This is quite a long post about our current and upcoming school year.  I do have a very important question at the bottom that I would like suggestions with, if you have a few minutes to help me out!! 

Our current read aloud is 'Robin Hood' Great illustrated Classics.  The kids, especially Trey are really enjoying it.  Some 'Littles' books just arrived today, so I'm sure the kids will want them read next.

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Trey-fourth grade

          BJUP for reading, handwriting, math, and grammer

          Spellingtime for spelling

           BJUP also for history

          Science we've been using AOP-but that will change next month

Hallie-first grade

          BJUP for phonics, reading, and math

          Spellingtime for spelling

          First Language Lessons for grammer

Courtnee-preschool

          No formal program, we kinda tag along behind Hallie with lots of coloring sheets added in

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     I decided with a new baby this year to continue with BJUP for history and try AOP for science.  Now, I love BJUP and their history program is really nice, however, I would like to try Mystery of History next year.  I just received the first book and its really nice.  I love how she incorporates timelines, maps, notebooks, and flashcards all together, along with reading and projects.  And I love the concept of learning history chronologically-what a novel idea!  Why don't they do this in school?

     Science was tricky because Trey really loves science, all the kids do.  The AOP program is nice but its not what I want.  No involvement other than the computer, nothing hands on.  I tried it because of the baby and it has worked nicely, but now I'm ready for more and so are the kids.  Hallie and Courtnee have been pretty much left out of science and history because I couldn't work on them together at Trey's level, but now I can.  Here's my plan for the rest of the year:

     Feb-April     Botany-using God's Design as our main study, reading and doing other projects along the way

    May               Electricity and then Levers and Pulleys -I will probably draw alot from the AOP program and add on experiments and other things

   June-Aug      Flying Creature from Apologia-birds and bugs

   Sept-Dec     Astronomy from Apologia

In 2009, I plan on working on weather and Sea Creatures from Apologia.

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Now, for history, I plan on completing BJUP with Trey.  This summer we will work on American Indians in July, Africa in August, Australia in September and a huge unit on Elections and presidents in October.  We will start Mystery of History in November of next year.

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Geography-currently we use a daily program from Evan Moor which I love.  Its literally two questions a day!!  Even at Hallie's level its really nice-basic but a good starting point for the girls.  I wanted to continue our continent studies from last year, but we just don't seem to have time in the day to get it all done, which is why we're going to work on Australia and Africa  this summer.

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Health-that's the big question.   How does anyone find time to fit this in?  I want to do the human body and nutrition, but when?

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Vocabulary-Word Wise 3000.  I've been looking into vocabulary programs from Trey.  He's constantly asking me what words mean, so I think its time to start doing this.  I just got this book today and really like the program.  They get 15 vocabulary words at the beginning of the week.  Each day, they have activities to go over and do to review the words.  There isn't a final test, just the daily activities.   I really love the concept, we'll see how it works.

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Music-Trey just started violin.  He really seems to like it.  Of course, he tightened his string tonight and broke it, but other than that, he's excited.  He was very upset, but I told him not a big deal.  I saw him doing it and was trying not to yell 'stop' at him, but I didn't get it out fast enough.  Oh well.  The girls are taking piano and doing okay.  They need to practice more-more mom's fault than their own.  We've been doing better the last few weeks.

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My Final thoughts are on our schedule.  There doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to finsh everything.  Unfortunately, this means that we usually end up ditching history or science.  I'm thinking of going to a four day school week with all the basics-math, history, grammer, etc.  The fifth day would be history in the am, science in the afternoon.  Of course, most of this would be hands on, so the kids will really love this day.  To change it up some, we may even switch the days around, so they never know which day it is until that morning.  I think that will stop alot of the grumbling by mom, I mean, er the kids.  Any thoughts, suggestions?

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Question-Trey will be entering the fifth grade next year.  Now, he'll be doing alot of reading on his own and with science and history.  He will have a formal spelling, grammer and vocabulary program.  My question is: Do we need a formal reading program?  I ask this, because at this point, most of phonics is done correct?  Reading comp is the big issue here.  I would prefer to do novel studies with comp questions and projects.  I have several now on the bookcase that are really great.  I would hate to not use them because I have a formal program and not the time to do it.  Any thoughts, suggestions, I need your help!