positive role model for children of today in sharing Edison's scientific interests and natural curiosity. My six year old boy, in particular, was completely enthralled when we read this story aloud.

Additional notes:

Copyrights 1947/1959. Several later printings.

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

1-4-01

The Chronicles of Narnia

Author(s):

C.S. Lewis

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Review:

This set of seven books has been a children's classic for decades (and will soon be released as major motion pictures). The action is focused on a small group of children from our own world (Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve) who are drawn into the activities of a whole separate world - Narnia. The activity extends from our own world, to Narnia, it's neighboring countries, and even other worlds still. Though it is not strictly a parallel to our own world the author ends up showing us a creation-to-apocalypse view of this other world - and in so doing reveals much about the themes that are seen in our own. By seeing another creation (which is not JUST like our own) we are taken out our own mindset and can understand the motives and the majesty of what it must have been like. Most things in Narnia are just enough different to make us think - but still so full of human nature (ironically even in the talking animals of that world) that it is a fascinating exercise for your mind. Discussions of the events and motivations with your children are like a multitude of grapes ripe on the vine - pick ones here and there - you will never finish them all; even in a dozen readings (like honor, duty, charity, worship etc.). The characters are well developed but not hard to understand. In fact, sometimes the fact that a character is such and such an animal is itself revealing! This is a good fantasy story. And it is interesting enough for you and your children to read, discuss and enjoy together.

Reviewed by:

John Van Hecke

First reviewed:

1998-99

The Magician's Nephew

Author(s):

C.S. Lewis

Number of pages:

202 pages

1955

Publisher:

HarperTrophy

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Review:

The Magician's Nephew, although chronologically first in the series, should probably be read after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.. (Even as children should probably be introduced to the story of Christ and his life before going back to the important stories of the Old Testament).

At first glance, this is a story of magic, drama and journeying to other worlds. Digory and his friend Polly, who live in London in the early part of the 20th century, accidentally discover some weird experiments being performed by Digory's Uncle. Too cowardly to test out his own experiments, he sends them off unwillingly to an adventure in an unknown world.

They find themselves in an enchanted place - a "wood between the worlds" - a quiet, peaceful place filled with trees and pools of water. They soon discover that each pool will take them into a different "world." When they decide to explore one of these worlds, their real adventure begins - and they're in for a wild ride.

The story is, primarily, about the founding of a new world - Narnia. The two children witness its creation and its initial struggles with evil - not unlike those of our own world. Naturally, it presents some of the history that leads up to the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as well.

Like the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, children need not be fully aware of the story's allegorical significance in order to enjoy and benefit from the story. On a simpler level, the story highlights truths about character and consequences that will remain with them for a lifetime.

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

4-21-01

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Author(s):

C.S. Lewis

Number of pages:

189 pages

1950

Publisher:

HarperTrophy

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Review:

This most famous, and probably most beloved of the Narnian tales was the first one written, and probably the best place to start. I have heard that the author wished for children to read this book first and then go back to The Magician's Nephew afterward.

Four British children - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, are taken to the country to live with an old Professor during World War II, as London was quite unsafe for children. The professor is somewhat eccentric, but kind, and permits them to explore his large estate. While hiding in an old wardrobe, the youngest, Lucy, is amazed to discover that there is no back to the wardrobe - as she pushes past more and more coats, they become scratchier and colder and she begins to realize that she's no longer in a wardrobe. She's in the middle of a snowy forest. Lucy has discovered a strange, unknown world where amazing adventures await her and her siblings.

Long beloved by children the world over, this is a tale of innocence, difficult lessons learned, adventure, friendship and love. Underneath and not immediately apparent to children is an allegory. Some truths about our own world can be seen more clearly through a story that takes place elsewhere.

Narnia is in the grip of the White Witch. Although she promises happiness and delightful things, those who follow her are miserable, and the entire land is immersed in an eternal winter - always winter and without Christmas. The mysterious Aslan, a lion who is greatly feared by the witch, comes to Narnia and things begin to change.

Most parents will quickly realize that Aslan is a figure for Christ who saved the world from the tyranny of sin and death (represented by the witch). There are many interesting details that correspond with this allegory. Although I read the series many times as a child, I wasn't fully aware of the allegorical significance until much later. I wouldn't spoil it for children by sitting down and explaining it to them. The Christian allegory will probably be more meaningful if they are permitted to discover it for themselves.

The story (as well as others in the series) is appropriate as a read-aloud even for rather young children and is written at a mid-grade-school reading level. (Strong readers may be interested in tackling it even earlier.) The book is most powerful, I think, when it can be first introduced in the very simple way that young children enjoy such a book.

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

4-21-01

The Horse and His Boy

Author(s):

C.S. Lewis

Number of pages:

224 pages

1954

Publisher:

HarperTrophy

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Review:

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

4/21/01

Prince Caspian

Author(s):

C.S. Lewis

Number of pages:

223 pages

1951

Publisher:

HarperTrophy

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Review:

The four children return to Narnia, but don't even recognize it at first because it has changed so much. They slowly discover that time is different in Narnia from their own world and that hundreds of years have past. Narnia is now ruled by a wicked man who has no right to the throne. Their adventures involve meeting the rightful heir and raising up "Old Narnia" behind him.

The author puts you right in middle of a thrilling adventure; made more mysterious because children now are looking upon their previous adventures as "ancient history". For my oldest daughter, reading this in early grade school kindled an interest in history and a reverence for "old things" that has remained quite strong years later.

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

5-25-05