blogging about homeschooling and our experiences together as a family while schooling. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:57:00 -0500 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:57:00 -0500 Well we have been trying to get back in the swing of things this month.  We took June off with it being so hectic.  The new curriculum we started last school year I am pretty sure will be a success.  The kids are getting more and more into their reading and I believe they are starting to enjoy it.  Which is a huge relief for anyone that has children who swear to hate reading.  This year our main goal will be to get the kids learning on their own.  Learning how to go the extra step or two to look up things and research them further.  Hoping for a great new start! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/708775/ Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:57:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/708775/ Well now that we are getting the hang of our schedules and the new curriculum we are about to add library days into the mix. I kind of dread taking all 5 of them to the library but I am sure we will manage just fine.  The kids are enjoying reading more than they had before.  Now we just need to focus on reading the books on the list instead of just the fun books.  But I know we should never despise meager beginnings. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/677119/ Wed, 8 Apr 2009 09:35:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/677119/ It has been close to if not more than a month since we started implementing the Robinson Curriculum.  It is going good.  The kids are still getting the hang of the schedule but otherwise they are starting to do the learning on their own.  Which is great!  I am really enjoying this. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/669942/ Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:05:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/669942/ Today was Kaitlin's first Judo Tournament!  We thought Megan was going to compete but her coach wanted her to watch one first, so she will compete in the next one.  Kaitlin got 2nd place.  I am so proud.  I was going to post some video but I can not figure out how. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/666412/ Sat, 7 Mar 2009 19:35:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/666412/ The new schedule and curriculum is working out great!  I love it!  It is freeing up so much time and the kids are learning how to learn on their own.  Yeah!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/666409/ Sat, 7 Mar 2009 19:34:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/666409/ A friend of mine heard of the Robinson Curriculum so we checked it out, loved it, and are starting to use it today.  Its a new day!  This curriculum cost $195 and the best part is that it is for ALL of the kids.  You have to buy the math separate but that is ok since I am saving a lot and the Saxon isn't too expensive.  It is also a self teaching curriculum, so that takes a lot of time and pressure off of me.  So with our new schedule that we have been working on and the new curriculum they have just been busy little bees.  I love the vocabulary from this curriculum.  It is roughly about 6000 words compiled from ACT, SAT, and other placement tests.  All of the books for them to read come on CD format for the computer.  This is because most of them are out of print.  We did find a lot of them at a used book store to cut down on printing costs.  However, it shouldn't cost over $100 a year in printing cost.  This is also a Christian based curriculum with copy work coming out of the Bible.  I think I am going to like this.    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/662294/ Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:49:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/662294/ I have been getting pretty frustrated over planning the days work.  I homeschool 5 kids.  My 3 and 2 of my sisters kids.  When I am preparing their work I often feel that I am giving them lots of work that will busy them for most of the day covering almost all of the subjects.  When they go to complete the work sometimes they are done in less than an hour.  I am thinking wow I thought I gave a lot of work.  So I am thinking of going back to Abeka instead of sticking with the Classical. Some days I feel like I spend more time preparing the work then the kids spend completing it.  Well I have to get back to planning today because I have not done that yet.    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/652403/ Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:25:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/652403/ Is anyone else tired of checking work to find out that had they only followed the directions they would have gotten the answers right?  Well when I make their next history test I am thinking of putting my own spin on the directions.  I will make regular directions for the test but right after that the last of the directions will read: Do not take this test, hand it in with only your name on it.  I wonder how many of them will turn their test in and how many will actually take the test.  Maybe that will teach them to read directions in the future. Helpful hint to those of you with preteens/teens and their hormonal tantrums.  When your child gets to this "wonderful" time in your childs life, be sure to go through your home and make sure that your shelving, pictures, and anything else is secure.  We found this out yesterday when one of many hormonal tantrums erupted.  In the midst of my daughters angst over not getting her own way, she begins in her terrible preteen temper tantrum.  After saying very ugly things to her cousin, she gets sent to her room.  Throwing her tantrum on her way inside she slams the door and there you go.  Goodbye shelves in the garage.  They came crashing down.    So word to the wise, make periodic checks to make sure things are secure in your home before they all come crashing down. Oh the joys!     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/646196/ Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:46:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/646196/ Now that we are getting back into the swing of school, I am really missing the holidays.  Where we just took it easy and had a nice break from school work.  Right now I just want to go lie in bed and watch a good movie.  I am getting frustrated because I have really smart kids but I am wondering what happened to their common sense.  How can a person be so smart and have absolutely no common sense what so ever?  Oh well I guess it happens to the best of us!  I can not wait until be break for Easter!  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/642350/ Wed, 7 Jan 2009 09:51:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/642350/ Today we are implementing our new schedule.  So far its not so bad.  Not everything is not working out according to the schedule and we do have those who are playing around a little.  It will just take some getting used to, even for me, but I know we will get it and soon find that we are getting more done in a school day. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/632290/ Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:42:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourschoolhouse/632290/