We are now completing our 2^nd week of school.  This year is going very smoothly.  I have simplified our schedule and it has really worked for us.  We do our Language Arts (Grammar, Writing, Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling) in the morning before 10:30 break than we do reading and math until our lunch break at noon.  After an hour lunch/play we do History, Art, Science and Spanish.  We finish around 3:30.

Brianna has begun using Teaching Textbooks and she loves it.  I love it as well because she can work independently and I get more time with CJ & Sydney’s math.  I also like the new English curriculum we have begun using this year.  The BJU English has helped to consolidate all the workbooks that we had last year.  I think the kids like it because it is one book. I like it because of its thoroughness in grammar and writing, and that it is presented from the Christian worldview.  Another change that is going well this year is Science.  I have switched to Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy for our study of the earth and the solar system.  I love the Christian worldview and the kids love the topics.  Many times we spend more time than we expect because of their questions and their desire to continue discussing.  In History, we are learning a tremendous amount about how our country was established.  Additionally we are studying each state and president which is part of our notebooking.  Brianna is in a Co-op this year with 3 other families where we will share in teaching IEW Writing, Public Speaking (Communicators for Christ) and Literary Analysis (Teaching the Classics).  With Brianna, there will be 8 girls participating in the class.

 Aside from our schooling, the kids are pleased with their extra curricula activities.  Brianna is playing volleyball and taking dance and piano lessons.  Sydney is taking gymnastics and piano classes.  CJ is playing basketball and taking a piano class.  They are all still attending the homeschool enrichment class one day a week.