DH says he can tell it is Spring because we are finishing books left and right here.  He is greeted at the door or hears excited conversation at the table about our latest accomplishments.  "Daaaad, we finished our Math today!"  "Daaaad, we finished our Science book today." 

As we begin to finish up what was planned for this past school year I'm busy planning out our summer.  YES!  I said summer.  We plan to school year-round for as long as our schedule allows.  We believe that children never stop or take a break from learning just because it is "vacation" time.  Now, before you click away from the crazy lady who pushes her children too hard...hear me out. 

One of my dh's biggest pet-peeves is how our churches stop every kind of Bible Study or Fellowship Group meetings because it is summer and people just won't come.  I agree with him.  :)  OF COURSE!

Carry that thought over to homeschooling...why should we stop doing school stuff just because it is summer.  There is still plenty to keep us learning and our brains active.  My goals for summer schooling are much different than my goals for the rest of the school year though.  My summer goals are usually to finish those things that are undone, play educational games, re-read some favorite stories from the past year, work on logic/thinking skills books (like Critical Thinking Company stuff) and keep practicing skills already learned.  This last part is important to me.  I'm hoping to cut down on the "massive fall review" when we start our new studies this September. 

So, our summer school plans look like this...

Finish up Core A and Core B from Sonlight Mostly just reading together (14 weeks, but we can do it quicker) 

Finish up Language Arts K from Sonlight (16 weeks to go...I'm planning to condense some of it)

Math U See drills online 3x a week for 10 min.

Copywork at least 3x a week using the years memory verses

Working through "Building Thinking Skills" from Critical Thinking Company

DS will also be participating in a 6 wk gymnastics class through the Parks and Rec Department

Having picnics, swinging, riding bikes, READING, planting a garden, doing chores, READING, exploring the bike trails, going to the zoo, READING, visiting the water park, oh, and formally introducing my children to Lake Michigan!  Ahhh, it is good to be home again. 

What are your plans for homeschool this summer?  Share your ideas with me!

Well Pumpkin is sick.  She has a flu/fever virus.  Her temp spiked at 104.3 yesterday and thankfully I think the fever broke in the late afternoon.  She slept all night and has slept most of the morning too! 

Since we are in our final few days before baby arrives momma wanted to get some school-time in with Pickles (ds) so we hit the books while dd slept the time away.  Ds and I had a very productive morning and enjoyed writing a story about him being only two inches tall together.  I think ds enjoyed having school-time in his pjs! 

So, here we are on week 16 of Core B and week 6 of SLs Language Arts K (each is 36 weeks long).  I'm planning to take about 4-6 weeks off after the baby comes to recover and transition into our new "normal".  We are planning to school through the summer so I'm not concerned finishing everything up right now.

And yet more reasons I LOVE Homeschooling...

I was able to take dd to the doctor yesterday and just focus on her for the day.  Ds is great about doing quiet things when someone is ill.  We all watched a lot of videos and read a lot of stories.

I was able this morning to spend some time helping ds accomplish his schoolwork and have dd close-by while she rested and is recovering.  I didn't feel torn between one or the other but rather had the opportunity to meet both of their needs. 

Now, don't ask what our house looks like or how great our meals have been this week!  But that is just a reality that you have to accept during times like this.  Something has to fall...I can't balance all those plates.  So, in times like this I choose to let the clutter build-up a bit and the meals to be quick and simple.  I'd rather have time with my kiddos.  After all you only get to write a nature journel about sharks with your 4.5 year old once.  I'm glad I was here to fill the sippy cup for sleepy girl and help ds write a lowercase a. 

I praise God that this is who He created me to be...a woman, a wife, a mom, and a teacher for my children!

As the public schools begin the descent into the closing of this school year we are beginning the process of praying through the planning and implementation of another year of homeschooling.  DH and I will be attending a local homeschool convention in early May.  We will pick some of our curriculum, extras we may need, and some fun stuff too!  So, momma is trying to get all the ducks in a row for next fall since our new little one will be coming in five short weeks.  It is interesting how this cycle works...at least how it works in our lives for now (more on this later). 

DS will be a kindergartener in the fall.  So, you would think I'm just looking at kindergarten stuff, well, no.  DS is already showing us (after two years of preschool activities) what some of his strengths and natural gifts are so his skills are a bit all over the place.  This is where the prayer comes in.  We want to challenge but not overwhelm at this young age.  Plus, adding a new baby to our home will greatly impact how much momma can actually do next fall.  It is an exciting process and as I share bits and pieces with ds he gets very excited too!

Our plan for the fall:

Bible (probably re-reading current daily Bible with Daddy)

Math-U-See Alpha

Sonlight Language Arts Level 1

Explode the Code 1 (+others as needed)

Handwriting Without Tears Grade 1

Re-Read our Favorites from Sonlight Core A and Core B 

Lapbooks from Hands of a Child

Basic Piano Instruction (at home) using Music for Little Mozarts

So, this fall will be a basic Three R's curriculum for us with our Fun Friday Lapbook projects!  We are planning to start Core C in January 2009 and that is when will add in History/Geography, new Read-Alouds, and Science (this may not happen until spring/summer 09).

More later...time to ring the school bell (the children are getting restless).

Well, it happen today.  We had a spontaneous school moment.  We had just finished our table time work (math, handwriting, and other workbook), our chores, and our snack.  Usually the kiddos will scatter and go play for a bit while I do the harder cleaning chores but today they hung-around the kitchen.  Before I knew it they were interested in the Mighty Minds game that had come with the Core A items I had ordered this fall. 

Now, this is the first time they had really opened it and played together.  I was amazed that they sat and played it for about 45 minutes.  I helped dd get started but she likes to do things on  her own so I mostly let her have at for herself. 

As I watched them play I remembered that every year Sonlight asks families to submit photos of children using their materials to use in their catalog.  The deadline for this years is fast approaching but I hadn't missed it yet....so, being the snap-happy-scrapbook-momma that I am  I clicked a photo and sent it in.  Now, dh will laugh and say we have as much chance of winning as there are readers for this blog (love you honey) but who knows.

So here is our entry in the contest!

We have decided to use Sonlight's Core B with Hayden next year!  Hayden was so excited when a BIG box of BOOKS came.  He loves books!  So, we are all looking forward to September when we can start on the Core.  Until then we'll keep picking away at finishing up our phonics and handwriting stuff...