Posted in Homeschooling
 I finally got around to joining The Homeschool Lounge! They are having a Homeschool Open House, which motivated me to blog about our plan for the new school year: This year we'll have a busy time as we teach, learn with and encourage our children who are 11, 9, 7, 4 and 18 months. We have an 18-year-old, too, but there isn't any planning in this post for him ;-) Planning: I love to plan. I love to scour websites and booklists. Then I realize I can’t buy it all or do it all this year, so I narrow it down to a realistic size and use planning forms from Cindy Rushton. I have a household/kitchen plan in a binder and forms for our school plan in my school binder. Goals: Thanks to Cindy Rushton, I’ve learned I need to “write it down!” So, I write out personal, spiritual and educational goals for the kids and myself. This year we’ll have a scripture for each child, such as "Do everything without complaining so that you may shine like stars in the universe” for a certain 4-year-old ;-) I have an UPDATE with more specifics of what we've done! Reaching those goals!
Curriculum: I must confess that I am a curriculum junkie. It was such a blessing to be a part of TOS Crew last year, but it only spurred me on to new (more) curriculum. Devotions & Character training: We’ve begun reading and focusing our devotions around Hinds’ Feet on High Places; then we’ll advance to a Pilgrims’ Progress reader, then listen to the audio CD from Answers in Genesis while the older children read along. Hopefully, we can end with the newer movie version! We will be creating a few lapbooks on Character Qualities, beginning with an Honesty lapbook from Hands of a Child (HOAC). Math: I have three different math curriculum in our home! We previously did Miquon, then reviewed three levels of Math Mammoth last year, and have now purchased 3 used, older levels of Math-U-See. I guess we’ll see where each child is at and go from there. The older versions of MUS cover more than one year of math. Several local friends can’t say enough about MUS – highly recommended! History: I use history as our springboard for our unit studies, so this covers our Language Arts. I have fallen in love with history since my oldest son (now 18) and I began using Diana Waring and historical fiction for our history studies. This year we are using TruthQuest History and HS in the Woods & Amy Pak, and supplementing with Diana Waring. I have some Tapestry of Grace, but needed help narrowing down to study just US History and covering my age range of kids, with the 7-year-old not reading yet. Art history is included here. And handwriting: we’re using A Reason for Handwriting, Draw Write Now and a freebie from Homeschool Freebie of the Day (Check them out!)
Science: Nature study and Apologia Flying Creatures and the lapbook from Knowledge Box Central. Fun stuff: I’ve purchased a lapbook for DD11 for Susan K. Marlow’s book Andrea Carter and the Family Secret from A Journey through Lapbooking. For DS9 a unit study from Amanda Bennett on racing. And DD7 is an amazing artist, so she’ll be happy with a great supply of paper and markers, crayons, and colored pencils.
Did I mention enough Homeschooling companies?! There are so many great people who are available to help us out. They share freebies and give seminars, so make sure you support those companies who’ve helped you out with information and freebies in the past! And tell your friends! I think that about covers it! If not, let me know ;-) Be blessed, Danielle
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Posted by tammy
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