To recap, so far I've shared with you about our MATH, LANGUAGE ARTS, and SCIENCE choices for this school year.  Today, I'm going to talk to you about what we're using for HISTORY . . .

Last year, Ashley finished up the currently published Mystery of History books, having done Vol. 3 independently.  She loved it!  If you've never looked at this awesome series of history books, I'd definitely recommend them.  Thing is, we were at a bit of a loss as to what to continue with for her.  She was up to the point where she should be moving into a more modern history / American history.  She and I did some serious searching at the CHAP convention and eventually decided on TruthQuest - Age of Revolution I.  She started out the year with it this year and was enjoying it BUT this is a curriculum predominantly focusing on outside resources.  And, because we have a less-than-impressive library (not to mention the fact that I HATE the library), I didn't feel that she was getting a well-rounded history education using the TruthQuest alone. 

With that being said, Ashley is going to continue using it, BUT we've decided that she will also work alongside Gracie as we study American history using All American History (vol. 1) from Bright Ideas Press.  Similar in approach to MoH, we are really enjoying this great history curriculum.  As most homeschoolers do, we are tweaking it a bit, so that both girls can benefit from it. 

All American History is a complete history curriculum.  It comes with a hardbound Student Reader  (complete with b&w pictures), a Student Workbook, and a Teacher's Guide.  You really need all 3 to get the full effect of the course - but, since they come as a set, that makes it easy! 

Volume 1 of All American History is for students in grades 5-8.  Though Gracie is in 5th grade, she's only 9, and some of the activities are a bit beyond her (as far as resources go, i.e. searching the internet, etc.)  So, Gracie completes the worksheets (which include cut & paste activities and fill-in-the-blank type questions) and Ashley does the Review Questions.  Ashley also has to do most of the "for further research" topics (which are mostly things that she can research on the internet). 

Ashley has put TruthQuest aside until we get caught up to where she was reading.  Then, she will work with both books simultaneously.

I also purchased The Light and the Glory and From Sea to Shining Sea for Ashley.  I remember, back when I was in high school, Peter Marshall (co-author of these books) visited our school for one of our chapel services.  He shared with us some of the stories from these books, and it left a lasting impression on me.  I love history anyway, and these stories just really make history come alive.  So, Ashley will also be reading through these  books throughout this school year. 

What are YOU using for history this year?  I'd love to hear about it!

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. . . have school in your pajamas!

Technically, only Ian's lower 1/2 is in pajamas (he fell asleep on the couch last night, so I only changed his pants!)  Gracie is reading to me from her TLP book - The Courage of Sarah Noble - while I fix their breakfast.   Fall has truly arrived in PA, with high temps only in the 50's today.  There's just something cozy about pj's, isn't there?  As you can see, we even had to break out the winter ones AND we put flannel sheets on the beds on Monday. 

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This weekly "column" may prove to be my favorite topic on my blog this year!  I love talking about homeschooling and the various curriculum and resources that we have discovered and use in our homeschool.  I also love reading about what YOU are using, so be sure to leave a comment!

This week, I'd like to tell you a bit about our SCIENCE choices for this school year . . .

Ashley did Apologia Biology last year (we've been using Apologia faithfully since we discovered this great resource for science curriculum several years ago).  Chemistry is the next logical step in the science progression for high school.  As part of the Crew, I received 2 different Chemistry programs last year.  Being the frugal person that I am, I felt it would be wise to make use of one of these, rather than purchasing the Apologia Chemistry for this year. 

So, after checking out both options, we decided to use Friendly Chemistry.  Chemistry was my WORST subject in high school; so the fact that this curriculum had the word "friendly" right in the title appealed to me.    We're several lessons into it, and I must say that it truly is a friendly curriculum.  All the stuff that went right into my head 20+ years ago is actually making sense to me now.  And Ashley has understood it all as well - open book science tests are not necessary (so far) this year!

This is a very "plain" curriculum.  It comes in 2 3-ring binders (one for student, one for teacher).  There is also a packet of game pieces, etc.  The Crew found several typographical errors in the curriculum.  We've come across several of them too (we just white them out and correct them, for future use).  These are easily overlooked though, when weighing the "pros" of the product.  I think we'll actually make it through the year, Ashley will earn a science credit, and we'll be in a good mood about it! 

If you would like to read the Crew's reviews of Friendly Chemistry, click here.

I allowed Gracie to select her own science  for this year.  Last year, she did Christian Kids Explore Biology (because Ashley was also doing Biology), so Christian Kids Explore Chemistry was on the list of options for this year.  Gracie decided to switch back to Apologia's elementary science series (by the wonderful Jeannie Fulbright) - and she decided on the Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day book.  We are just loving this study!  I am enjoying it so much that I sat down with the book one evening and read/skimmed through the entire thing - it is THAT interesting! 

At convention in the spring, I found some great items to supplement this curriculum.  One of those is Walter Foster's Draw and Color Sea Creatures.  Gracie LOVES to draw and really enjoys step-by-step books.  This book has come in very handy with the notebooking activities that go along with the Apologia book.  Instead of making the recommended "ocean box", we've decided to make an "ocean poster" - we have a piece of blue poster board on the wall and, as we learn about the various animals, Gracie draws them onto cardstock, colors them, and we cut them out and attach them to our "ocean".  When it's a bit fuller, I'll take a picture to share here on my blog. 

At the Tobin's Lab booth, I also picked up some of the Dover Little Activies Books - Learning About Whales, Learning About Tropical Fish, and Learning About Sea Animals.  These little books are a fun "extra" - matching the stickers with the appropriate information about the animals. 

The Crew did get to review some Apologia science books last year (though they received the Flying Creatures elementary book, not the Swimming Creatures one) - you can read their reviews here.

All in all, for a family that tends to be non-science oriented, we're quite pleased with our science choices for this year.  Actually, Gracie and I even save science for last most days (it's a "save the best for last" mentality).

So, tell me, what are YOU using for science this year?

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Last week, I shared a bit about our MATH choices for this year.  This week, I'm going to tell you what we're using for Language Arts.  These two products are ones that, so far, we are thrilled with! 

Last year, some of the Crew members received The One Year Adventure Novel program to review.  When I opened the box, I was thrilled because I thought it would be "just the thing" for Ashley to use this year.  She is always writing; so this seemed like a great addition to her school days - what better way to make school both fun and appropriate than to teach to her interests!  So far, she seems to be enjoying it.  I love watching the videos with her - Daniel Schwabauer is an excellent teacher - he knows his stuff and his voice is just so soothing to listen to.  I often wish I had purchased a second Student Workbook, so that I could have gone through the program with her.  Maybe next year . . . (yes, we're thinking that, if she likes this, we might do it a second year!)

If you'd like to read the Crew's thoughts on this product, click here.

For Gracie, I wanted to look for something new and VERY different.  We had been using Abeka's Language for the past several years and, I have to say it, it's just a bit dull and incredibly repetitive.  (NOTE: I love Abeka for a school setting and we continue to use it for math, but otherwise I don't find it a good fit for our homeschool.) 

I had read about Total Language Plus to Gina's blog, and finally decided to check into it more thoroughly.  This really looked like an approach that we would like; but I don't like buying without first seeing.  So, I was thrilled to see a TLP display booth set up at the CHAP convention.  Ashley and I looked it over and were immediately sold! 

I picked out a simple book for Gracie to start the year with - The Courage of Sarah Noble - and that's what we're working through now.  She NEVER complains about doing language arts anymore, and I LOVE how everything is all together in one place.  TLP covers reading vocabulary & spelling, writing, and so much more!  She will continue through this year with studies of Pippi Longstocking and Charlotte's Web - I'm not sure which order we'll do them in yet (I need to look over them more closely before I decide). 

Here's a real testimonial for TLP ---  though we had already selected The One Year Adventure Novel as Ashley's language arts for this year, she was totally intrigued by TLP and asked if I might buy her some guides as well.  So, she is doubling up on language arts credits this year!  Again, she never complains - she is really enjoying it!  She's currently working through The Hiding Place (we have the movie on our Netflix queue for when she is finished) and we have To Kill a Mockingbird to do next.   We are already planning which guides we want to order for NEXT YEAR!

What are YOU using for Language Arts this year?  Please leave a comment and tell me about it. 

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I thought that, since we're several weeks into our homeschool, and since I've been so lax at posting personal things, that it might be good to share some of the curriculum choices that we've made for this year.  Sure, they are listed in my left-hand sidebar; but the list contains no detail.  So, I'm going to start this week by sharing about our choices for math . . .

Ashley is starting off this year with Practical Accounting Fundamentals from Insight Technical Education.  She was really struggling with Algebra toward the end of last year (we were using Videotext); and we both felt that we needed to start off this year with something new and fresh.  I think we thought that Accounting would be more simple, since it's practical math.  But, since I went the academic route in high school, the only practical math I ever took was an "extra credit" in Consumer Math.  Accounting is all new to me.  Fortunately, though, Brian works in the accounting field, so he has pretty much taken over the teaching of math so far this year.  Since he's taken over, I've seen the  come on for Ashley. 

This book is short and won't take all year to complete - maybe 1/2 the year, depending on how much "extra stuff" Brian adds in.  He's  been creating some of his own worksheets to go alongside this program, and having her work through them without the  book.  So far, though, we've been pleased with the program overall; and the change of pace has been a good one.  I believe that, if Ashley would happen to pursue anything in a math field, it would be something more practical, like accounting. 

Some members of the Homeschool Crew reviewed this and some other items from Insight Technical Education last year.  If you'd like to read their reviews, click here.

Gracie is using Abeka Arithmetic 5.  This approach to math did NOT work for Ashley - it was WAY too tedious.  However, Gracie LOVES math - it's the first thing she wants to do in school each day.  Several times I've suggested just doing every other problem, and she refuses!  My motto is "if it's not broken, don't fix it" - since this approach works for her, we stick with it, year after year.  She doesn't even mind doing the speed drills - though we never actually time her.  So, we'll continue with Abeka for her, at least through 6th grade.  Then, we'll reevaluate and see where we want to go from there.

I'm not doing "serious school" with Ian, but he is interested and wants to be doing what the girls are doing.  Last year, as part of the Crew, I received Mathematical Reasoning from The Critical Thinking Company.  Ian is using this book, along with some other sources that I find here and there.  He's doing great with shapes and colors, and he can count to 10 with a tiny bit of help.  His counting has really improved thanks to the dvd we received from Math Tutor DVD (previously reviewed here).  It's too early in the game to know where we're heading with Ian; but for now, he's happy, which makes me happy. 

If you'd like to see the Crew's reviews of the math products from Critical Thinking, click here.

What are YOU using for Math this year?  I'd love to hear about it.  Please leave a comment.

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A trip to Lancaster would not be complete without a trip to Kitchen Kettle Village.  So, Friday afternoon, we did just that.  Gracie's favorite part of visiting KKV, is decorating a gingerbread cookie.  It was so hot, so we also enjoyed some yummy homemade ice cream in waffle cones; and, of course, taste-testing the yummy preserves in the cannery.

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During all the trips we've made to Lancaster over the years, we've never actually been IN Lancaster (the city) - we've always gone more to the "outskirts" - the area that tourists think of as Lancaster - where the outlets and all the Amish tourism is.  Anyway, we've discovered that there's a lot more to Lancaster than we ever knew existed!  Thank goodness for the GPS (even if it wasn't working the best during our trip!) 

We visited the North Museum of Natural History & Science on Friday, the 14th. When we first arrived, the building looked much smaller than I had anticipated, so I wasn't sure what to expect; but we really enjoyed ourselves and had a great time checking out all the exhibits.  I'd definitely recommend the museum and imagine that we'll go back again sometime.

I think Ian's favorite thing was probably seeing a T-rex, up close and personal!  Gracie enjoyed all the hands-on, interactive exhibits - such as the wind machine, and trying her hand at grinding corn like the Susquehannock Indians did (we just learned about them in school the week before, so this field trip was very timely).

Souvenirs from this trip:
Ashley got a pretty necklace made of blown glass, Gracie got a bird call, and Ian got a t-shirt with dinosaurs on it (his favorite!)

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On the recommendation of Brian's cousin, who is fortunate enough to live in Lititz, we visited the LItitz Springs Park. It was beautiful!  We spent a few hours just taking it all in.  Ian enjoyed the playground and Gracie loved feeding all the ducks.  Ashley and I enjoyed some great photo ops and my mom enjoyed learning about the freshwater springs.  Even though the sign said not to, we had to dip Ian's sippy cup in the springs and have a taste!  Shhh!!!  Don't tell anyone!

Instead of posting all the pictures individually, I thought I'd attempt a collage:

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Nothing like touring 2 chocolate factories in 1 vacation!  Talk about the life!
After visiting the Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, we went a few blocks away (also in Lititz) to see the Wilbur Chocolate Co.  My dad loves Wilbur buds; and, I must confess, I think they are even better than Hershey's Kisses!  They don't have an actual tour, per se; but you can watch them making some fantastic chocolate creations.  Ashley, who doesn't even like chocolate, was mesmerized by the monkey (and banana - all made from chocolate).  Gracie was amazed by the castle. 
Let's just say, we loved this part of our trip so much, that we're making plans to go back to Lititz in October, when they have a Chocolate Walk (for charity).  Yum!

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During this trip to Lancaster, we decided to do more than just shop and visit our usual hang-out spots.  So, I did some pre-planning and found some great field trip opportunities - making this 3 day trip sometime we could count toward school!  Gotta love homeschooling!

Anyway, we visited Litltz, PA.  I must say that, from what we saw, I think it's about the neatest town I've ever seen and, if not for the distance from Brian's job, I'd be seriously begging him to move there (cause, let's face it, with my job and homeschooling, we could live almost anywhere!)  If you're looking for a quaint and beautiful town with lots of history, check out Lititz!

Our first stop in Litltz was at the Sturgis Pretzel Bakery - oldest pretzel bakery in the USA. 

We were greeted by this sign when we entered the building

this was a little moving replica of the original pretzel ovens

we got to try our hands at twisting pretzels





if we ever want to work in a pretzel factory, we've got this certificate to prove that we can!

the original brick ovens - see those cool iron stars on the walls?
I want one!

If you're ever in the area, I'd recommend this tour.  We've been to other pretzel factories, but I especially enjoyed the historical aspect of this one.  The kids each got a t-shirt as a souvenir; and Gracie got a pretzel jibbit for her Crocs.  Oh, and we couldn't leave without some pretzels!

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