The Basal Method

The Basal Method

"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it."

                                                                     -Albert Einstein 

In education, we tend to get so preoccupied with what children are supposed to learn. Sometimes we forget what they are supposed to be ... Kids. That's what. Kids are creative. Kids are curious. Kids are imaginative.  The great thing about kids is that we don't actually have to force them to learn new things. Quite naturally, they want to. Us adults? We just have to open the box.

After we pore over all of the developmental theories, the educational philosophies, and the many methodologies of education, we notice that most of the literature has three primary things in common:

1. We must consider the "whole child" in education. Not only his mind, but his body, his spirit, his personal interests and abilities.
2. We must consider the environment in education. The child's surroundings must stimulate and foster the curiosities and imagination of childhood.
3. We must consider the developmental stage in education. The child's age and maturity must complement the means of teaching and learning. 

The "whole" child, the environment of the child, as well as the maturity of the child must be addressed if we truly want a great education for our kids. Basically, we are seeking to determine  the following: What to learn? When to learn? How to learn? Where to learn? Why to learn?

The Basal Method helps us answer those questions. It serves as a framework, a guideline, an outline. With lots of wiggle room. Literally. Kids need that and frankly, so do we. Otherwise, we get the b-word.(bored, of course) Each subject has a theme or basic concept on which to concentrate for each level. How you choose to cover that theme or concept is entirely up to you. Or the child. The teacher or parent is responsible to provide books and materials to complement the themes or concepts. 

If you think the Basal Method sounds kind of vague, that's because it is. This vagueness is intentional. The generality of the subject matter allows for depth. In other words, kids can "get into" the subject matter, rather than skimming along on the surface of dozens of topics. Immersion in limited topics during a course of study helps information and concepts to "stick". 

The "Jack of All Trades, Master of None" brand of education does not instill a habit of life-long learning in our children because it does not allow them to foster individual interests and abilities. If we want to inspire innovation and creativity, then we must allow it. Rigid and fact-saturated curriculum and workbook pages may very well help children to acquire basic skills, but they do not help children acquire ingenuity. 

The Basal Method is a seven-level primary educational approach that places the development of a habit of life-long learning as its over-arching goal. It is influenced by the unschooling movement, classical education, international education, and progressive education. Language, Literature, History, and Geography are covered in one cohesive lesson. Math and Science  are covered in another. Each lesson should last no more than 1 hour. 

Levels 1-7 progress from age 7 to age 13; therefore, it covers the elementary and middle school years. The frequency of the lessons is up to the user. The Basal Method highlights the core concepts and  the basic knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire upon entrance into high school. But, unlike traditional schooling, concise lessons leave ample time during the day for kids to pursue individual interests. That leaves the rest of the day open for play, for reading, for music lessons, for art-making, for nature-exploring...for Lego constructing. 
 

The Basal Method is geared toward homeschoolers. Mostly because homeschooling families have more autonomy over their learning than those with students in the school setting have. However, the Basal Method could be implemented in a cooperative, private or charter school as well. The following is a synopsis of the Basal Method.

Prior to Level One, or age 7, formal schooling is not necessary. This absolutely does not mean that young children should not be learning. They are. They are learning something all day, everyday! So, parents and teachers just need to ensure that children are learning the good stuff. This is the perfect time for your child to learn a secondary language...after all, she is still learning her primary one. Limit the screen-time (or skip it altogether). Read to your child. A lot. Go outside. Explore your backyard, your neighborhood, your town. Listen to live music, cook meals together, create artwork. Look at great art. Talk. Play. 

 THE BASAL METHOD

LEVEL ONE (Age 7)

Liberal Arts 

Language

• Phonics
• Spelling
• Handwriting
• Narration in Primary and Secondary Language*

Literature

• Character Tales #1 

History

• Personal history: Who am I? Where do I come from? Construct a family tree.

Geography

• Where I Live

Math/Science Session

Math

• Place Value
• Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To
• Counting (1's, 2's, 3's, 5's, 10's)

Science

• Plant Classification
• Grow and Care for a Plant. 
• Collect and Sort Plant Matter.

LEVEL TWO (Age 8)

Liberal Arts Session

Language

• Phonics
• Spelling
• Handwriting
• Narration in Primary and Secondary Language

Literature

• Myths and Legends

History

• Ancient (Pre-history- 500 A.D.)

Geography

• Places in the Ancient World

Math/Science Session

Math

• Addition
• Subtraction

Science

• Animal Classification
• Observe and Care for an Animal. 

LEVEL THREE (Age 9)

Liberal Arts Session

Language

• Sentence Structure (Sentence, Subject, Predicate)
• Spelling
• Vocabulary
• Narration in Primary and Secondary Language

Literature

• Fairy Tales and Tales of Chivalry

History

• Middle (500 A.D.- 1400 A.D.)

Geography

• Places of the Medieval World

Math/Science Session 

Math

• 2-Digit Addition
• 2-Digit Subtraction
• Time

Science

• Earth - Seasons, Weather, Time, Phenomenon
• Space- solar system
• Collect rocks & Soil for analysis

 LEVEL FOUR (Age 10)

Liberal Arts Session

Language

• Sentence Structure (Parts of Speech)
• Spelling
• Narration and Oration in Primary and Secondary Language*

Literature

• Character Tales #2

History

• Renaissance/Reformation (1400 A.D.-1600 A.D.)

Geography

• Places of the Renaissance World

Math/Science Session

Math

• Multiplication
• Division
• Measurement

Science

• Air & Water 
• Properties & Water Cycle
• Environment/ Natural Resources

LEVEL FIVE (Age 11)

Liberal Arts Session

Language

• Grammar Rules
• Spelling
• Vocabulary 
• Dictionary/Thesaurus
• Narration and Oration in Primary and Secondary Language

Literature

• Adventures Around the World

History

• Romance/Revolution (1600 A.D.- 1800 A.D.)

Geography

• Places of the Colonial World

Math/Science Session

Math

• 2-Digit Multiplication
• 2-Digit Division
• Graphs

Science

• Matter & Energy
• Levers
• Weights
• Heat
• Motion

LEVEL SIX (Age 12)

Liberal Arts Session

Language

• Grammar Rules
• Spelling
• Vocabulary
• Dictionary/Thesaurus 
• Narration and Oration in Primary and Secondary Language

Literature

• Animal Adventures

History

• Modern (1800 A.D.- 1900 A.D.)

Geography

• Places of the Industrial World

Math/Science Session

Math

• Fractions
• Decimals
• Mixed Numbers
• Angles

Science

• Atoms & Ions
• Periodic Table of Elements
• Ions
• Isotopes

LEVEL SEVEN (Age 13)

Liberal Arts Session

Language

• Grammar Rules
• Spelling
• Vocabulary
•  Creative Writing
• Narration and Oration in Primary and Secondary Language

Literature

• Tales of Perserverance

History

• Global (1900 A.D.- Present)

Geography

• Places of the Global Age

Math/Science Session

Math

• Multiples
• Factors
• Prime Numbers
• Squared
• Cubed

Science

• Life Structure and Systems
• Parts of the Body
• Cells
• Digestion
• Respiration
• Circulation

The Basal Method is an overview of the fundamental academic knowledge and skills for students to acquire prior to high school. Of course, if your child wants to "dig deeper" in a certain area, dig away! That is the point. Our children are little plants. Cultivate their interests. And they will grow! To complement the Basal Method, your child should participate in activities and pursuits that he has an aptitude or interest in. After all, learning should last a lifetime. Albert Einstein once said,      "Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it."

*Narration is listening to books read aloud, watching a play, hearing stories told. It develops listening skills.

*Oration is reading books aloud, acting out plays, telling stories. It develops speaking skills. 

Click here for literature suggestions for each level.

Click here for a printable version of the Basal Method.

Click here for literature suggestions of the Basal Method.