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

I finally did it. I made weekly checklists for our homeschooling. This is only for the boys' reading, which was taken from the reading plan for the autumn 12-week term and divided up into 12 manageable portions. The kids will each get a copy of theirs, and I have the master copy (mwah-ha-ha-ha!). I hope that these will help us see where we are, and stay on track even if a boy falls behind in his reading or surges ahead.

Son1's weekly reading checklist, Autumn 2007

See it at Google Docs

Son2's weekly reading checklist, Autumn 2007

See it at Google Docs

Here are my reading plans for the boys for our spring term, mid-February through May.

See it at Google Docs

See it at Google Docs

Here are my reading plans for the boys for our winter term, mid-November through mid-February. This is what I use to create a weekly reading checklist for each boy.

See it at Google Docs

See it at Google Docs