KONOS Method - Home Crusaders

KONOS

Teaching Methods - Konos
A letter from Wade Hulcy President of Konos

Dear Leslie: I do think it is important to understand that KONOS was written by two homeschooling moms for homeschool. We never had thirty 3rd graders in our home and you probably don't either. As a result, we were unwilling to use the same methodologies that our public and most private schools use, i.e. the workbook/textbook curricula where the child sits in his desk all day long filling in the blanks. We wanted to use the kitchen, flower beds, garage and the world around us as part of our classroom and laboratory. We also wanted to train our children in Godly behavior so they would grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. To do this, my wife, Jessica, and her friend, Carole Thaxton, wrote curriculum for two first graders wrapping each unit around character traits of God.

We study one character trait for a month or two such as attentiveness, orderliness, obedience, honor, trust, wisdom, honesty, resourcefulness and cooperation. At the same time, we integrate into each unit, science and social studies, art and music, great literature and all of our reading, health and safety, and Bible. Each volume is really a teacher's manual which always includes activities for K-8th grade so you can teach your 6th grader, your 3rd grader and your kindergartner at the same time.

With KONOS, you have the structure of weekly lesson plans including daily activities written as part of each unit but still have the flexibility to tailor your curriculum to meet the needs of your own family. You won't just be doing school at home, you'll be taking full advantage of the opportunity to homeschool, and there is a bigggg difference in the two concepts. We caution parents to examine their goal for their own home school. Is it merely GRADUATION or is it EDUCATION?

The two little guys KONOS was written for as first graders are now almost 22 years old and starting their last year of college! One is in math and systems engineering while the other is in electrical engineering. Example lessons are in the mail to you. Blessings,

Wade Hulcy

Examples may be viewed at the Konos website: http://www.konos.com/obesample1.htm

What is a typical KONOS schedule?
Morning
3R's: Reading from KONOS unit, Writing from KONOS unit, Math of your choice. Workbooks of your choice for language arts or spelling or phonics.
.....Lunch .....
Afternoon
KONOS Activities

Volume I (with lesson plans) Features units on Attentiveness, Obedience, Orderliness, Honor, Trust, Stewardship and Patience.

Volume II (with lesson plans) Features units on Inquisitiveness, Responsibility, Generosity, Courage, Wisdom and Loyalty.

Volume III (with lesson plans) Features units on Cooperation, Determination, Honesty, Self-Control, Resourcefulness, Joy/Cheerfulness.

**NOTE The KONOS Curriculum covers all required elementary school topics for grades K- 8 (excluding math, phonics and upper grade language arts) in the combined three volumes. Buy one volume for all your children to use for at least two years along with math and phonics.

KONOS Kids' Timelines

Timelines are powerful visual tools that:

Provide a framework for history
Let kids "build" history as they learn
Use cut-out figures for hands-on learning
Teach blocks of history: Patriarch period (Bible timeline); Baroque period (Artist and Composer timeline); and Explorers period (Vol. 11 timeline)
Use colorful, memorable symbols, like Luther nailing his theses to door, Bathsheba in a bathtub, Columbus with telescope, flag and map, and Leonardo holding Mona Lisa and paint brush.
Combine all of history (e.g. Squanto of American History living concurrently with Shakespeare of English drama and Galileo of science.)
Are accurately dated
Are laminated for durability

Volume I Timeline ***NEW LIFE LIKE CHARACTERS*** All history lines, plus the figures for 176 people studied in Volume I (Bible characters, Indians, kings and queens, missionaries and more!) Volume II Timeline ***NEW LIFE LIKE CHARACTERS*** Figures only, lines needed. 170 people studied in Volume II (Bible characters, explorers, early scientists, American patriots, and more!) Volume III Timeline ***NEW LIFE LIKE CHARACTERS*** Figures only, lines needed. 122 people studied in Volume III (authors, inventors, Olympic champions, and more!)

KONOS studies one character trait for a month or two such as attentiveness, orderliness, obedience, honor, trust, wisdom, honesty, resourcefulness and cooperation. At the same time, we integrate into each unit, science and social studies, art and music, great literature and all of our reading, health and safety, and Bible. Each volume is really a teacher's manual which always includes activities for K-8th grade so you can teach your 6th grader, your 3rd grader and your kindergartner at the same time. With KONOS, you have the structure of weekly lesson plans including daily activities written as part of each unit but still have the flexibility to tailor your curriculum to meet the needs of your own family. You won't just be doing school at home, you'll be taking full advantage of the opportunity to homeschool, and there is a big difference in the two concepts. We caution parents to examine their goal for their own home school. Is it merely GRADUATION or is it EDUCATION?

*Note- Konos has recently added a new style or version of their traditional curriculum. This new version includes all the books you need and more eliminating the need to go to the library for your materials. Of course it is much more expensive then the traditional Konos materials because you are purchasing all the books rather then using them for free at the library. I see it as a way of them reaching out to the not quite so confident parent who wants to use a unit study type approach.

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