2011/12 Curriculum Choices

I have been doing school since June actually (with the month of July off), but I am just now getting around to writing a curriculum post.  Perhaps it is more of an organizational type post.  I did start back in the summer again this year, but I am planning to do things differently next year.  So, our year will be:

Quarter 1- August-October
Quarter 2- November-February
Quarter 3- March-May
Quarter 4-June-July (vacation)

Now, just for fun (because I know you're all just dying to know), here are the subjects we are studying and who's using what curriculum:

Bible: We are all reading through the Bible with a 90 day overview plan (three days a week).  We are going through the Westminster Shorter Catechism (two days a week).  Kathryne and Charles are completing an Answers in Genesis apologetics course- It All Begins in Genesis (one day a week).  And everyone is doing AWANA.

Literature Unit:
    Kathryne- Where the Brook and River Meet (Anne of Green Gables)
    Charles- Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings (The plan is to do half this year and finish next year.)
    Ashlyne and Rachel- The Prairie Primer (Little House on the Prairie books- I plan to do half this year.)

Phonics/Grammar:
    Kathryne and Charles- Analytical Grammar Season one
    Ashlyne- finish Letters and Sounds 1 (ABEKA)  from last year
    Rachel- I had intended to keep trying to plug along in Letters and Sounds K, but phonics/reading is sooo hard for her still that I quickly reevaluated and ordered her a Spectrum phonics for 1st grade.

Math:
    Kathryne and Charles- Saxon 7/6
    Ashlyne- Saxon 2
    Rachel- Spectrum 1st

Copywork:
   Ashlyne- Happy Scribe copywork
   Rachel- Handwriting Without Tears Letters and Numbers for Me

Science: Apologia General Science- Ashlyne and Rachel are listening to the readings also, but their unit study includes science.

History: Truthquest Age of Revolution III- Ashlyne and Rachel are listening also, but their unit study includes history.

Music: Listening to Classics for Kids each week- choir for Ashlyne, Rachel, and Charles

Picture Study: Studying artist mini post cards- Mary Cassat the first semester and Cezanne the second

Shakespeare: We are moving on from reading from Lamb's Tales and Beautiful Stories to reading the actual plays this year.  We're studying A Midsummer Night's Dream the first semester and Romeo and Juliet the second.  Ashlyne and Rachel listen in, but I think for them, I'm still going to read some of the story versions.

Latin:  Kathryne and Charles are continuing with Latin for Children primer B.  Ashlyne and Rachel watch the DVDs also.

Spanish: Rosetta Stone Spanish only for Kathryne and Charles

Logic: Introductory Logic- only for Kathryne and Charles

Now, I am sure you are all sufficiently thrilled and amazed.  After one full week of regular school, we are on track with our plans. I make that statement because this may be the only time this year I can say that. It is quite a struggle juggling my two more independent learners with my two less independent learners.  And, I think we have quite a few more subjects to cover this year.  Or maybe it only seems that way because some things are separate that were together last year.  Anyway, we shall see step by step and day by day.  And I'm sure that each day we will learn something.  Even if it isn't exactly what I intended.

10 Reasons I'm thankful to homeschool in August

It is that time of year again.  Stores stock up on pens, pencils, and notebooks.  Neighborhood pools close for the year (even though it will still be hot for another two months around here).  School buses begin stopping by my neighborhood every morning again.  Parents begin making comments about how glad they are to be sending the little munchkins back to school all day.

It's the time of year for me to remember once again how thankful I am that we homeschool.  Why?

10.  We can start school on our schedule- not the schedule of someone else.  It is very freeing to begin when I want to begin.  Need to start in July to bring back some order to our days?  Fine.  Need to take August off because of the birth of a baby? Fine.  Want to go on vacation the first week of September?  Great!  It's less crowded.

9.  No new clothes needed.  We can buy clothes when people outgrow them, not because we have to have new school clothes.  Because we wear play clothes everyday, we need fewer "nice" clothes, which means less money.

8.  We don't have stand in line to buy new school supplies- unless we want to.  I will admit that we love to go and pick out a few new things each August when they are deeply on sale.  But, I'm not held hostage to a list that compels me to spend $50 or more on new backpacks, lunch boxes, notebooks, and supplies.

7.  No fears, worries or concerns about what teacher my children will get for the new year.  It's still me, for better or worse. :-)

6.  No fears, worries or concerns about what other kids will be in my children's classes for the new year.  Will my best friend have a new class?  Will I have to be with the school bully?  Will anyone like me?  Never fear.  All your siblings are here.

5. I don't have to pack lunches.  I do this the week my kids are at drama camp in May, and seriously, ya'll, I might have to be instituted for a nervous breakdown if I did this every night.  Maybe it would get easier with time.  But, I'm sure thankful I don't have to do it.

4.  I don't have to get up early.  Call it a flaw in my make up or something, but I HATE to get up early.  And if I had to get up every morning to get five people ready and out the door, I would have to get up early.  I'd probably have to be instituted for that too.

3.  I don't have to go to orientations, open houses, and parent teacher meetings.  Well, actually I could have a parent teacher meeting; but it would just be me talking to myself, so people really would think I was crazy.

2.  I get to do lesson plans.  Call me crazy (again), but that is one of the things I love about homeschooling- the power to decide each year what we are going to study and how we are going to study it.  I love it!

1.  I get to keep these children home with me for another year.  The time flies so fast.  I have two middle schoolers this year.  It seems they were just babies, and I blinked.  God has gifted me with these precious people, and I don't want to waste one day of it by sending them off somewhere else for most of their day.  Are there days when I could cheerfully ring some necks?  Absolutely.  But, there are also days filled with learning and joy and hugs and sweet times.

And for that I am truly thankful that we homeschool.

Review of Unveiling the Kings of Israel from New Leaf Publishing

This beautiful, hardcover book from New Leaf Publishing company presents Biblical history in light of modern archeological finds. It includes relevant maps and and drawings and color photos of actual ruins and Biblical objects and places. Chapters cover Old Testament events and leaders such as the flood, Abraham and his family, Moses, and the kings of Israel.  Discrepancies in the Biblical account and archeologists finds are not glossed over but are addressed with intellectual facts and information.

I was very impressed with this book and look forward to using it in our schooling also.  The illustrations are beautiful. The information is factual and relevant.  There are some footnotes to the chapters.  I would have liked to have seen more, so I would have some more detailed references. Several nice appendices include information about the Biblical temple, the Dead Sea scrolls, and chronological charts.  Also by this author- David Down- is The Unwrapping of the Pharaohs which I'd love to get now that I've seen this one.

I received a free copy of this book from New Leaf Publishing.  All opinions expressed are entirely my own.