Beginning a new school year can be very exciting and intimidating - both at the same time. If this is your first year, you are probably wondering how to get started. If you are a veteran, but adding a second/third/forth child to the mix of things, you are probably wondering the same thing “How do I do this?” Even if you have homeschooled your children for a few years, you have realized that each new year offers new opportunity and new insight. Most of us encounter the same questions and would like to be able to ease drop into the house down the way that seems to be doing everything right.   Well, I hope to be able to walk you through how (our) a typical day and year of an Eceletic homeschool family does the job.  

First, I've been homeschooling two wonderful boys for 6 years... and I just classified my type of homeschooling this year!  I'm Eclectic!!!  The Eclectic is one who uses a number of resources to homeschool - mostly unit studies and textbooks.  When I found what that crazy word meant - I proudly raised my hands and shouted "That's me!  That's me!!!".  So,  I am changing thing up a bit this year and loving every moment!!!  My first adventure... notebooks.  I have decided to use all sorts of notebooks.  Yes, I do mean Unit Study notebooks, but also regular three ring binders.  I made a daily  sheet that the boys will check off for their chores, school work, bible verses, and character traits they work on each day/week.  They will keep their materials with them in the notebooks instead of bins (they got very disorganized last year).  I am rewarding with stickers and then $$$.  I have a system all worked out for rewards.  I introduced it last year, and they were eager to do it.  I'm thankful for that because I get to share MY workload now.  Hurray.  (with a new baby in the mix, that helps a lot!) 

On to the curriculum for the year.  I plan to time each subject so there is no confusion to when we start and end a subject or school day (I got "talked out" of subjects last year and compromised a bunch - bad mama, bad mama).  There is also a chart on the wall as to what subjects are to be done for the day (they are always trying to talk themselves out of doing a subject).   I have combind three subjects (Bible, History and Science) into one, with a Unit Study (1st one is The Solar System).   This I will teach with both boys at the same time.  Of course, they will be doing different things within the same subject matter according to their grade.  Since we are beginning with the Solar System, I will move onto  Farm Life and then a Bird study - maybe even the human body.  We teach year round - six weeks on with two weeks off for break.   For math, my boys are both doing textbooks - Horizon Math.  For Language, they are also both doing textbooks - Easy Grammar.  For Penmanship, they will be mastering Handwriting with HWT.  Each of the boys will be having regular spelling tests and practice, too. Most of their spelling words will come from books that they read and/or Everyday Spelling.   Of course, each subject will be incorporating "notebooking" to practice their language art skills and reading comprehension.  The Unit Studies will also be incorporating Lapbooking, for arts and crafts.  I really believe this will be a more structured year with more hands-on approach.    I hope to see a great result by changing up my routine this year.  I've got to admit, as the boys get older the more fun I am having homeschooling!!! 

UPDATE:  First week of school is complete!  The boys are loving their new way of doing school.  They are excited to start each day and  don't really ask about when the day ends.  They are just so entertained and occupied... and they're learning!!! 

I hope this helps shed light on how we do school around here in our house.  It's fun, it's adventurous... and I offer this advice.  Don't ever give up.  Keep going, keep seeking friendships of like-mindness, and keep adding fun things to make education more interesting!  The children will thank you for it. 

Have a great school year, Mom's!!!  Photos of our materials are posted on our slide picture board.