I am glad to be back to blogging, finally!  We survived the "Nutcracker Season" for another year, had a wonderful and blessed Christmas and are settling nicely into the rhythm of the new year. 

This May we will have our first homeschool graduate!  Our oldest daughter will finish her homeschool studies at the end of April and celebrate with a cruise to Cozumel.  Guess who the lucky parent is who gets to go along?  Yep, that would be me!  Our homeschool co-op plans a trip each year for interested seniors and each student must be accompanied by a parent.  Dear husband has graciously volunteered to be "left behind" and entertain the younger set (We have 3 other daughters ages 9, 7 and 4).  I am looking forward to spending this time with my oldest girl before she begins a new chapter in her life.

This year's studies have gotten off to a very good start.  After 10 years of curriculum schizophrenia   I have finally found what works for US.  We have a core curriculum consisting of Latin, Spelling, Arithmetic, Music.  These are our "must-do" subjects and are done each day without exception (along with our Morning Meeting).   The resources for these subjects are:

Latin:  Latina Christiana I & Ludere Latine

Spelling:  Spelling through Copywork (I can't remember the exact title of the book but it is available through Queen Homeschool Supplies.

Arithmetic:  Rod & Staff Workbooks & Ray's Arithmetic (for mental math)

Music:  We are learning to play the recorder.  We use the Recorder Method for Young Beginners Book 1.   I saw this book mentioned on Linda Fay's fabulous blog  "Higher Up and Further In".  It is great!  It comes with a CD for independent practice.  I only do one lesson a week with them and then the rest of the week they practice their song with the CD.  The girls enjoy it very much.

We listen to and sing with our "Wee Sing America" tape (which I have had for years!)  I think it is important for the girls to learn patriotic songs and memory gems from our country's history.  We listen to this every day during our morning meeting time.

We also are doing a variation of "Composer Study".  Last year I bought the CD, "Classical Music for Children".  Included with the CD was a list of activities to go with each piece of music.  For example, last week we listened to Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart.  The girls had to walk to the time of the music with a beanbag on their head without dropping it!  Lots of fun and laughter. 

Wow! I've written alot!  Tomorrow I will post about our Morning Meeting and our weekly studies.

Have a blessed day!

Debbie

Mom to 4 girls!