My how the year has flown by!  We are now in the last two or so weeks of school and how it is speeding along.  I am really pleased with how things have gone, and how my dd7 has progressed.  She is I think ready for 2nd grade work now and perhaps more.

I haven't yet set out my schedule plans for this next year, but I do have most of our curricula taken care of.

This is basically what we will do for dd7:

Copywork(poetry, catechism and bible verses)

Memory work(review catechism)

Reading/Spelling and Vocabulary(Christian Lib Nature Readers, spelling/vocab words from some of our readers, etc.)

History(Veritas Press:Old Testament and Ancient Egypt)

Arithmetic(A Beka Arithmetic 2)

Science( a combo of: Apologia(zoology 1), A Beka Health 1&2, and Pearables Home Ec. 1)

Bible(sections from the Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos, and Proverbs)

Latin(Rosetta Stone level 1)

I wont be doing everything every day with her, but this is what we will be doing this year.  Now I just have to set up a schedule and plan it out a little better.

I will also be having dd4 doing some work, but not too much.  I want to teach her to read and get her familiar with numbers too.

So here is what I basically have planned for her:

Phonics(TATRAS)

Arithmetic(informal and Math-U-See)

Memory Work(Bible ABC's from New England Primer)

Bible(Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos, and Proverbs)

I'm very excited for our next year.  I am enjoying homeschooling so much and I know that the Lord will continue to equip me with what I need.

Stay tuned for a review of Wait Until Then by Randy Alcorn.

This may only be a lightbulb moment for me, but I thought I'd share....

We've been having dd6 memorize the Shorter Westminster Catechism for some time now.  She has always done fairly well and had a willing and pleasant attitude.  However, lately she has given me alot of trouble.   I found her to be fidgety and distracted and not trying at all(and I don't get upset because she isn't getting it...there is a difference).  And if that wasn't enough to frustrate me...she whines and gives major attitude..sigh.  I was telling my hubby that I just wasn't sure what to do...

And today started out like that again, but then aha!  I thought to myself, if she is having trouble sitting still(which causes her to lose her focus), why don't I give her something to do while we go over the question she is memorizing?  She of course liked that idea and so I promptly set her up at the table with paper,pencil and crayons.  You know, it worked. She sat there drawing two lovely pictures, paying attention to what we were doing.  She made progress with her memory work and she listened comfortably to our reading too!

I know, I know...somebody could have told me this before.  Why didn't I think of it myself before?  Because I'm stubborn and wanted her to just sit still...but she is a high energy gal and I need to work with her personality, not make her like me.  I love that kid...I hope this will continue to work.  We both came away from that experience smiling and feeling good about it.  I want that again!

I'm so excited!  On August 14th we officially start our homeschool.  I never would have thought that I would be this excited....but I am.

I am getting my lesson plan written out for the first 3 weeks.  After that I will do it monthly.  I figure this way I can adjust things easily if need be..such as we are going through our read alouds quicker than I thought or we want to throw something different in, etc.  Since I'm using A Beka for math and phonics/reading, the lessons are set out easily.  But plotting out our history journey through the "Little House" series is a little more of a challenge...but one I'm enjoying.

The other neat thing...dd6 is I think about as excited as me.  She was singing around the house the other day, "mommy's going to be my teacher..."  How sweet is that!?  It warms my heart to know that she is looking forward to this. 

Here's to happy homeschooling!

Thank to those of you that have commented on my post yesterday(A Rough Plan).  I really appreciate the words of encouragement.  Along with some words of encouragement  mamma1420 asked a great question.  "Why the America's?"

I know that there are different opinions on how to approach history(which is one of my absolute favorite subjects).  There is the chronological thought and then there is  more of a here and there approach, and no doubt others.  Now, initially my hubby and I had intended to start chronologically too.  We looked for different curriculum that would fit us as a family and in our search found that we liked the Veritas Press Bible/History sets that had the Bible work and the History coinciding.  I loved this.  However, it doesn't start until second grade.  Hubby and I discussed this for sometime, both of us are inclined to a chronological approach...but we like this curriculum.    So, as odd as this might sound we decided that since I would be reading the "Little House" series for read alouds anyway that we would just integrate our history this year into that.  We figured that we would study America at this time period and use these books as a starting point.  I really thought dd6 would enjoy this(and she is quite excited about it) and that we could get a really hands on feel for history.  This may not make a whole lot of since, but hubby and I felt it would work for this year and next year we will begin a more chronological approach. 

Now that I am pregnant again, I realize this may be a way for me to continue her history study while recovering from my c-section with little stress.  I will still be able to read to her and study these areas while being unable to do alot.  I think that she and I will get alot of pleasure out of it and not be too stressed that we've missed something.

Thanks so much Jessica for your thoughtful question.  It was really a decision on how to ease into history our first year and now it will make my mid-school year due date less of a stress for me. 

What kind of curricula are using for your "Ancients" study?  I'd love to have some other ideas.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been setting out a rough idea of our coming school year.  I'm new at this so I feel kind of unsure...but hey, I've gotta start somewhere.  

We plan on starting our year mid-August and it will be about a 36 week or so school year.   I will have to take a slight break during February because of the new baby...but at least we will have gotten through half our year.  I figure I will still be able to do our read alouds and dd6 will be able to work on her copywork etc, even while I am lounging in bed ;-)

So, here is my very rough plan:(Dawne..I know you've been waiting)

Phonics/Reading:

A Beka 1(this follows up with what she was already used to, and doing so well on)

McGuffey Readers for practice

Copywork:

We will probably use bible verses, poems and snippets from the "Little House" books

Memorywork:

Continuing with Westminster Shorter Catechism

Bible verses

Greek Alphabet

Math:

Ray's Arithmetic(following Beechick's guide)

A Beka Math 1(worksheet 1 day/wk...she likes those)

History/Geography:

America during 1865-1900

Reading "Little House" series  and viewing history through the time period shown there

Study areas of travel in books

Narration:

Daily...either Bible or read aloud books

Nature Study:

A Beka Science 1

Christian Liberty Nature Reader 1

Nature walks and notebook

Family Worship:

Mom~morning bible time(beginning with Genesis)

Narration may occur here

Color pic to go with reading(some days)

Dad~Bible devotions(Table Talk) as family

We will probably study art and music off and on, but I'm not quite sure where to begin with that.  We also plan on using a craft and cookbook that accompanies the "Little House" books to put it into action.  I think that will give dd6 a real hands on way of learning about history and of course math in the real world.  Although I am adding a worksheet in for math, we are doing it very informally.  Dd6 really likes the worksheets, so I figured we could try that out once a week.

Things may change as time goes on, but right now I think it is doable.  I am getting very excited and now I just have to put it into some kind of schedule. 

I hope you enjoy looking over my rough plans.  Feel free to comment or give advice...I'm sure I could use it.

Have you ever read a book that just was a brute to read?  Living in California, it is important to be a part of CHEA..a wonderful homeschool organization and resource.  I also was told by a good friend that it was essential that I read(on top of Teaching The Trivium, by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn) An Introduction to Home Education, put out by CHEA.

She was right...it has a mass of info that is very important.  Not only does it explain the different methods of homeschooling, but it also supplies you with forms for record keeping that you can copy and legal info/requirements for California.  It is a wonderful resource...but it is a bear to read.  Some books are so full of legal stuff, that it is difficult to get through.  But I did...and I am glad that I did.

Sometimes things that are tough to get through are very important and useful....and in the end the benefits out way the frustration.

I'm using purple today, because this post is in honor of my dd6.  She loves purple...so I can't in good conscience write in any other shade

Perhaps you wonder about the heading?  Well, as several of you know, I have not officially begun homeschooling dd6, because we decided to let her finish out kindergarten.  We felt it was just too close to the end of the year to pull her out and the school is not  a traditional graded one.  It is set up like an old-fashioned one room school house.  She has picked up some attitude, but we don't feel that we've lost her heart...yet. 

So...she has 12 days(this includes weekends)left of school!  I am so excited that she will be out soon.  I'm looking forward to pushing forward in this new adventure.  I so want to get started educating and encouraging my daughter.  I'm also looking forward to working on those areas that need correction...attitude, treatment of sister, etc.  These are things that would be neglected or made worse in public school.

Will you join me in rejoicing in this new road the Lord has placed before me and my hubby?  The journey will begin soon...thanks to all who have given me encouragement...Dawne, my friend...thank you especially

Last week I found myself making many purchases for our upcoming school year.  This was both, fun and exhausting!  I've pretty much ordered all we need, except for the phonics/reading program we will use.  I may find when I recieve this stuff, that I may need to adjust what I will use...but I hope not.   Once I have everything in hand I will begin to set out a "plan" for the year. I hope that I will be able to post my "plan" when I've figured it out. This is alot of work...but well worth it.

My husband is now reading Teaching The Trivium, by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn and I think that he is enjoying it as much as I did.  It is such a blessing to have my husband on the same page as I am.  We both believe strongly that homeschooling is the way to go.  I know that not everyone has been so fortunate to have a husband so with them on the idea.  When I count my blessings...this up high on the list. 

A note of praise: 

As you all know, I recently stopped working.  Of course the loss of my income was some concern to me.  Well, last week my hubby called me with some good news.  For your information, I will tell you that my hubby is a Personal Trainer and Group Instructor for a company here in California.  Well, his employer called and offered him to take on another site(instead of the one he's been at for about 4years).  You say...so?  The good news here is that it will add an extra class and with that will more than make up for my loss of pay.

I am just so thrilled and although he may still get hired by a local police department..they still offered him this.  So, even if he doesn't get hired this time(we pray he will though) he will be making considerable more than he was.  I can now go about my homemaking at ease and know that God has once again provided in our time of need.

I hope all of you will have a blessed week!  Tah tah for now!!

As Anne of Green Gables said "Tomorrow is fresh, with no mistakes in it."   The last two days have been much better.  I've tried to limit my time on the computer and my stresses (for now) have been left in God's hands.  Hopefully, they will stay there. 

Have you ever noticed, that when you are feeling horrible(stress or ill) the children seem to become more frustrating?  I feel like they can "smell blood"!  They know when I'm weak.  Maybe that is why they are so well behaved right now ;-)

I've been thinking about History for my 6dd.  We plan on doing the Veritas Press Bible/History program, but that doesn't start until 2nd grade.  So we are thinking of reading for literature books that are within a certain time period and then working history in with that.  Learning about the specific time period we are reading about and doing projects, field trips and study to help better understand it.   Does anyone have ideas of books that might be appropriate for a 6yrold with an historical content or how we might include notebooking with it? 

I feel that things are moving along and I am feeling prepared.  I can't wait to start ordering stuff and working with my daughter.

It has been fun reading the ideas that have been left for me.  Thanks for the different ideas for math and phonics.  Of course, I still have to decide what to do...ugh!  Since I'm so drawn to the Phonics Museum, I think I will give Veritas Press a call and see how they compare it to what my daughter is currently using at her school.  Since she is already beginning to read, I want to stay with something that will challenge her, but not be too difficult to grasp.  We will see.

I've had a couple folks tell me about Math-U-See, so I'll look into that.  However, I've also heard that Ray's Arithmetic is good too, especially from folks that have a Charlotte Mason bent.  It is amazing the amount of resources that are out there.  I am so thankful that it is.

On another thought, when doing memory work, how much do you all give your children to work with?  Right now my daughter is memorizing a verse a week from the Bible(school directed at this point)and my husband and I have her memorizing the Shorter Westminster Catechism.  Personally, I feel this is about right, but I eventually would like her to memorize different passages of books or poems.  Any thoughts?

My 3yr old daughter is also picking things up..which gives me such a warm feeling.  Often she is just picking up what her sister does, but I've also been trying to work with her.  I'm using an Alphabet with biblical rythmes out of The New-England Primer, 1777.  She loves the alphabet and enjoys being able to recite the little rythme.

Here's an example(book has a picture):

A-In Adam's Fall

We sinned sll.

B-Heaven to find,

The Bible mind.

It is simple, but she enjoys it and learns some biblical truth.

I think I might add a category for recipes.  I have a few that my family and I like and I'd love to share that.  I'm still figuring this out, but I am so enjoying coming here and sharing.