Jun. 2, 2009 - Summer
Summer began for us mid May. My hard working, wonderful husband, a talented public school teacher was finished with school one week later. My kids agreed to complete 3 lessons each week for 4 weeks of summer with the rest off. They also read always. Fortunately, they are all voracious readers. My boys read a little more, but Megan reads pretty well also.
We are also busy with activities. I work as usual from home, and attend school online via Univ. of Phoenix for my masters. My kids crazy schedule for day and overnight camps throughour wonderful church, Vail Christian Church is: 13 year old son's day camp= 6/1-6/5; twin 10 year old's day camp= 6/8-6/13; 13 year old's overnight camp= 6/15-20; no camp 6/20-6/27; 10 year old twin's overnight camp 6/28- 7/3; 13 year old's middleschool day event= 6/30; evening Vacation bible school 7/6-7/10; 10 year old twin's Irish dance camp 7/13-7/17. All this and when the 13 year old is not at camp he Tang Soo Do 3 days per week. The twins also have an Irish Dance Feis in Phoenix Aug 1.
Home School will resume: 7/20. I have most of my curriculum all ready. I always question if I have the right math. It is so hard to know. I realize my kids will eventually get beyond where I can help them, so I want to have a math program with good clear explanations for the kids and me. My daughter is sticking with Math U See. The DVD and hands on manipulatives are great. My 10 year old daughter is a hands on learner and is doing better with this math than she has in math at any other time. I am debating what math to use with my boys. My 10 year old boy is currently in SIngapore Math. I am debating continuing with this, or changing to Abeka, Bob Jones, or Teaching Textbooks. My oldest (13y/o) is using Singapore currently. I am doing the same debating in his case also. Singapore goes through Pre Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II in a different format and more sequentially than traditional Pre Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II. I am debating continuing with Singapore for him, or going to Teaching Textbooks and a more traditional format of high school math.
The rest of my my oldest sons curriculum for his eighth grade year (2009-2010)will be English 9 via Alpha Omega and Lifepac, Wordly Wise 3000 9th, Classical Writing with Diogenes, and Literature= various great books, Apologia General Science 9th grade, Handwriting with Horizons 5th, Lifepac 9th bible; History focused on Middle Ages, Renaissance,and Reformation; Free style art and for music=Teach yourself violin and listening to various classical CDs.
The rest of my twin's curriculum for their 5th grade year (2009-1010) will be: Classical Writing with Homer A, Bible- Lifepac 5th, Abeka 5th grade science, Horizons Handwriting 5th, Wordly Wise 3000 5th grade; Mystery of History Early Church through the Middle Ages/ renaissance; art= draw thru history middle ages; music= teach your self guitar for my 10 year old son and teach yourself to sing for my 10 year old daughter; both wil also be listening to various classical cds; finally literature will be varous great books.
The kids will also continue in group PE via our homeschool group PE class, Tang Soo Do for my oldest, and Irish Dancing for my twins.
We have a busy year as usual ahead of us, but I thank God every day for the beautiful gift of homeschooling my children each day!
