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ElCloud Homeschool: Walking In His Ways
Oct. 10, 2008
Do you have a struggling reader?
I have one. He isn't my first to struggle with reading. Each of my children has come to a point where they knew the letter sounds, but could not blend them together. Repeated practice didn't seem to help. It was only frustrating to them, and me. We'd feel as if we were banging our head against a brick wall, so we'd set aside the curriculum and relax for awhile. I'd just resume reading to them, and we'd try again later to work on their word blending skills.
With each child, it eventually "clicked". And when it did "click", they quickly excelled in reading. 9 yo C took a full year longer than her older sisters to reach that point. I had to try new approaches, and continue to remind myself that she would eventually learn to read. Now she can be found reading daily, and often begs me to take her back to the library for a new book.
7 yo J has also taken longer than the first two children. He has reached a point of being able to read the simple Bob books, but still lacks the confidence to apply those skills to more challenging words and books. He is easily discouraged, and I need to be more diligent in listening to him practice reading.
When I saw Tia's request on the Front Porch for several volunteers to review a children's book, I didn't know what the topic of the book was going to be. I thought it would be fun to review a new children's book, so I volunteered. It was truly a blessing to receive the text, and realize it was a book about struggling readers. I read it to myself, and then to 7 yo J.
If your children participated in the TOS Summer Reading Splash program, your children will recognize Splish, the frog who stars in this story.
And Then Mama Said ... It Takes Time To Learn To Read.
Author: Gena Suarez
Illustrated by: Kevin Collier
As a homeschool mother with a struggling reader, I am thankful for this book: And Then Mama Said ... It Takes Time To Learn To Read. Gena's story of Splish is encouraging both to the emerging reader, and the parents.
Splish's mom encourages him that it takes time to learn to read, and everyone learns at their own pace. This lesson is repeated throughout the book, and Splish's feelings about his inability to read will resonate with any child facing a similar struggle. The book will validate their feelings, and show them they aren't alone in their struggle. Splish's eventual success will give hope to beginning readers.
The story also includes gentle lessons for the parents about how to teach reading to a child who is struggling. These subtle reminders for the parents will help ease fears that their child will never learn to read, or that they are unable to teach their own child to read. The book will encourage the parents to persevere, be patient, and not compare their child with others.
And Then Mama Said ... It Takes Time To Learn To Read will be a blessing to every homeschool family, and to every beginning reader. It will especially encourage the child who has struggled longer than others, and is discouraged. Splish's story encouraged both myself, and my struggling reader. It will be on my list to purchase for future students.
Thank you, Gena, for addressing a common area of concern to homeschool families, and for doing it so well.
Look for Splish's story (in e-book and print format) in stores soon.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Jul. 3, 2008
Ending our school year, and planning our next year
Due to our rather long moving break last Fall, we are still finishing up this school year. We would have finished it next week, but our oldest 3 girls went with their aunt to a family reunion at my parents home this week. It was a last minute decision, so we still have 2 more weeks of school when they return this weekend.
I had originally thought we'd have more of July off (that's what you get for planning without consulting a calendar) and that we could resume school at the start of August to get 6 weeks under our belt before the baby is due. But, when I actually looked at a calendar yesterday, I realized that with the extra week we just added on, that would only give us a 2 week summer break. Steve and I decided that wasn't enough. So we're going to aim for starting school again on August 18 or 25, and getting 3-4 weeks of school completed before the baby arrives. Then we'll be able to take a 4-6 week break, and only have to extend our school year a few weeks longer next Spring. We may still finish later than most schools, but we're used to that.
Of course, all that is subject to change. There have been past pregnancies where I was just not mentally up to continuing school in the final weeks. We were using a different curriculum then, though, so we'll see how it goes.
In addition to planning when to start again, and working around the baby's arrival, I've been trying to acquire our curriculum needs for next year. I've been able to acquire several of the books we'll use in Tapestry of Grace from Paperbackswap.com, although we will still rely on the library each week. I also have requested, and will be receiving soon, some early handwriting workbooks for the boys from paperbackswap.com.
A friend loaned us the Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science that we needed for 12 yo A (who will soon be 13, and will be in 8th grade next year). She also gave us a copy of Saxon Algebra 1, although we won't be using that yet. I am supposed to be receiving Saxon 87 for 12 yo A, which we found on the FreeHomeschoolTools yahoo group, but media mail can be so slow.
We are actually using a copy of Tapestry of Grace, year 3, that someone gave me a few years ago. It's not complete, but it has the parts we use most of the time. When we return to this in 4 years, with high school students, we will need to purchase a new set that's complete. We will need those missing parts at that point.
At the moment, each of our children is in the middle of their current math book. We'll have to order math workbooks for 9 yo C and 7 yo J late next Fall, when they move up a level in their Horizons Math. We have the teacher's manuals already, and we have the Saxon texts that the older girls will need when they each move up. I bought Ray's Arithmetic set from a friend last year, and have intended to use it for occasional group oral lessons in mental math. But I haven't yet.
My four students are each working on handwriting copywork we downloaded free from Currclick.com during their free weekly offers over the past couple years. 12 yo A and 11 yo R have graduated out of the italics workbooks we usually use, so they are just using the copywork to learn about traditional cursive handwriting. They are trying to decide which method of cursive they prefer. In the end, their writing may be a blend of the two styles.
A & R are both still in the middle of their Easy Grammar workbooks. We'll replace those when they are closer to finishing them. I'd like to add in Daily Grams, at some point, but will wait until we order the math and grammar workbooks, most likely. Although earlier this week, I was considering supplementing with Simply Grammar again.
I also bought Primary Language Lessons and Intermediate Language Lessons from a friend last month. They are great language arts books with Charlotte Mason style lessons. I need to figure out how to incorporate them into our lessons. The girls are still using Spelling Power for their occasional spelling lessons. We need to be more diligent with that, although the oldest two girls are progressing nicely each year. We also need to work on our writing more this year, as well as the spelling.
The oldest two girls are each still completing their logic workbooks. I'd prefer to replace their Building Thinking Skills books with The Fallacy Detective when the time comes. We'll have to consider that before we make a curriculum order in the fall.
11 yo R is reading the final Christian Liberty Nature Reader. When she finishes it, she'll work her way through the creation science book, It Couldn't Just Happen, as 12 yo A did this past year. She'll probably make that transition this fall. 9 yo C is also working through the Nature Readers. 7 yo J isn't reading well enough for them yet, but will hopefully begin them this next school year. I need to use my Handbook of Nature Study with them more, as we observe the nature around us on our property.
Next year, we will have 8th grade A (13 yo), 6th grade R (11.5 yo), 4th grade C (9 yo), 2nd grade J (7.5 yo), preschool M (4.5 yo), busybody distraction L (2.5 yo), and snuggly baby ? (newborn). Wow! It hardly seems possible that they are all that old.
I still have work to do in planning our year. I need to figure out how to add in the new things we've bought, how to schedule our lesson subjects into each week, and how to develop certain weak areas in each child. But, we're making progress, and we have what we need to begin the year.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Jun. 21, 2008
I wish I had something profound to say ...
But I really don't. Life is good, and ordinary, and we are blessed.
At the moment, my biggest frustration or problem is that my little Persian kittens seem to know what part of the house to "go" in, but rarely "go" in the actual litter boxes. They seem to prefer the floor next to the litter boxes. I should be thankful they are confining themselves to one small area, but I'm tired of cleaning up messes. And we need them to figure it out before we can really sell them. Patience ... I just need more patience.
Not just with them ... but with my kids. Kids who are perfectly normal, and like any other child would rather play a computer game, read a book, or watch a movie than do their chores. They seem to be in a slump, and I don't have as much patience or grace to deal with it as I usually do. Pregnancy hormones and hot humid days haven't helped. They usually do better. I suppose the heat could be affecting them, too. That and the end-of-the-school-year doldrums, most likely.
We only have 2 weeks of school left ... but we won't get much of a break, unfortunately, before we need to start again. I wanted to get 6 weeks of school in before the baby's due, so we can take 6 weeks off afterwards. I'm starting to wonder if it might be better to aim for only 3-4 weeks before his birth, and then just plan to go an extra couple weeks next Spring to finish making up for the time off. And we might end up not taking a full 6 weeks off. Hmm. I'll have to talk that over with Steve.
I probably should also think of ways to make these last two weeks more interesting, to break up the doldrums. I'm afraid I'm in a rut, too.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Jun. 16, 2008
PaperBackSwap.com for homeschool books
I am probably dense, and y'all may have already heard about PaperBackSwap.com, but I am excited about it. A friend of mine just told me about it, and how she was using it to get some of her curriculum needs for next year. I signed up using her referral, and started listing books yesterday. First, I listed my mandatory ten books to get my first 2 free credits (each credit equals one book trade). Today I worked on creating a wish list there, and looking for books that I've wanted to buy. Most of them weren't currently available, so I put them on my wish list. Some were, so I put them on my reminder list to shop from once I have more credits.
But then today, I started listing more books, and I've already got 5 of my books requested. Once I mail them, I'll get a credit for each book. Since I paid for and printed my delivery confirmation at the Paperbackswap.com website, I'll get my credit as soon as my post office scans the delivery confirmation. If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't get credit until the recipient went to the website and marked the book as received.
So, I pay postage to mail out the books I'm swapping, but I pay nothing to receive books that I request from others. I have two books already requested that we will need to use on an ongoing basis for Tapestry of Grace this upcoming school year. Once I receive more credits, I'll be able to get more books. So, for the price of media mail postage, and delivery confirmation, I get books I need sent to me. I couldn't buy a decent copy of most of these books for that price, let alone ordering it from the internet and paying for the book, plus postage.
So, I'm thrilled to get to swap books I'm not using for books that I need! And my girls are excited, too. They have been hovering over me all day long as I list books, look for books, and package books to mail.
The sad part is that I think I've seen this discussed on several email lists I'm on. But I didn't realize it was for anything but paperbacks, and I didn't realize curriculum could be swapped. So, I just ignored it, and didn't even bother to really read the emails. Oh well! Better late than never.
If you're interested in signing up for PaperBackSwap.com and would like a referral, just use my "Email Me" link in the right column under my picture. I'll send a referral to you. Once you sign up, and list 10 books, you'll get 2 free credits, and I'll get 1 free credit. Then every time someone requests a book from you, and you mail it, you'll receive another credit. You can even buy credits for $3.95 each, if you haven't earned any and want a book ... which is still a bargain on many books.
Well, that is the end of my advertisement, but I was excited about how this is helping me, and wanted to share it with others. The more homeschoolers that participate, the more of us that will be able find curriculum to swap with others.
Rejoicing in Him,
April
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May. 20, 2008
The Old Schoolhouse's Summer Reading Splash!
The Old Schoolhouse magazine has a new summer reading program for our kids. You can read about it at their Summer Reading Splash page. And be sure to check the Summer Reading Splash Blog for weekly questions with drawings for a free book, and ideas to encourage our children to read. Every participant will receive their choice of 1 free children's e-book (out of ten choices) at the end of the summer. The program runs May 19, 2008 through July 31, 2008.
And don't forget to keep checking in for Beverly Hernandez' 10th Annual Homeschooling Summer Reading Program. At the moment, it still has information for the 9th annual one last year, but it usually starts June 1, so should get updated soon.
And if you live near a Barnes & Noble Bookstore, your elementary aged children can participate in their Summer Reading Program, to earn a free book.
Or they can participate in Book-It's Summer Reading Program for a chance to win some bigger prizes.
Enjoy the summer, and the reading. 
Trusting in Him,
April
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Apr. 3, 2008
Cure for the homeschool blahs?
Well, we may have found a cure for our homeschool blahs, especially my own. We are working on a project for our homeschool group. We will be having an International Fair, where each family presents a project/report on a specific country.
So, we are happily researching our country, and making our plans. We're still working on our Tapestry of Grace, but it's fun to have another project, as well. Something new and different to work on.
Since I got some great and encouraging comments about overcoming the homeschool blahs, I decided I should post an update about our project that has been inspiring us.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Mar. 28, 2008
Homeschool Blahs Confession
I confess, I've got the homeschool blahs. I struggle with this every Spring. It is hard to push through to the end of the year, at times. Especially when a moving break is pushing the end of the year into the very middle of the summer. And a "maternity leave" next Fall means we likely will not take a summer break at all.
But the other part of the problem is honestly just curriculum doldrums. We've been using this curriculum for 2 years now, and it's no longer new and exciting. I don't have any new and exciting curriculum, and I'm not planning to buy any new and exciting curriculum, either. Oh, I started to do some window shopping and dreaming, but I know that isn't the real answer to the problem. Every new and exciting curriculum becomes familiar and bland after awhile.
It's just a matter of pressing on. And sometimes putting one foot in front of the other is just "blah". The normal struggles with reluctant workers doesn't help promote excitement, either. I need a new source of inspiration, to be honest. But I keep looking at the inspirational homeschool books on my shelf and thinking ... read that one already, just finished that one, don't feel like reading that one.
I guess it's time to just "do the next thing" as Elizabeth Elliott teaches, whether it's exciting and fresh, or not. And to discipline myself to continue to do it well, rather than giving it the half-hearted efforts I've been giving.
I wonder if it would help my children to know that Mommy gets the homeschool blahs, too? That teaching them and planning school and grading school isn't always fun and exciting for me, either.
Does anyone else have the homeschool blahs? How do you deal with them, and overcome them?
Trusting in Him,
April
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Jan. 2, 2008
Free Sled Dog Lapbook at Homeschool E-Store this week!
Dec. 4, 2007
Christmas unit studies and activities, most of which are free ...
We just started school again yesterday. I was sharing with my friend Shurleen about the Grinch unit study/lapbook we're working on, and then talking about what we might do in the next two weeks. She asked me to put together a list of different Christmas ideas and resources to share. So, here it is:
FREE THIS WEEK : Saint Nicholas Unit Study -- http://www.homeschoolestore.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=8014&&affiliate_id=2089
FREE ALL THE TIME: Homeschool Share Unit Studies related to Christmas
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/christmas.htm
FREE ALL THE TIME: more free unit studies, some of which are wintery
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/Unit%20Studies.htm
This is How the Grinch Stole Christmas Unit/Lapbook we're working on right now. It was free when I downloaded it, but it isn't now.
http://www.homeschoolestore.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=21514&affiliate_id=2089
Read any of the Little House books that has a chapter or two related to Christmas ... Little House in the Big Woods, The Long Winter, Little House on the Prairie come to mind. Or read only the Christmas chapters from each book.
Read Little Women, or at least the Christmas chapter.
FIAR vol. 1 has a unit on Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, the one illustrated by Susan Jeffers. It's a beautiful book!
FIAR vol. 4 has a unit study on Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin ... beautiful book.
You could read both of those books together, even without a unit study by FIAR.
Other FIAR winter books I love, even just to read without the unit studies:
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
We're Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills
Very Last First Time by Jan Andrews
The Clown of God by Tomie DePaola
Cranberry Thanksgiving (and Cranberry Christmas) by Wende and Harry Devlin
Another Celebrated Dancing Bear by Gladys Scheffrin-Falk
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert
Warm as Wool by Scott Russell Sanders (my very favorite!)
The Wild Horses of Sweetbriar by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Hanna's Cold Winter by Trish Marx
Names of Jesus Unit Study
http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1679.html
MORE FREE CHRISTMAS lesson plans
http://www.easyfunschool.com/IndexChristmas.html
including the Polar Express!!
http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1919.html
Here's a FREE unit study of How the Grinch Stole Christmas that a Homeschool blogger, Homeschoolingmommaof4, created and is letting people download:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolingmommaof4/424661/
She also has these entries about other homeschooling Christmas activities:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolingmommaof4/Christmas
Hopefully you'll find some activities or unit studies to use with your kids this month. Enjoy!
Blessings,
April
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Aug. 21, 2007
This counts as school, right?
My kids are distracted with making and testing paper air planes today. I send them back to their math and soon another one flies by my head.
On the bright side, 6 yo J is tossing around the word "aerodynamic" and asking me how to make his more aerodynamic, so he can beat his older sisters.
So, science? Math?
It may count as learning, but they still have to do their math.
"That's enough paper airplanes! Back to your math!" (the Mom says crankily for the umpteenth time.)
Blessings,
April
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Aug. 14, 2007
ElCloud Homeschool Open House 2007
Tiany is hosting a Homeschool Open House, complete with door prizes. Go to her blog to view all the homeschoolers participating in the Open House, August 1 - 15, 2007.
My name is April, and my husband, Steve, and I have been homeschooling for ... let's see ... 7 years, plus the preschool years of my oldest. My oldest is going into 7th grade this year. I have 6 children, and this school year, I will have a distracting toddler mess maker, an active preschooler, a not yet reading 1st grader, a 3rd grader, a 5th grader, and a 7th grader.
We are a relaxed homeschool. We don't follow strict schedules, and we're pretty flexible. Usually, my children get up, eat breakfast, and start into their math. Sometimes this is delayed for the younger students, who like to watch PBS while they eat breakfast. The morning is usually taken up with their bookwork, which is very minimal (math and handwriting). When the older girls finish their math, they are supposed to start their Tapestry of Grace reading, science reading, Bible reading, and worksheets or assignments. Then sometime in the afternoon, we might do spelling together. They have a chart of what to accomplish in the week, and it's their responsibility to decide how to break up their reading and assignments to get it all done.
The younger students and I usually tackle Tapestry of Grace reading and assignments in the afternoon, when the toddler is napping. We use Tapestry of Grace very lightly and loosely at their age. And sometimes we revert back to Five In A Row for them, for awhile.
We try to have all schoolwork done by 3 pm so the children can have time to play outside, but there are days that they dawdle with school work and chores and don't get that play time. I just keep reminding them they're making a choice and they suffer the consequences. Some days all school work is done by 1 pm, though. I do hope to be more organized this year, although I think I say that every year.
We are a relaxed Charlotte Mason style homeschool, and we tend a bit toward Dr. Raymond Moore's "Better Late Than Early" philosophy. So, our homeschool will seem light to others of a more textbook or a classical approach. And to those who are solely delight-directed in their homeschool, ours will have more curriculum and structure than they are accustomed to. We fall somewhere in the middle, choosing to use curriculum, but using it in a more relaxed fashion than most. We try to adapt things to suit our family situation and needs, as well as our individual students. Quality "living" books are a staple part of our homeschool, and we are continually adding books to our home library.
Tapestry of Grace is our main curriculum. It provides our history, geography, philosophy and world views, literature, writing, and art history lessons. We also use Horizons Math, and Saxon math, switching from Horizons to Saxon in about 4th grade. We use Italics handwriting workbooks, Spelling Power (not regularly), Reading Made Easy (only until they start reading on their own, then we put it away) ... and we're about to start Easy Grammar for the oldest two girls. For science, we have used children's science books, nature study, and assign reading from Christian Liberty Nature Readers to those able to read. This past year, 6th grade A moved on to reading other books about nature. For the upcoming school year, I intend to have her read It Couldn't Just Happen and other Creation Science books for her science lessons. We will start a formal science curriculum next year, for R and A to do together. You can find our homeschool curriculum plans for this upcoming school year (in an easier to read format) at this blog post.
Most years, I start off with a schedule of how the day should go. It's mostly to assure myself, and the children, that I'm not asking too much of them. We can fit it all in. However, we never stick to this schedule very long. It slowly evolves throughout the year. By the end of the year, you can't tell we ever had a schedule, and I could care less, as long as the work is getting done. We prefer to be more spontaneous. So some days, school may start at 9 am, and some days not until 11 am. Homeschool has become such a natural part of our life. Our days are a mix of school, chores, and play. It may not always happen in the same order, but it all gets done.
We do not have a school room. Our kitchen is an eat-in kitchen, and it also serves as a school area. So we have bookshelves in the dining portion of the eat-in kitchen. Bookwork usually occurs there, but I spend plenty of time reading aloud, leading discussions, directing a map study, and teaching phonics from the living room couch. And sometimes children take their reading or workbook assignments to their room instead. Since we switched from Five In A Row to Tapestry of Grace, I am doing less active teaching, and the children are becoming more self-directed in their studies. I still have to teach the younger children, but do not teach the older students on a daily basis. We don't own any school desks, and our small chalkboard is only dragged out for play. Our home is small for our family size, and very full, but it works.
Earlier this summer, I posted several of my previous blog posts on homeschool tips. Links to some of my favorite homeschool posts can be found HERE. Also, for the month of June, I wrote Tips of the Day for the Homeschoolblogger Front Porch, and there were many homeschooling tips included. You can find my June archives of tips HERE. I also posted on My Homeschool Journey and Favorite Homeschool Books in May. And you can read some of our previous "A Day in Our Homeschool" posts HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.
Blessings,
April
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Aug. 14, 2007
Tell Me About Your Homeschool Meme
Jacque Dixon has created a new homeschool meme. To participate, just answer these questions on your blog, and then go to her post to add your name to the Mr. Linky.
1. I started homeschooling (years ago or year)
when 11 yo A was 3 in 1998. We began with Before Five In A Row.
2. I homeschool __ of my children
4 of my children are officially school age, but I consider myself to be homeschooling all 6 of them, from birth until marriage.
3. I teach my children to read at age(specific age or not?)
I start teaching letter sounds to my children around age 4 or 5. But I do not begin a formal phonics curriculum until they are 6. I tried to start earlier with my first two daughters, and it just would not click with either one until they were over the age of 6. By 6.5 they "got it" and they were reading on their own. I put the curriculum away as soon as I see them picking up books to read on their own. They figure it out from there, asking for help as they need it. Then I teach the phonics rules as they encounter them in books they want to read. 8 yo C took longer than A or R did to learn to read, but she is reading on her own now, and I'm so proud of her. It's time to start teaching 6 yo J. He is starting Reading Made Easy this year.
4. A few of my most favorite homeschool teaching resources are:
A Charlotte Mason Companion, Pocketful of Pinecones, Educating the WholeHearted Child, A Handbook of Nature Study, and Christian Liberty Nature Reader.
5. Do you write out goals for school each year?
No. I make a list of what curriculum each child will use some years. But I don't write out goals.
6. What time do you start school each day? Do you have a specific schedule?
No specific time and no specific schedule. Today, my oldest 2 girls were doing math when I got up. I had to remind the next two to start their math after breakfast. I had to remind 6 yo J more than once.
7. I have used ___ math programs. My favorite is:
Two. Horizons math and Saxon math. I like both. We use Horizons for the K-3rd grade years, and then switch to Saxon 54.
8. I have used ___ science programs. My favorite is:
None. We read living books about nature and science. There are so many wonderful books for children about science. We love Magic School Bus books, and I assign my reading children to read from Christian Liberty Nature Readers each day, or a couple times each week. This year, 11 yo A is learning about Creation Science. At the moment, she is reading It Couldn't Just Happen. When she finishes it, I'll find other books on the topic for her to read. She's enjoying it so far.
9. I have used ___ grammar/english programs. My favorite is:
Two, I guess. We tried Simply Grammar, but I was very relaxed with it, and it didn't seem to really be sinking in for my oldest two girls. Now we have just started Easy Grammar. I like it so far. Okay, they have only used it for one week, but they seem to like it. One more thing for me to grade, however. Actually, we have always had language arts included in our curriculum, to a degree. Five In A Row included language arts lessons each week. Tapestry of Grace includes writing lessons, but not the other aspects. We use Spelling Power ... does that count in this? That may mean 3 programs.
10. I have used ___ history programs. My favorite is:
One. Tapestry of Grace is the first history program we have used. Five In A Row included history lessons each week, but was not specifically a history program. I enjoy both curricula.
11. What months do you homeschool during?
As many months as it takes. Some years we have only taken part of June and part of July off. Other years we have had a longer break. It all depends on what things life has thrown at us that school year, and how long it takes us to complete our required days/weeks. Although, I do believe in life learning, so in that aspect, we are learning and homeschooling all year long.
12. Favorite homeschool method?
Charlotte Mason relaxed literature based.
13. Do you/plan to homeschool all the way through high school?
Definitely!
14. Have you noticed specific learning styles in each child?
Not exactly. I have children who seem to lean more one way than the other, but not exclusively, and not so I need to change our curricula for them. My oldest is more visual. My second daughter is more auditory. My third daughter is more kinesthetic. I'm not sure on the boys or toddler girl yet.
15. Do you keep specific or general records? Or none, really?
Hmm. I write down each week what I hope to accomplish and make changes as we go through the week. I keep these lesson plans/records when the school year is completed. I also keep their math work, and a sampling of other work. Much of our learning is handled orally, though, so paper work has been minimal for the most part. I am sure that will be changing as the girls advance.
16. Do you teach Bible, art, journaling, phys. ed.?
Hmm. We don't use a formal curriculum for Bible, art, or PE. We try to include Bible in our daily life. FIve In A Row included Bible lessons, as did our first year of Tapestry of Grace. This year I am using For Instruction in Righteousness to lead them in Bible studies on different sins and character traits. We have done some journaling, but not always. I have not given formal art lessons, but we keep art supplies and craft supplies on hand and my children often busy themselves creating works of art. I always intend to do artist studies, but never get very far with it. We've studied artists lightly here and there, though. PE ... well, when the kids ride their bikes, or play games outdoors, or do a walking video with me, it's PE.
17. Where do you like to shop for homeschool books and resources?
We mostly buy curricula used -- either online or at the used curriculum sale each year. We often order our math and handwriting workbooks from Christianbook.com because we usually combine orders with present shopping, to save on shipping expenses.
18. What resources have you been itching to try?
Story Starters by Karen Andreola
Peacemaking for Families
Incredible Creatures that Defy Evolution DVDs
Map Aids CDs for Tapestry of Grace
Tapestry of Grace Retrofit kits for classic year 1 and 2
19. *Do you use and/or like to use E-books?*
I haven't yet. But I've downloaded some great unit studies that I do want to try.
20. Do you have anything to add?
Only that homeschooling is a way of life. It took me awhile to understand that. More than curriculum, charts, schedules, teaching methods ... it is a way of life. And it works best when we embrace it as such, and make it a natural part of our life. I see it as an extension of my relationship with God and my relationship with our children.
Blessings,
April
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Aug. 6, 2007
First day of school!
Today was our first day of school. I assigned math, handwriting, family Bible study, phonics, science reading, spelling and grammar. And it all went so well.
They began with their math workbooks. Then the 3 who still have handwriting workbooks completed those. The older two journaled about things they'd like to study or learn this year. 6 yo J had a phonics lesson with me. R, J, and A each did their science reading: Christian Liberty Nature Readers for the younger two and It Couldn't Just Happen for A. A and R did their first Easy Grammar lesson, as well.
Together, we did a Bible Study on pride using For Instructions In Righteousness. I have owned this book for so long, and only used it as a topical index of Bible verses. I have barely used it, although I kept trying to think of ways to use it. I put it on the children's schedules yesterday, but still wasn't sure how I was going to use it.
This morning God gave me an idea for a workable solution. It helps that I have 3 readers now. I opened to the first section: pride. This is broken down into lists of verses relating to what the Bible says about pride, consequences of pride, blessings of humility, stories that illustrate pride, etc. I scanned the page and assigned each child to look up a Bible verse that I felt would be easily understood, and not too hard to read. I looked one up, as well, and helped 6 yo J look one up. We took turns reading our verses, discussed them briefly, and then moved to the next section. We each looked up 4 verses, and I read a couple others. It was a good discussion. And the children all enjoyed it! They enjoyed finding the verses and reading them aloud much more than if I sat and read verse after verse to them.
Finally, a way that I can easily use FIIR in our homeschool!! Tomorrow we'll take the next topic and do the same thing. I also will assign two verses for copywork each week from the Bible verses we read in FIIR. Which also solves the problem I've had with copywork ... what to assign?
Tomorrow, I'll do spelling with A, R, and C instead of grammar. It will be C's first year with spelling, now that she is reading on her own. We use Spelling Power, and I'll start by testing them all tomorrow. We have been very relaxed in how we use it, but the girls usually move up a level each year, even if we haven't completed the previous level. I guess all that reading pays off!
Next week, we'll add Tapestry of Grace into the lesson plans. We're all looking forward to it.
We had some issues with 3 yo M being a distraction, but even more troubles with 1 yo L being a distraction. She scribbled in R's Saxon notebook when R left the table. She kept climbing on the table, and cried when removed. I'm going to have to work harder to keep her occupied in another room, but not in a way that distracts the school-age children from their lessons.
All in all, it was an excellent first day of school.
Blessings,
April
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Aug. 6, 2007
You know your curriculum is working when ...
your children freak out when they hear you accidentally say you won't be using it this year, even though you meant to say not this week.
I told the girls they wouldn't be doing Tapestry of Grace this year. I meant to say this week. They got upset and were so disappointed. I quickly corrected them, and they were relieved. But that was so reassuring, to know they do enjoy our curriculum and are looking forward to it.
Yesterday bubbebobbie asked me what age I thought a family should begin Tapestry of Grace. I fully agree with Marcia Somerville, the creator of Tapestry of Grace. She advises that a family begin Tapestry of Grace when their oldest child is entering 5th grade. That will give the oldest 2 full cycles of history, including a complete 4 year cycle of history at the rhetoric level (high school).
We didn't begin until the end of our oldest's 5th grade year. So she'll get a four year cycle at the rhetoric level, but only 3 years of non-rhetoric. She'll be ending on year 3 of Tapestry of Grace. She'll begin her high school years with year 4 of Tapestry of Grace, the modern history.
We thoroughly enjoyed using Five In A Row for our curriculum up until that point. I cherish the memory of our early days of homeschooling with Five In A Row. We still revert back to it with our youngest students sometimes. At times, Tapestry of Grace becomes too dry for them, so we return to Five In A Row. Then, after awhile, they begin to miss out on the history lessons, or become interested in what their older sisters are learning, and we return to using Tapestry of Grace with them.
Tapestry of Grace's greatest achievement and quality (to me) is the fact that I can use it to teach ALL my students at the same time, using the same curriculum. That is why we switched to it. I was tired of juggling multiple levels of Five In A Row, and we were fast approaching a time when our oldest were going to have completed all of Five In A Row and need a new curriculum, anyway. Tapestry of Grace was designed by a homeschool mom with a larger family, who was struggling to teach multiple levels of different curricula. It was designed for the larger family, with older and younger students, and that is why we use it.
It's second greatest quality is that the older students are not dependent on me to teach them each day. They're not waiting for me to sit down, read to them, and discuss with them ... while a toddler tries to climb all over us. If I have a teething baby crying, and clinging to me all day, they're not being shorted in their lessons. They're learning the art of self-education, and I'm able to handle teaching the younger students to read, and proper behavior, and focus on household management without neglecting the education of either the older or younger students.
I love that it's a Christian curriculum. I love that it uses wonderful living books, and not textbooks. I love that it includes many different school subjects in one curriculum. I love that it is history based. I love that I only have to buy four year plans to use over and over. I love that I can use the library system without having to buy all the books. But its main selling points, to me, were what I stated in the two paragraphs above.
And as bubbebobbie recognized, I am very happy with it. And I'm so glad my children enjoy it, too. It's good to know I'm not just using something that I like, and they only tolerate, or even hate.
Blessings,
April
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Aug. 1, 2007
Horizons Math and Saxon Math
Bren, from The Journey of Learning, asked me why we use Horizons math for K - 3rd grade instead of Saxon. Well, it's pretty simple. When I first began homeschooling, the ladies at the Five In A Row forums recommended Horizons to me. They said it was colorful, inexpensive, and good quality math. It didn't require buying manipulatives packs, it worked well with most all children, and transitioned easily to Saxon later. So I bought it (used). And we've just stuck with it, ordering new workbooks each year.
I learned later that it is about a year advanced, so we have had to do half lessons and slow the pace down for our K - 1st graders at times. But my children love the workbooks, and it is affordable compared to other math programs.
We switch to Saxon 54 around 4th grade, because it also was highly recommended when I first began homeschooling. Now, it seems, that many of the people who recommended Saxon to me are using Singapore or Math U See instead. But, we can't afford to keep changing curriculum, so we stick with Horizons and Saxon. They've worked for us, although we have had to tweak things at times to suit a certain child.
Blessings,
April
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Jul. 26, 2007
Another Amazing Homeschool Mom Moment ...
Both my oldest daughters, at different times, have come to me and asked if we could start the new school year yet. They're both tired of summer freedom now that the Summer Reading Program is coming to an end. The heat is keeping them from playing outside as much as they did earlier in the Summer, and they want to start school again.
I was thinking of starting on August 20 or 27, and I had plans for work I wanted to do in the last few weeks before then. But they're asking to start earlier.
Wow! An Amazing Moment for a Homeschool Mom. I love it when things like this happen. 
So now I have to decide ... stick to my plans ... or go with the children's interest and start early? I suppose I can get my "work plans" accomplished and start school, if I just work harder for a few weeks, and read less.
We'll see what the Principal thinks.
Blessings,
April
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Jul. 23, 2007
2007-2008 ElCloud Homeschool Plans
12 yo A -- 7th grade:
- Tapestry of Grace, Year 2, Dialectic Level (history, geography, literature, writing)
- finish Saxon 65 and then begin 76 (math)
- Easy Grammar
- Spelling Power
- Creation Science study (beginning with It Couldn't Just Happen)
- Logic study
10 yo R -- 5th grade:
- Tapestry of Grace, Year 2, Upper Grammar Level (history, geography, literature, writing)
- finish Saxon 54 and then begin 65 (math)
- Easy Grammar
- Spelling Power
- Christian Liberty Nature Readers
- Italic Handwriting (finishing last workbook)
- Logic study
8 yo C -- 3rd grade:
- Tapestry of Grace, Year 2, Lower Grammar Grammar Level (history, geography, literature, writing)
- finish Horizons 1 and then begin Horizons 2 math
- Spelling Power
- Simply Grammar lessons
- Christian Liberty Nature Readers
- Italic Handwriting
6 yo J -- 1st grade:
- Tapestry of Grace, Year 2, Lower Grammar Grammar Level (history, geography, literature, writing)
- Horizons K (finish) and then begin Horizons 1 math
- Reading Made Easy phonics lessons
- Italic Handwriting
3 yo M -- preschool (taught naturally through stories, play, daily conversations):
- story time (listening in on Tapestry of Grace and other things)
- counting
- potty training
- ABCs and letter sounds
- begin handwriting
- learn to pick up after himself
1 yo L -- toddler:
- learn not to tear books
- learn not to empty shelves
- learn to pick up
- learn to obey
- learn to talk (she is saying words, and mimicking, but not yet using sentences -- it will come)
- learn many new things as she explores the world around her
For all children:
- review The 21 Rules of This House and the Bible verses I assigned to each rule
- use For Instructions In Righteousness for Bible study
- Nature Study
- learn new life skills
- develop diligence, team work, and cheerfulness
- learn to love each other better, forgive freely, and treat each other kindly
- learn self-control
That's the plan for the upcoming school year. Some of these things will be daily assignments, and others only weekly assignments. I'm still trying to figure out that balance.
Of course, God may have different plans for our family, and He may send some curve-balls that make us change our plans. Or perhaps we'll find that part of this plan just isn't going to work for us; perhaps we'll decide Easy Grammar isn't a good fit for us after all. That's part of the adventure of homeschooling ... every year is full of surprises.
Blessings,
April
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Jun. 29, 2007
Bonus Tip of the Day -- Hold Hands
Today's tip is to find a partner, and hold hands. Use the buddy system to accomplish those tasks you dread.
Need to exercise more? Find a partner!
Need to plan next year's schoolwork? Find a friend, set a date, plan together!
Need to declutter? Find a friend, hold hands, and dive in!
Need to read your Bible daily? Use the buddy sytem!
Need to grade schoolwork? Find a friend to hold you accountable!
Need to take more field trips? Find a partner to join you!
Need to conquer the laundry monster? Find a friend to cheer you on!
Sometimes our partner can physically come and work along with us. Sometimes our buddy has to hold our hand over the phone or internet to walk us through our task, and check up on us. Sometimes we just need a friend who can ask us how we're doing, and hold us accountable. Sometimes we need to set a date to meet with someone else, or it won't get done.
I admit that I tend to be independent. I try to do too many things on my own, but there are times I need to use the buddy system, too. I am learning to use the buddy system.
If there's an area in which you struggle, a dreaded project you are procrastinating on, I challenge you to find a partner, and use the buddy system.
April E. (ElCloud Homeschool) is a Homeschool Mom of 6. She has homeschooled for over 7 years, and enjoys sharing the things she's learned in her homeschool journey with others.
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Jun. 28, 2007
Tip of the Day -- Simplify by Combining Subjects
Today's tip is to simplify by combining subjects. In our home, we use the unit study approach to combine subjects (and ages). However, this can be done in other homeschooling methods, as well. Look at your curriculum. Examine it carefully for ways to simplify and combine subjects.
- If their workbook pages have lots of "filling in the blanks", then don't assign handwriting that day.
- If their social studies assignment includes writing a paragraph or essay, then don't assign additional writing that day.
- If they have vocabulary words in their science or social studies lessons, then don't assign additional vocabulary words.
- Use words from their vocabulary lists for their spelling list.
- Is there an overlapping of subjects?
- Can one of the workbooks or textbooks be skipped for the day, or removed completely?
- Can you alternate days or weeks with certain text/workbooks instead of doing them all on the same days?
- Can you add a writing assignment to science or social studies, and eliminate a separate writing curriculum?
- Can you assign a historical fiction book for their history lesson, and count it as literature, as well?
Think and plan creatively to decrease the work load on your children, and yourself.
April E. (ElCloud Homeschool) is a Homeschool Mom of 6. She has homeschooled for over 7 years, and enjoys sharing the things she's learned in her homeschool journey with others.
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Jun. 27, 2007
Tip of the Day -- Simplify by Combining Ages
Today's tip is to simplify your job as homeschooling teacher by combining grades and ages wherever possible. If you're teaching multiple students, you can simplify your day and minimize your workload, by combining ages. This is especially true if you have stair-step children, as I do.
This past school year, I had a Kindergartener, 2nd grader, 4th grader, and 6th grader. I have always grouped my children together. The older two students, and the younger two students. It's just easier on me, and they enjoy learning alongside someone else.
This is easily done when using unit studies, but it can also work with textbooks. For example, if you have a 4th and 6th grader, use the 5th grade social studies or science text with both of them. If you're using a literature-based curriculum, choose a lesson plan that is between the two ages.
This doesn' t work as well with math, but it can. For instance, I could hold off on starting algebra or geometry until I have two students ready for it, instead of just one. I could wait until my younger students are 5 and 6 or 5 and 7, then start kindergarten math with both of them.
There are curriculums that are designed to work for multiple ages, and even some designed to work for all ages of students. If you are struggling to teach multiple-age students in your homeschool, consider switching to a curriculum that allows you to combine ages. Or look at the curriculum you're using and decide where you can combine ages to simplify your homeschool.
April E. (ElCloud Homeschool) is a Homeschool Mom of 6. She has homeschooled for over 7 years, and enjoys sharing the things she's learned in her homeschool journey with others.
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