Greene Fields Bahá’í Academy...

Why We Homeschooled...

First and foremost, homeschooling requires mutual dedication and respect between the educator(s)/parent(s) and the student(s)/child(ren). Our schooling included Math, Science, Social Studies, Writing, Physical Exercise, Study Skills, Recreational Reading, and Fine Arts. Our educator/mother investigated and planned topics that grouped our core subjects together. She planned one quarter at a time. She planned the lessons around themes during the quarter.

The times listed below were a guide and not followed rigidly. For students who supplement with classes outside of homeschooling, time slots can be substituted. The techniques mentioned can be adjusted to suit the age or "stage" and ability of the student. We aimed to challenge ourselves right up to the point of frustration.

We allotted one hour for our "core" subjects, but the assignments were actually designed to use up only 45 minutes. If the assignment was especially difficult, we used our extra time to stay "on-task;" if we finished early, we utilized our remaining 15 minutes for snack or bathroom breaks, stretch breaks, set-up or clean-up, make up work, or free reading (usually articles on the Net, see "Educational Sites").

6:30-8:00: Performed ablutions, devotions, morning prayer, and breakfast (usually hot) before school. Evaluate the days planner, chores, and events. Experience proved that when we knew beforehand what was expected of us, we were better able to manage our time and faced each of our tasks with success.

8:00-9:00, Math. Over time we discovered that we functioned best when we tackled our subjects in order of most difficult to least difficult. We found dice games, card games, dominoes, games of strategy, background classical music, flash cards, math-fun worksheets, math puzzles, math mazes, and math formula posters to be of invaluable assistance to building math skills.

9:00-10:00, Science. We were assigned ability-appropriate science books; we read approximately one chapter per week, answered questions and looked up vocabulary words daily, summerized and then tested on the chapter. We utilized space in our basement for biology lab work, chemistry lab work, experiments, and making models.

10:00-11:00, Social Studies. We found atlases, globes, maps, and geography quizes on the net to an invaluable aid to building social studies skills.

11:00-11:30, Writing (Part I). We wrote creatively after a 5 minute language arts activity. One of our favorite language arts activities was to study the "Word Power" page from a Readers Digest magazine, explore their meanings and make up sentences as they applied to our life. Another favorite activity was to listen to a classical music selection with our eyes closed, and write a story about what we visualized. Other activities included shaping things with clay, water coloring a scribble, listening to a news or educational channel, hearing the start of a story, listening to a poem, and listening to nature. These activities were great inspirations that aided us in writing creatively, expressing ourselves freely, and expanding our vocabulary. There were no rules and no corrections to this expressive exercise.

11:30-12:00, Writing (Part II). For our Current Events writing, we explored encyclopedias, news and educational channels, newspapers, magazines, and the internet. We included a grammar focus and we wrote about the events we discovered. We focused on the different types of sentences, sentence purpose, sentence diagramming, and the many types of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. We used to have a spelling focus until it became no longer age-appropriate. We wrote appropriate responses to our discoveries in such formats as a letter, a follow up "interview," a compare/contrast, a narrative, a poem, a monologue or dialogue, a description, a report, a "recipe," a review, or summary.

12:00-1:00, This time was set aside for performing ablutions, reciting the noon prayer, and eating lunch, which rejuvinated us for the rest of our day. We performed physical exercise after we ate. Physical exercise included, but was not limited to,



Biking, Blading, Skateboarding, Softball, Baseball, Kickball, Basketball, Four-Square, Soccer, Swimming, Bowling, Dancing, Badminton, Ping Pong, Volleyball, Gardening, Watersliding, Aerobics, Gymnastics, Weight Lifting, Calisthenics, Hiking, Walking, playing catch, playing at our local park, zoo, or ball fields, or mowing the lawn.

1:00-1:30, Study Skills. We researched on-going projects (or topics) for two weeks, accumulated information on 3x5 cards, prepared a report, created visual aids, and presented our report in various forms at the end of our two-week period. Presentation forms included reports, diagrams, "t.v." scrolls, murals, a created board game, demonstrations, and plays.

1:30-2:00, Reading. We wound down our academics with recreational, uninterrupted reading. All noises were stopped and even our educator(s) read as a good example. We tribute our success in reading and writing to the module format we learned from "Success in Reading and Writing, A Textbook Concept of the Future," by Anne H. Adams and Elisabeth L. Bebensee through Good Year Books, Glenview, Illinois, 1983. This was a very effective program for us. Our educator/mother checked out more books than we could actually read, so our house was always full of books. The titles of books always changed, so there was always something of interest to look through. We found it effective to "mark" an index card or reading log with stickers "earned" to encourage young children to read.

2:00-5:00, Fine Arts & Electives included a minimum of 30 minutes each of at least two of the following:



Religious Studies, Music Lessons (guitar, piano, drums, trombone, violin, French horn, recorder, choir, choir bells), Music History/Appreciation, Amerindian Legends, Latin, Spanish, German, Coloring, Drawing, Water Coloring, Stained Glass, Acid Etch, Weaving, Knitting, Crocheting, Sewing, Tie-Dyeing, Beading, Astrology, Astronomy, Bike Safety, Baking, Clay Modeling, Poetry, CPR Training, Map Skills, Geography, Water Conservation, Ecology, Backyard Habitat Building, Mental/Physical Health/Self Esteem, Ham Radio, Chess, Backgammon, Jigsaw Puzzles, and Bird Watching. Usually these activities carried over into the evening.

5:00-7:00, Having dinner, and cleaning our shared areas together each evening, enforces a strong sense of family, encourages family time, and enhanses self esteem and family pride. We also use this time to plan future events and activities. We have also discovered that our family maintains higher organization if young children bathe/shower in the evenings. It also aids the child in calming down.

7:00-10:00, We use this time for our evening devotions, topic discussion, playing music, and continuing art begun earlier in the day.

Class Ethics

1) HONESTY: knowing that honesty is a necessary attribute for a good character and effective leadership;
2) SERVICE: being aware of the fact that true happiness comes only through helpful service to others;
3) INDUSTRIOUSNESS: knowing that real progress can be achieved only if the mind is alert to comprehend and the hands ready to perform individual and community tasks;
4) HUMILITY: being convinced that true humbleness of spirit is the only proper attitude to maintain in our relations with others;
5) JUSTICE: believing that it is right and proper to be just and fair in our dealings with our fellowmen; not to condemn one without giving him a chance to defend himself; to consider all factors before forming an opinion of another's motives, or before passing judgment on his actions;
6) COOPERATION: realizing that we must work closely and harmoniously with others in this day of highly organized social and economic endeavor;
7) RESPONSIBILITY: assuming always full responsibility for our actions, and accepting opportunities to fulfill our social, economic, and moral obligations;
8) CHARITABLENESS: being over tolerant, generous, and considerate in our relationships with others; and courteous, gentle, and kind in our attitudes and actions toward our fellowmen.

Class Rules

1) Be ready to learn and take pride in your work. Perform to your best ability. Always have something to read for DEAR, (Drop Everything And Read).
2) Be obedient to all reasonable requests.
3) Help others learn by being quiet, staying in your seat, and cooperating.
4) Show respect for your classmates, teachers, visitors, and your school.
5) Keep our room and school clean and organized.

Yearly Schedule