Stobaugh American Literature: Pilgrims and Puritans

 My Co-op American literature class began last week.  The class meets once a week on Wednesdays for 90 minutes.  We’re following the book and did ‘Of Plymouth Plantation’ by William Bradford.  Last week our focus was on the significance of Bradford’s chronicles.  Our approach is to read, analyze, and then summarize in a paragraph.  This week we finished editing the paragraphs. We made a jump because a friend is going to teach Lesson 2, World Views.

This week, we jumped to Lesson 3 and read Upon the Burning of our House by Anne Bradstreet.  Dr. Stobaugh suggests comparing the poem to the Beatles’s song, Eleanor Rigsby.  I added Jars of Clay’s version of It is Well with My Soul.  We read the poem and listened to both ‘It is Well with My Soul’ and ‘Eleanor Rigsby’.  I added the verse from Job 1:21.  I explained the back story behind the hymn.  We did all of this before we made a comparison chart.  Next week, we’ll write a comparison paper—read paragraph.  All my teens are reluctant writers.  We spent last year just writing.  Now we need to learn how to analyze and distill the work into cogent paragraphs.  I’ll keep you updated about this class.

Let’s minimize AI!

  There have several news articles and opinion articles about the impact of AI on student brains.  Have you read the MIT article?    As a result of this evidence, I’m doing everything I can to minimize use of AI. ( I don’t encourage the use of AI, with the exception of  Grammarly AI , and only for  kids with profound learning differences.) How?  Kids are hand-writing their lab reports, homework, and tests.  We’re collecting data on paper and later creating spreadsheets.  I think we should resume using textbooks whenever possible.  Yes, I’m still using tech, such as slide decks.  But going forward I’m evaluating each assignment in light of these studies about cognitive decline and AI.

American Literature: Stobaugh

 Have you heard of James Stobaugh’s Literature courses?  I think they are terrific.  This year, I’m teaching American Literature with the local Co-op, in order.  (The same kids are taking American History.) The format is to read aloud and write paragraphs each week.  The teens all need help writing.  Literature is daunting.  So, we’re spending 90 minutes a week doing a survey course.  (Any grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure instruction is free.)  BTW, I am a big believer in combining the literature and history periods.  There will be overlap which reinforces both classes.  For example, we did a bit of history about early pilgrims before we read ‘Of Plymouth Plantation’.  I’ll keep you posted about the class.

Build a trip around a book!

 We just stopped at Green Gables in Prince Edward Island.  Yes, they do serve raspberry cordial.  There were many excited little girls.  Why not base a trip around a book, a character, a short story, or a famous person?  One example is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  Visit the village.  Read Longfellow’s poem about The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and visit his house in Boston.  Have you read any of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books?  Her family lived in several house.  Look at this blog post about the author’s vacation to three of those houses.  Here are places with connections to Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Okay, you get the idea.  What is your child’s favorite book?  Where did the author live?  Where do the characters in the book live?  Take a trip!  Think how much more meaningful the book will be.

Teach by subject.

 Does this seem obvious?  Guess what?  It isn’t.  Too many literature, history, and science textbooks are a hodge-podge of topics—many disparate.  Don’t get me started on state learning standards and objectives—especially in Social Studies.  Instead, pick a subject: Early American History, Fables, or  Human Anatomy.  Apologia’s Science Curriculum has dedicated science subjects.  Look at Cathy Duffy’s History & Geography page on her website. I am partial to the Catholic Textbook Project’s History Series.  Kolbe Academy has Primary Literature and Elementary Literature guides with questions and vocabulary for classic literature.  Once your child hits fifth grade, consider Sadler Vocabulary Workshop.  This series goes from A (Grade Six) to H.  See what I’m saying?   Build your curriculum around subjects to create a robust program.

You should teach a Co-op class.

 Do you have a four-year degree?  You should teach a class.  It will stretch your talents.  It will provide experience if you need to work full-time in the future. Your Co-op needs more variety and more instructors.  Most of all, it’s fun.  

I hear you telling me that you aren’t certified to teach.  Yes, I have certifications; I’m not convinced they help.  Many teachers in private schools do not have any educational credentials—just a bachelor’s degree.  Right now desperate public schools are waiving requirements and slapping provisional accreditation on to people with a four-year degree to fill slots.

But, the best teachers care about kids and love their subject.  They get excited about teaching strategies and want to do a good job.  Sometimes they have professional experience they want to share.  But, I’ve seen many newbies with a passion and no experience do a great job.  You have the motivation.  Chances are your kid will be in the class.  You’ll learn a lot teaching the subject.

Here are a few tips.  Pick a class you like.  My friend, Jen, a former kindergarten teacher, is teaching American History for the high school Co-op.  She likes history.  You’ll be more enthusiastic about a subject you like.  At least the first time, follow the textbook.  Go ahead and supplement—but stick to the modules.  Stay one chapter or module ahead.  Tell the kids, ‘I don’t know’ when you don’t.  Go ahead and look up a question right there with the kids.  This still happens to me.  I give the kid my best guess as an answer and tell the child, ‘I’m not 100% certain.  Let me check.’  Don’t try to fake it.  What happens when a lesson is just terrible?  Start over.  Every so often, a lab or activity just bombs.  Start again the next class and move on.  Tell the kids that the lab, project, time-line, etc. was an unmitigated disaster which we won’t repeat.  We’ll go on and make new mistakes.  In other words, be fearless.  Expect both victories and defeats.  Teaching  is probably outside your comfort area.  Good!  This will be an adventure!

Types of Co-ops

  Co-ops vary enormously.  Our Co-op originally met Fridays at space rented from a local church.  The space had enough rooms for several classes, including a nursery.  The Co-op families met after Mass, at 10 am; classes were held until around 2 pm.  Moms taught different subjects based on demand.  This model worked well for kiddos 6-12 years old.  Older teens in the same Co-op met Tuesdays and Thursdays at the library.  Subjects taught varies from Economics to Chemistry.

Another friend attends Classical Conversations, which meets for 24 weeks, one day a week.  (This program can run over $1000.  Other Co-ops divide insurance and lease fees among the members.) Another example is Classical Cottage, a consortium.  This group runs more like a private school, but is oriented to home-school families.   Locally, the scope for each Co-op varies.  Younger groups might run play dates, LEGO clubs, or park days.  Other groups focus almost exclusively on field trips.  

Different Co-ops even teach the same subjects differently.  For example, I teach science classes twice a week.  Class is 1 1/2 hours and includes instruction, labs, projects,  and activities.  Tests and reading are done at home.  Another local instructor teaches using only the textbook.  Still another Co-op nearby meets once a week to do the labs, exclusively. All of the instruction, questions, and tests are completed apart from Co-op.

Ask some questions before you join a Co-op.  What does the Co-op offer? Classes?  Field trips? Performing arts?  Debate?   How often does the group meet? Where do they meet?   What are the parent responsibilities?  What are the fees?  How does your family hope to benefit from a Co-op?  Ask all manner of questions before you join.