We've been enjoying the warm days.  Time spent gardening (the poor thing did lousy this year), working in the yard, playing in the pool, sewing, finishing up our school year, and all those wonderful things that lend excitement to our lives.

This morning during school we lined all our ducks up in a row.  We now know exactly what we have left to finish before we start our new year and have a rough idea of how long it will take to complete it. 

Our new school books are here and we added a great new science experiment package to supplement as well as a new writing program.  We'll also be learning how to diagram sentences, typing, cursive writing, and French. We'll still be doing our 5 basic subjects of Math, Language Arts, Science, and Bible.   All in all we've got a full year planned.

Now comes my fun part -- I've got to get all the lesson plans and calendars pulled together.  I enjoy doing this part if I allow myself enough time, but if I try to rush it I feel overwhelmed. 

Is anyone else working on next years plans?

We need to add a more formal writing program to our school for next year.  Does anyone have any suggestions? 

Yesterday we had a chance to go home.  It was so wonderful!!!   I spent the day working on my daughter's Easter dress and had the afternoon free for goofing off with the children.  Reminded me all over again about why I love being home with my children. 

I always worry about the weeks we miss school during tax season and yesterday I was pulling through our workbooks and it dawned on me.....unit study is the way to go for those few months.  So I pulled out two great books we have on Maps and Geography that include worksheets.  The beginning is mostly review work and then it advances.  Most of the review work is self led activities that the children can do together.  When I add their Literature from the Library.  Bible, oral Math drills and history videos we're really doing pretty much a full day.  I just wasn't looking at it that way.

After tax season I want to find out more about the Charlotte Mason schooling philosophy.  From what I've heard I think our family would greatly benefit from the change.