What a busy summer!!  I spent most of it working on paperwork in preparation for our new school year, then took a few days to "relax" (well, sort of) and started school on August 27th.  Did some work           throughout the summer, mostly reading, some math, and language arts to keep us sharp, along with some projects, but our traditional school year started on the 27th.

My hubby also started something new.  He did get that new job with his company and started the new job the same day we started school.  Spent our at home vacation rejoicing that we did not go upstate where we had planned to go since the night temps were 30 degrees (yuck), getting some rest and hunting to another car.  DH needed one since he was losing the company car he had for several years in his old position, which required travel.  I think we need a vacation from our vacation.  LOL

There are plusses and minuses with this new job, but most of it is really positive.  He gets to do a job he's wanted for years, doesn't have to travel, and he feels that he is more productive in this type of work. He also has the potential for better overtime, which was drying up in the other position.  The bad news is that he loses his company car (thus the need for another car) and money-wise, it's a lateral move.  The most interesting news is that, after a training period, his hours switch from 8am-4pm to Noon to 8pm. That means that he will be able, for the 1st time ever, to get involved in the nitty-gritty of homeschooling instead of the peripheral (outside) stuff.  Should add an interesting dynamic to our new school year.

September is always busy, but this one might be moreso than most.  Our 30th anniversary is at the end of the month, along with our middle daughter's 18th birthday and our oldest son's 23rd birthday is soon after.  We are going on a fishing trip with our church and DH and I may be going on a "cruise to nowhere" for a couple of hours to celebrate our anniversary.

School this year includes 3rd, 9th, and 12th graders.  Our 9th and 12th graders will be taking Bible, ASL and PE together and our little guy will do PE with both of them and do early parts of music with our 9th grader.  Classes and resources include:

Ms. 12th Grader:  Lots of half year courses here:                                                                                                                      

Bible Apologetics (various sources including materials from Answers in Genesis)

British Literature (A Beka and others including Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet - Shakesphere)

Composition (Wordsmith Craftsman)

Spelling and Vocabulary (edHelper)

Grammar and Study and Research Skills (Sentences, Paragraphs, and Beyond)  

Math Review (various sources) and Geometry (High School Advantage CD-Rom)

Social Studies:  2   1/2 year courses:  Constitutional Law (1/2 year - Whatever Happened to Justice, some parts of Mike Ferris' Constitutional Law course and various internet materials) and Economics (1/2 year - Economics in One Lesson, Whatever Happened to Penny Candy, and The Young Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting and Running a Business)

Food Science - Glencoe

Photography (1/2 year - KISS Guide to Photography)

Introduction to Early Childhood Ed. (1/2 year - Introduction to Early Childhood Ed. - Delmar Publishers)

American Sign Language III (Joy of Signing, Webster's Millennium American Sign Language Learning System and various internet sources)

Health (1/2 year - Fit and Well - Fahey, Insel, and Roth), I Kissed Dating Goodbye - Harris, and Tilly - Peretti,

Driver's Ed. (1/2 year - Handbook Plus, the NYS Defensive Driving Course Guide, and Driver's Education CD-Rom

Physical Education - the guidelines of the President's Physical Fitness Challenge. 

Extras - She is also teaching preschoolers Sunday School on rotation and is involved in a young adults' group, a youth group, plays recorder in our home fellowship's music ministry and will be getting involved with the Keepers at Home program.

Ms. 9th Grader: 

Bible Apologetics (same as her sister)

Consumer Math (A Beka)

Christian Literature (various sources including In His Steps - Sheldon, Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis and others)

Grammar (Easy Grams)

Writing (Wordsmith and the Write Stuff Adventure)

Spelling, Vocabulary, Study and Research Skills (edHelper)

Social Studies:  2  1/2 year courses:  American Government (BJU and the Standard Deviants videos) and New York State History (New York: The Empire State, Long Island - Our Story - online via Newsday, our local paper, and a series of 8 dvds called New York)

Science - Basic Science (BJU and the For Every Kid Series - VanCleave)

American Sign Language I - same material sources as Ms. 12th Grade

Typing and Computer - Using the Personal Computer - A Beka

Music - Several internet sources for history, appreciation and theory, plus singing and violin lessons

Physical Education - Same sources as Ms. Grade 12 and Little Mr. Gr. 3

Extras:  Like Ms. Gr. 12, she's involved in a young adult group, a youth group, and Keepers at Home and will also be studying voice, violin and guitar.

Little Mr. Grade 3:  Except for Physical Education and Music Appreciation and some other aspects of music, all of his courses are separate from the girls because of the age gap between them:

Bible and Character Building - Leading Little Ones to God and Faith 4 Living

Reading - Reading list includes Aesop's Fables, A Child's Garden of Verses - Stevenson, Farmer Boy - Wilder and others plus exercises from Learning at Home - American Education Publishers

Phonics - Handbook for Reading: The Blue Backed Speller - A Beka

English - The Complete Book of Grammar and Punctuation - Gr. 3 and The Complete Book of English and Language - Gr. 3

Spelling and Vocabulary and Study Skills - edHelper

Writing - Wordsmith Apprentice

Penmanship - edHelper and Faith 4 Living

Arithmetic - BJU Math 3 and The Complete Book of Math Gr. 3

Social Studies - Our American Heritage - A Beka, They Made America Great - Macmillian, Ben's Guide to U.S. Government, The Complete Book of United States History and The Complete Book of Geography and Maps - American Education Publishers and Amazing States - Burda                        

Science - Exploring God's World - A Beka, The Complete Book of Science Gr. 3 - American Education Publishing, The Way Things Work - Macauley, and the Science for every kid series - VanCleave

Health - Health, Safety and Manners 3 - A Beka, parts of The Complete Book of Science Gr. 3 - American Education Publishing and The Body Book - Silver/Wynne

Music - The Ready to Use Music Reading Activities Kit - Mitchell, Enchanted Learning worksheets, Classics for Kids, and some materials from Think Quest

Physical Education - Same sources as Ms. Gr. 12 and Ms. Gr. 9 

Extras:  Royal Rangers and Contenders of the Faith plus all the computer programs he can handle...

Please note that we don't do every single page or project, but use these sources picking and choosing what works best or these poor kids and I would burn out in a week.  LOL  So far, so good, just busy, busy, busy.  I have 3 years of portfolios to finish for our 12th grader in preparation for her graduation next June for North Atlantic Regional Schools (NARS) for her transcripts and diploma, which is also keeping me very busy.

Most of the family is getting over respiratory bugs, so we are going a little slowly right now.  Otherwise, we're getting in the swing of things.  Have to get back to work here.  Was writing this as we listened to music appreciation - Bach and the Brandenburg Concerto today...May your schoolday be blessed...

Blessings to all, Pam