Core D Syllabus

Trinity 2023-24

Welcome to Core D at Trinity! We will have a blast this year working our way through the core subjects: English, math, science and history with a concentration on world geography and culture. We will celebrate our learning with a country fair offering a fun and comprehensive multimedia presentation. Lesson plans will be given for 5 days. On core days, we will utilize games, labs, group activities, songs, and collaborative projects while using our textbooks as foundational learning opportunities. The Book Basket is a Charlotte Mason approach to learning our science, geography, history, and culture while strengthening our ELA skills through reading, listening, summarizing, narration, and note taking. Titles are provided for multiple resources across the curriculum and form a backbone for discussion and foundational learning. You may dive as deep or wade as shallow as you would like each week in our Bible, culture, geography, and history. Oftentimes science is intermingled, and ELA is always a key skill utilized. Horizon 4 is a strong comprehensive approach to math, with review built into each lesson throughout the year. Lesson plans are provided in Mellow Yellow Education platform.

Books needed:

Math: Horizons Grade 4, August 2020 Printing TE: ISBN 978-1-58095-994-0; Student Book 1: ISBN 978-1-58095-986-5, December 2020 Printing; Student Book 2: ISBN 978-1-58095-987-2, April 2021 Printing

Learning Language Arts through Literature, 3rd Edition Orange Student Activity Book with Teacher's Edition and novels: The Boxcar Children (Book #1) by Gertrude Chandler Warner;
Wilbur and Orville Wright by Augusta Stevenson; Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin By His Good Mouse Amos by Robert Lawson; The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

My Father's World: Exploring Countries and Cultures, 3rd Edition: Student Sheets and Teacher Manual, Rand McNally Classroom Atlas, Passport, Flags of the World Sticker Book

BJU (Bob Jones University Press) Science 4, 4th Edition Homeschool Kit or Activity Manual, Text, and Teacher's Edition

Daily Bible reading and weekly verse memory will be provided. Core Days will include Biblical Integration across subject areas. Feel free to enhance and challenge your learners in each area of study. The beauty of homeschooling is that your family can grow as the Lord leads and you see fit. Core will provide the foundation for learning and often we will get messy and be loud and enjoy our friends in the process. 

Most weeks we will follow along the curriculum during class meetings. Math and ELA will be completed as specified in texts while also using games and group activities, but science and history most often will utilize labs, videos, etc. to accomplish our learning goals. Ask your child what we did in school each day!

Please send your student to school each day with a healthy snack, plenty of water, and packed lunch. Please save candy and sugary and colorful drinks for home. If your child has allergies, please let me know as soon as possible.

Backpacks should always include class binder (1-1 1/2”) with notebook paper and labeled tabs: ELA, Math, Science, History (sub-sections: World, North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Antarctica, Asia, Australia), Bible, Paper. Bible, Science text and activity book, Student sheets, classroom atlas. Math workbook for fall semester will use the first workbook; spring semester will need 2nd workbook. Fact cards can remain at home but please send in the fact sheets included in the workbook. I have extra meeting forms if you did not purchase the meeting book. Pencil pouches are useful for keeping pencils, erasers, pens, colored pencils or crayons or markers, scissors, glue sticks, and post-it notes. I have rulers and clocks in the classroom. 

Please make sure your child is prepared each day for class. It is a large class and I plan to teach the entire time I am able. If one child doesn’t have texts or activity pages, that requires time spent making copies during class time and we do not always have access to printing or copying during school hours. There are many projects and many optional activities to complete (or skip, depending on your preference!), so please let me know if your family needs pacing adjustment. 

Mellow Yellow Education is our online platform for communication, lesson plans, grading, etc. Although there are no formal “grades” for this level, occasionally there could be an assignment to submit that will receive a number or letter grade or written feedback. You can visit www.mellowyelloweducation.com. Click “Student Portal” on the top menu and watch the video to walk through how to create an account and sign in. A mail icon at the top toolbar will allow you to privately email me at anytime. If you have a blended family, you will need to add extra contact information to Active or MYE accounts. Active and MYE self-populate email addresses once registered, and most info for class will be posted through these formats. 

My goal this year is to provide your precious child with the tools and skills with which to grow and develop academically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially while you are away (and to have fun, too!). I have been teaching in a variety of classrooms for 30+ years, so if you or your child has a need, let me know. I may be able to help. I’m so happy to partner with you in your child’s education this year!