After ups and downs, crazy-busy weeks and me getting wound up and tense about whether we're on track, in later October I started to look for ways to be more relaxed and yet continue catching up on the essentials. It worked!

Our absolute essentials are math, Latin, writing skills (for Son1 primarily through his history curriculum), and, for Son1, science. Everything else can be done as we have time and opportunity. I realized the boys' secondary subjects truly get done over fewer days and in less time than I planned. I chose to stop fretting over whether each boy gets 20 minutes of reading in each of three different subjects every day.

Also, I started looking for opportunities for discussion with each boy. In particular, Son1 and I discussed his history topics rather than making him do yet another three-level outline or create a presentation (the history projects are fast and furious lately). This allowed him to catch up in history while still practicing analysis skills. Son2 and I discuss the books he reads. I've asked dear husband to conduct a weekly Socratic dialogue with Son1 about his current physical science topics.

Somehow all of this has freed me from the recent tyranny of my daily and weekly plans, making homeschooling more relaxed and yet successful. The boys are back on track with their essentials, and not far off with the secondary subjects. I rejoice, also, that reading time is being enjoyed again, now that we do it "after school".

The boys' weekly checklists felt like another tyranny of the "must do", so yesterday I reworked them. I removed the mention of specific days, kept the checkboxes (four per week, two, one, whatever), and rearranged everything into three groups: essential, important, and occasional. Now the boys will be able to see our weeks the way I am looking at them.

Hurrah!

The work has been a bit hard lately. This quote encouraged me today.

“It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

- Theodore Roosevelt (Paris Sorbonne, 1910)

After two weeks of school (we started August 18), I bought some 1-inch, 3-ring binders, tabbed dividers, and a few other school supplies, the lack of which I was really feeling. Last Monday the boys and I set up our personal school 3-ring binders. I feel much less scattered now.

My binder is home for my planning documents for this year, which I developed this summer, as well as my records and other helpful materials. Follow the links to see each document over at Google Docs. I did most of them in OpenOffice, using tables (it's what I use instead of Word).

Son1 and Son2's binders

1. This week's checklist for each subject, customized for each boy.

2. Tabbed dividers for each subject in which they keep work and/or references.

Mom's binder

1. The weekly routine. Mondays and Wednesdays are similar; Tuesdays and Thursdays are similar; Friday is its own thing.

2. This week's log page for each boy.

3. The current six-week-period checklist. This is my checklist.

4. My book list for each boy. I'm still tweaking this, of course.

5. Subject materials for the week's planning or my reference. Right now I have at my fingertips a little basic music theory; the table of contents for the current and next Algebra chapters; the upcoming history lessons; and info on literary analysis at a middle-school level.

6. Previous log pages for the boys, along with brief info on field trips, outside classes, etc., that we did.

7. Latin, Greek alphabet, and soon German reference materials for my use when I study ahead.

8. Our school year calendar.

9. A reference page, "One Week's Work" for each boy. I worked this out to figure out the pace for each subject to be on track for the year.

Where we are UPDATE.

Over the last three weeks we've made some changes and I've made some decisions. Time to record it all!

= Math =

    Son1: Now he is alternating weeks, not days, with online Kinetic Books Algebra I and the Singapore Math 6B textbook.
    To use next:  After Singapore Math is done, study of logic and geometry (Living Math book suggestions, then Euclid's Elements?).
    Later:  Singapore Math 6B Intensive Practice, weekly use (have it). Zome Geometry (have it)

    Son2: Now he has moved on to the Singapore Math 4A textbook and 3B Intensive Practice book, both daily.
    Add:  Living Math book suggestions.
    Later:  Singapore Math 4B & 5A textbooks (have them).

= Composition & related =

    Son1:  Now he's doing a full lesson every day (!) of History Odyssey and its writing projects, summaries, and/or outlining, to finish Middle Ages soonest. Also routinely writes Boy Scout patrol minutes; occasional emails and thank you notes.
    After we move on to HO Early Modern and 3x/week history, I will add back in:  Classical Composition: Chreia (have it) lessons for progymnasmata exercises on days with little HO composition work, probably adapted so it is fun and very different from the HO writing. Occasional copywork from history, literature, the Bible, and Latin.
    Then add:  Spelling words, Son1's request; I've decided to use the National Spelling Bee 2009 Spell It download for the themed word lists and spelling tips, and, as needed, phonogram and other resources I've found online.
    Later:  Possibly do a block of Analytical Grammar.

    Son2:  Writing Tales Level One at a slightly faster pace, combining lessons when we can; this program includes grammar, editing, progymnasmata exercises, and a little spelling. Thank you notes.
    Add back in:  Copywork from history, literature, the Bible, and Latin, for language and handwriting practice.
    Then add:  Spelling at, Son2's request; I decided on All About Spelling, a program that uses Spalding-style phonogram fundamentals rather than memorization of word lists.

= Latin =

    Son1:  We just got back to Latin Book One, two lessons/week, and he is fine with competence and simply feels rusty, yay! I am ready to have him write the exercises on his own now.
    Add:  Solid memorization of conjugations & declensions; consider chants or example sentences. Introduce Latin dictionary. Study short Latin prayers & Bible texts. Begin free composition in Latin.

    Son2:  Have not yet tackled this. Decide! Lively Latin ($$) or Latin Prep. ORDER & begin.

= History =

Renaissance, explorers, Reformation & Counter-Reformation. Next, "early Modern" -- late Renaissance, colonization of Americas, slavery, revolutions (agricultural, industrial, American, etc.), nationalism.

    Using:  Son1 -- powering through the last of History Odyssey 2 Middle Ages, doing one full lesson each day. Parallel reading in This Country of Ours (the USA) and Our Island Story (Britain); catching up in History Lives 2: Monks & Mystics (church history). Son2 -- essentially finished with The Story of the World vol.2: Middle Ages text & activity book.

    Have ordered:  For Son1, I've ordered History Odyssey 2 Early Modern and History Lives 3: Courage & Conviction (church history). For Son2, we're moving up to the History Odyssey Level One program! It still uses SOTW, he is ready for more mapwork and lesson work, he doesn't care about coloring pages, we can find our own projects, and I can use book lists in HO and online to run with at the library. So, I've ordered History Odyssey 1 Early Modern, the required Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History, and The Story of the World vol.3: Early Modern!

    Later:  any HO-Early Modern required books that the library doesn't have, and History Lives 4: Hearts & Hands (church history). More church-history-related stories and biographies, too.

    Continue with:  This Country of Ours (the USA), Our Island Story (Britain).

= Science =

    Chemistry study. Also, a variety of DVDs and TV programs, and bird habits and identification since we now have bird feeders.

    Son1:  Periodic table/elements exploration and Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry I, weekly. Read The Mystery of the Periodic Table.

    Son2:  The Elements (a periodic table exploration), weekly.

= Literature =

    Son1:  Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. History Odyssey assigned books. Greek Myths (Coolidge); In Search of a Homeland (the story of The Aeneid, by Penelope Lively); The Classic Fairy Tales (Opie & Opie).
    Add:  I need to research and get a study guide/overview for A Midsummer Night's Dream. Poetry.

    Son2:  Favorite Greek Myths, Favorite Norse Myths (Osborne); Viking Tales (Hall); fairy tales; American folk tales; Oscar Wilde's Stories for Children; The Children's Book of Virtues.
    Add:  Poetry.

= Piano =

Back to daily piano practice and music theory with the Schaum books.

= Bible literacy =

At some point I want to return to Bible Study Guide for All Ages, 2x/week, but so far I'm not making it happen.

= Scouts =

    Son1: Boy Scout merit badges -- Citizenship in the Community, Communications, Environmental Science, Camping. Community-building activities with his fellow district Scouts attending the 2010 BSA Centennial Jamboree

    Son2: Bear Cub Scout electives.

= Later =

    Geography. I really like Trail Guide to World Geography and Trail Guide to U.S. Geography, but now is not the time; we're working hard on enough stuff as is.

Where we are in homeschooling.

I needed to think this through and get it all written down. Now, next, and then what. We've been doing fine all fall and early winter, but it's very much time for stepping it up and making sure the boys are ready for the next thing, and the next, and what's after that. So, here's where we are right now.

= Math =

    Son1: Kinetic Books Algebra I, parallel with Singapore Math 6B textbook (nearly completed).
    To use next:  Singapore Math 6B Intensive Practice, weekly use (have it). Then possibly geometry study (Euclid's Elements?) and then Zome Geometry (have it).

    Son2: Singapore Math 3B textbook, nearly completed.
    Add:  Singapore Math 3A Intensive Practice, weekly use (have it),
    To use next:  Singapore Math 4A textbook (have it). Later, Singapore Math 4A, 4B, & 5A textbooks, and 3B Intensive Practice (have them all).

= Composition & related =

    Son1:  Get back to History Odyssey and its writing projects. Routinely writes Boy Scout patrol minutes; occasional emails and thank you notes.
    Add back in:  Classical Composition/Chreia (have it) lessons for progymnasmata exercises on days with little HO composition work. Occasional copywork from history, literature, the Bible, and Latin.
    Then add:  Spelling words, Son1's request; use National Spelling Bee resources. Later, possibly do a block of Analytical Grammar.

    Son2:  Writing Tales Level One, including grammar, editing, progymnasmata exercises, spelling. Thank you notes.
    Add back in:  Copywork from history, literature, the Bible, and Latin.
    Then add:  Spelling words, Son2's request; use National Spelling Bee resources and Spalding-style phoneme fundamentals.

= Latin =

    Son1:  Latin Book One, 2 lessons/week.
    Add:  Memorization of conjugations & declensions; consider chants or example sentences. Introduce Latin dictionary. Study short Latin prayers & Bible texts. Begin free composition in Latin.

    Son2:  Decide! Lively Latin ($$) or Latin Prep. ORDER & begin.

= History =

Renaissance, explorers, Reformation & Counter-Reformation. Next, "early Modern" -- late Renaissance, colonization of Americas, slavery, revolutions (agricultural, industrial, American, etc.), nationalism.

    Using:  The Story of the World vol.2/Middle Ages text & activity book -- Son2, History Odyssey Middle Ages II -- Son1, and parallel reading in This Country of Ours (the USA), Our Island Story (Britain), History Lives 2/Monks & Mystics (church history).

    Needed next:  SOTW3/Early Modern text & activity book, History Odyssey Early Modern II and related books, History Lives 3/Courage & Conviction & then History Lives 4/Hearts & Hands (church history). Continue with TCoO & OIS.

= Science =

    Son1:  Periodic table/elements exploration and Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry I, weekly. Read The Mystery of the Periodic Table.

    Son2:  The Elements (a periodic table exploration), weekly.

= Literature =

    Son1:  Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. History Odyssey assigned books. Greek Myths (Coolidge); In Search of a Homeland (the story of The Aeneid, by Penelope Lively); The Classic Fairy Tales (Opie & Opie).
    Add:  Midsummer Night's Dream study guide/overview. Poetry.

    Son2:  Favorite Greek Myths, Favorite Norse Myths (Osborne); Viking Tales (Hall); fairy tales; American folk tales; Oscar Wilde's Stories for Children; The Children's Book of Virtues.
    Add:  Poetry.

= Piano =

Back to daily piano practice and music theory with the Schaum books.

= Bible literacy =

Bible Study Guide for All Ages, 2x/week.

= Scouts =

    Son1: merit badges -- Citizenship in the Community, Communications, Environmental Science, Camping.

= Later =

    Geography

Before I forget, I'm trying to note what we did last week -- our first week of our 2008-2009 homeschooling year. We started our homeschooling year on Monday, August 18... and then took a goof-off day on Wednesday, the first day of the public school year!

The kids are so much happier -- in better moods -- cheerful -- with a daily routine than they were all summer. I'm not sure what lesson to take from that, since our summer was so busy, but maybe there's something I can try next summer.

On our first day, I introduced them to some new responsibilities. We will each do one thing daily to contribute to the house upkeep beyond the regular chores (so we can make headway around here!). Each boy will do one load of their combined laundry each week (Son1 -- brights & darks, Son2 -- lights & whites). The boys will also learn to cook and bake some things, so we brainstormed a bunch of meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that they would like to make and to eat.

Daily

Handwriting practice. Continuing where they left off in their workbooks; on Monday, they also shared writing down all of their meal ideas (two pages!). Piano refresher. Reviewed all of the short pieces learned in the current book.

Throughout the week

Math. Math facts refresher with dice (6- and 12-sided) and skip counting. They looked through their not-quite-finished math books. After that, they began reading and thinking through the problems in Primary Challenge Math (Son2) and Challenge Math (Son1), to "get their math brains working again".

Latin. Son1 and I reviewed all of the vocabulary flash cards (nouns, then verbs, then adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, etc.). Son2 browsed through his Minimus book and listened to the Minimus audio files on the computer.

Composition. Son1 is Scribe for his Boy Scout patrol, so he created an agenda template document on the computer for his upcoming patrol meeting, and printed it for his meeting notes. He typed up his minutes from the previous patrol meeting and emailed them to the patrol leader and the scribe mentor. After the patrol meeting, he typed up those minutes and, likewise, emailed them as needed.

History. Son2 read a chapter in The Story of the World v.2: Middle Ages, but I delayed Son1's more challenging history and composition curriculum for the second week of school.

History & literature reading. Son1 read a chapter in Our Island Story (British history); This Country of Ours (USA history); and Monks & Mystics (church history). He also began reading The Lord of the Rings (literature). Son2 read a chapter in Our Island Story (British history); This Country of Ours (USA history); and Kings & Queens for God (church history/biographies). He also read a chapter in O. Coolidge's Greek Myths.

The boys also watched some science and history TV shows, and finally watched most of the Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony.

Both boys did lessons and games at FreeTypingGame.net on several days, and Son1 did a lot of typing for his patrol minutes.

By the way, our Wednesday goof off day was breakfast at Panera Bread with my friends whose kids started school that day. Bowling at a local alley. Library visit. Home to read and play video games. Fun day!