School will be starting up again soon!  We'll probably wait until the rest of the garden has been harvested and canned/frozen, but the serious planning is well underway already.  Following is our overall plan for the year. 

Bible

Since working through the Old, then New Testaments over the last two years, I think we're going to branch off into various devotionals and kid-friendly Bible studies this year.  Some of which will include both kiddos, while some will be seperate.  A couple will be completed as part of our kid/youth group studies at church, too.  These are just to get us started.  I haven't decided exactly where we're headed after these are finished.

How To Study Your Bible for Kids

Boy, Have I Got Problems

Biblical Responsibility lapbook - Jr. Church

Friendship study - Girl's group at church 

Science and History

This year's science cycle is chemistry.  Besides a once a month chemistry club that a friend is going to host, we will work our way through:

Christian Kids Explore Chemistry

Library books about chemistry and chemists 

Of course, nature study will continue at least weekly, too. 

Our history cycle is Early American History.  The plan is to get through as many of the units below as possible and pick up where we leave off as we head into Modern American History next year.  I'll be posting detailed unit plans as we get to them.

Explorers

Native Americans

Pilgrims

Colonial America

Revolutionary War (and other significant wars - French Indian, 1812)

Pioneers/Westward Expansion

Salvery/Underground Railroad

Civil War 

I'm also considering buying the Audio CD of Story of the World Volume III for our listening pleasure.  (And to keep up with world history of the time period.) 

Mahayla - 6th Grade

Math

Saxon 7/6

Problem Solving from various sources

Logic from various sources

Math literature 

Grammar

I picked up a variety of resources at the used curriculum sale this year.  We will poke our way through each and decide what we like the best.

Grammar lapbook

Winston Grammar

Easy Grammar

Spelling

We're going to see how the program below goes.  If it doesn't go well, we'll be on the hunt for something else as I haven't really found a spelling program that jumps out at me this year.

Making Spelling Sense II

Writing

We're continuing the blog, journal, field trip journal, writing prompts and newsletters.  We'll also be adding things here and there from:

A Beka Creative Writing

Daily Paragraph Editing

Reading

With each unit, she will be assigned at least one book.  Otherwise, I never have to worry about her reading and comprehending.  In fact, I often have to ask her to stop reading so she can get other things done!

Handwriting/Typing

Handwriting and typing will be practiced thoroughly through writing assignments.  Within each unit, there will be some copywork, though.  And at least weekly, she will practice keyboard skills at:

Nimble Fingers 

Caleb - 3rd Grade

Math

Horizons 3 workbooks

Miquon blue and green workbooks

Problem solving from various sources

Logic from various sources

Math literature 

Reading/Phonics

Right Track Reading

Christian Light Education readers

Library books 

Spelling

Making Spelling Sense I  (Again, we are trying this to see how it goes.  I will most likely switch to Spelling Workout if needed.)

Writing

We will continue with the journal, field trip journal, writing prompts and newsletters.  Additionally, we will work from:

Story Writing

Grammar

We'll pick and choose from the following programs:

A Beka Language 2

A Beka Language 3

First Language Lessons

Rod & Staff 2

Daily Language Review 3

Handwriting/Typing

Cursive practice worksheets

Nimble Fingers 

Other Things That Will Be Tackled At Least Weekly

Art/Artist Study

Adventures in Art - an out of print book I found at a used curriculum sale

Discovering Great Artists

Library books

Drawing books 

Music

Paid piano lessons for Mahayla

Madonna Woods Piano Course for Caleb

Classical Kids CD's / composer library books 

Foreign Language

We don't hit this hard, but here are some resources I at least plan to pull out once in a while.

Prima Latina

English From the Roots Up

Rummy Roots

Spanish CD-ROM 

Home Skills, Homestead Skills & Handicrafts

Hopefully, our Keepers At Home group will continue.  If not, we are always busy learning or perfecting some sort of home skill and/or handicraft. 

Indoor and outdoor chores

Weekly cooking responsibilities

Serving others

4-H Club

I know this looks like A LOT, but remember I don't do everything from every curriculum, nor do I teach everything every day!  Life is education!!!  I'll be keeping you posted on our school year and I wish you a very blessed, productive and smooth school year at your house!

Wow!  You won't believe the number of new units and resources that have been added to Homeschool Share.  Really great resources, too.

Be sure to take a peek at the two units I contributed:  Journey to the Bottomless Pit and The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship.  I even won one of the drawings - five great literature books from HSS's book closet.  Very exciting, indeed!

What are you waiting for?  See how many of this coming year's studies are already planned for you!

Here's #3 of 4 Question Box topics from co-op this week.

Creative Memorization Ideas

My all-time favorite creative memorization tool so far has been Times Tales!  My oldest daughter had struggled with the upper multiplication facts for months.  In ONE day of this program, she knew the facts!  I'm not kidding!  It uses little stories to tell about each fact.  After doing the program with her, I still can't think of 8x7 without picturing Mrs. Snowman and Mrs. Week driving one mile over the speed limit at 56mph!  :)

Getting children to memorize anything from math facts to Bible verses to dates is going to depend greatly on their learning style.  Lucky for us, there are a wealth of resources available for memorization using different learning styles:

-lists or topics put to songs (Lyrical Learning, Garden of Praise (FREE), Audio Memory)

-flashcards

-facts put into silly stories

-mnemonic devices

We can easily do some of the above ourselves.   We can also put facts or verses to clapping rhythms or movement rhythms.  We can play little games like tossing a ball back and forth to spell out words or complete math facts.  And hey, who wouldn't work hard for an M&M for each facts or verse quoted correctly??

Here are some really great ideas I found on the internet.  You could use the same ideas for a variety of memory work topics.

Creative Bible Study

Making Bible Memorization Fun

Creative Christian Ministries

Fridays this year are going to be a "break from the regularly scheduled program".   After a few light language activities and a round of fun math, we'll spend the rest of the day doing one of three things.

1.  Two Fridays out of the month we'll take a quick trip around the world to another country.  If you're a Five In a Rower, you'll appreciate the book I'm using for our "trips".  It's called Read Around the World with 20 Great Picture and Chapter Books.  Each country is introduced using a children's book, then there are maps and other activity suggestions to learn more about the country.  I'm adding a non-fiction book and atlas study each time, too.  We'll do some sort of cooking project, art activity or other fun project to add to our worldly experience each time.  After each visit, we'll add a marker to the world map to show where we've been.

2.  Another Friday each month will be devoted to an artist study.  We'll read books about the artist, study some of his or her art and try some of their techniques out ourselves.  I'll leave the info books and certain art supplies out for the month to use during free time.  I'm sure I'll be posting pictures of these each month.  :)

3.  The fourth Friday will be dedicated to a seasonal activity.  Timely science experiments, crafts and other fun learning.  I'm using a book called Science Projects for Holidays Throughout the Year to give me seasonal science lessons.  And of course, the folders for other fun ideas.  I'm sure you'll see pictures from many of these days, too.

The biggest flaw in the Friday plan is this....I like to take field trips and Fridays tend to be perfect for field trips.  At least my intentions are good, right?  We'll see what happens.

A new baby has slowed me down in the planning department!  I've been putting this post together for what seems like weeks, but I believe it's finally ready.  I'll copy this to put into my planning binder as a record of our curriculum and goals for the 2007-2008 school year.

Subjects we do all together:

Bible/Devotions

*Read through the New Testament in The Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos and complete our Bible timeline using the Big Bible Timeline.

*Seven C's of Creation (this is our summer study)

*Discovering Jesus in Genesis by Susan Hunt

*Pearables Kingdom Stories - some of these, not all

*Life Lessons from The Princess and the Kiss  (possibly)

Church studies: (this list will be added to as new studies come along)

*Missionaries Unit using Missionary Stories with the Millers as a "spine"

*Bible Bowl

History

*Ancient History Unit - Spine book:  Ancient History Pockets

*Middle Ages Unit - Spine book:  Hands-On History: Middle Ages

*Kentucky History Unit - Spine book:  Spectacular State Report Projects For Any State

Science

*Astronomy Unit - Spine books:  Exploring Creation with Astronomy by Jeannie Fulbright and the Astronomy Lapbook from Knowledge Box Central

*Earth Science Unit - Spine books:  Primarily Earth, Rocks And Soil, and Considering God's Creation

Art/Music/Foreign Language

*Various art studies, art lessons and art projects throughout the year, no specific resources

*Various music composer studies, music classes and hymn memorization throughout the year, no specific resources

*Rosetta Stone online Spanish and Prima Latina Latin

MAHAYLA'S OTHER SUBJECTS

Math

*Finishing Saxon 5/4 and moving into Saxon 6/5

*Bi-weekly problem solving and logic opportunities using a variety of resources.  Below are a few sample books:

Mind Benders 

Thinking Skills

NC Math

Instant Activities For Math That Kids Really Love

Intermediate Math Trivial Pursuit

Problem Parade

Language Arts

*Daily silent reading

*Daily read alouds with Mom

The following subjects will often be integrated into the current learning unit.  Other times, activities will be chosen from various places including...

*Spelling: Spelling Works and Spelling Time

*Grammar:  Great Grammar Lessons That Work and this grammar website

*Writing:  All sorts of sources including:

Easy File Folder Reports

30 Biography Book Reports

30 Nonfiction Book Reports

Building Skills In Writing:  Story Writing

Igniting Your Writing

Helping Students Write the Best Research Reports Ever

A family newsletter she's going to publish

*Copywork:  WriteShop Copying and Dictation Exercises, Words of Love Bible Copywork

*Typing:  Nimble Fingers

CALEB'S OTHER SUBJECTS

Math

*Horizons workbooks

*Miquon workbooks

Bi-weekly problem solving and logic opportunities using a variety of books.  Below are a few sample books:

Mind Benders

NC Math

Menu Math

Meeting Math Standards With Favorite Picture Books

Munchie Math

Problem Play

Language Arts

*Reading:  Still plugging along in Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, easy readers, phonics workbooks, Abeka's Handbook for Reading, and fun games

*Writing/Copywork:  Happy Scribe's Words of the Gospel, Words of Love Bible Copywork

*Grammar:  First Language Lessons

*Spelling:  Spelling Time, and words I notice he needs work on

*Typing:  Nimble Fingers

EXTRAS

Co-op classes on Monday afternoons:  P.E., Music  - others To Be Announced

Piano Lessons - Mahayla

Horse Lessons - Mahayla and Caleb

This year's curriculum is being put together with as many free and very inexpensive materials as possible.  After looking at my shelves and in the folders on my computer, I realized that I have more than enough already in my house to teach with.  Most of the materials I'm using are coming from free e-book downloads or the Scholastic $1.00 books I bought earlier this spring.  The Rosetta Stone online is free through our library.  I've decided I won't be making any big purchases at all.  There just doesn't seem to be any sense in it. 

Just a reminder for some of you who will say, "She's using ALL that THIS year?!!"  I don't use everything all the time.  Nor do I use all of anything.  I use only what I feel like my kiddos need at the time.  I pull the best from several resources because no one resource ever seems to fit us perfectly!  It doesn't bother me to have undone pages in a workbook or undone lessons in lesson guide.  I'm the teacher at my house and I get to choose what we do and don't do.    The list above is actually far from complete.  I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting things to add to the mix.  I guess I'm the ultimate eclectic, unit study, lapbooking, notebooking, workbooking, literature loving homeschooler!  It all has it's place you know!

It's that time of year again - catalog time!!  My greatest pleasure when going to the mailbox is to find a homeschool catalog, or even better, a package!

Over the next few days, I'll be adding to a wish list of homeschooling things I'd LOVE to own if money were no object.  Of course, money is an object, so most of the list won't ever make it to my house!  But it sure is fun dreaming..........

Bible/Character

Student Bible Atlas

Veritas Press Bible Cards

Chronicles Of Narnia Set

Pilgrim's Progress Unit from Answers In Genesis

Trail Guide to Bible Geography

Building on the Rock devotional series

Grandpa's Box

Mr. Pipes series

Grapevine Studies

Language Arts

Handwriting Without Tears

IlluStory

Math

Science

Lyrical Science CDs

Exploring Creation with Zoology I & II

Pocketful of Pinecones

Moody dvds

Microscope

Electronic Snap Curcuit set

Wild Goose science kits

History/Geography

Legends & Leagues book and workbook (I've never actually seen this, but sounds so good!)

Hands & Hearts Sets - all of 'em

History Pockets - all of 'em

Veritas Press History Cards

Hands-on Geography

Mystery of History Vol. 2

Your Story Hour CDs

Henty novels

Story of the World Audio CDs

d'Aulaire books - all of 'em

Ted Rand books - historical fiction

Holling C. Holling books - all of 'em

Other Subjects

Classical Kids CDs - all of 'em

Latin For Children

Getting To Know the Great Artists/Composers books - all of 'em

Raising Modern Day Knights

Guitar For the Absolute Beginner video

Many Vision Forum CDs

Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends

Rosetta Stone Spanish

Music Ace Deluxe CD-ROM

Fun Stuff

Continuo game

Somebody game

Herd Your Horses game

Little Trackers game

Squint Jr. game

Tally Ho! game

Blokus game

Logo Works - computer programming for children

10 Days in Africa/Europe/USA games

 

 

My goodness, there are so many curriculum choices!  It can be very overwhelming to choose just the right thing sometimes.  Even when I choose something that I think will be perfect, it isn't always.  Thank the Lord for places like Vegsource and Ebay!  As the years have gone on, I've gotten much better at choosing things that I don't have to turn around and sell almost as quickly as they come in the mail!

As I share some of my favorites, I'd love to think they might be your favorites, too, but your children and mine may not be alike.  Your style and mine may not be alike.  Either way, I hope this list encourages you to use curriculum that inspires your child.  Yes, inspires!

Is it important to me that my children get a complete education?  Yes.

Is it important to me that they learn certain things that they really couldn't care less about?  Sometimes.

Is it important for me to make sure they have a good foundation in the basics?  Absolutely.

But, most important to me is that they are inspired.  That they love to learn and know how to find answers to their questions.  That they leave most (not all) lessons with a sense of purpose.  That what they learn fits their learning style so well that it hasn't been a source of complete frustration.

Figuring all this out hasn't happened overnight.  I've made a lot of mistakes, and will continue to.  But, I have no problems chucking one not-so-good thing for another better thing when needed.  I feel like it's my responsibility to create an inspiring atmosphere over just a "here is your work for the day, get it done" atmosphere. 

Some people ask, "How do you know you're covering everything if you don't follow one complete curriculum all the way from 1st grade through high school?"  My answer:  Who's to say THEY are covering everything?  Especially everything that MY children need to know.  My children have special talents, skills, interests and desires that God gave them.  I'm much more qualified to see those things and teach towards them than a pre-set curriculum, right?  Also, if I'm using a variety of math curriculums, let's say, I'm most likely going to cover just about "everything" at some point anyway.  And even more importantly, if I "miss" something, they will have all the skills and resources necessary pick it up when needed.  No one person or curriculum can possibly teach EVERYTHING anyway.    

So for my favorites (so far):

PK

NOTHING formal

Lots of read alouds, crafts, easy experiments, easy cooking, letter and number games, songs, poems, free art time, dress up, dramatic play....

K-1st

Teach You Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons

BOB Books

Starfall.com & Workbooks that go along

Expode The Code

Reading To Learn Series from Christian Light Publications (1st-3rd)

Spelling Workout (late 1st)

First Language Lessons (late 1st)

Five In A Row

Horizons Math

Miquon Math

Keyboard Capers (music theory)

Still lots of the same informal learning as PK.  My lessons were/are very short at this age.

2nd/3rd

Reading To Learn Series

First Language Lessons

Abeka Grammar (3rd)

Spelling Workout

Mind Benders

Horizons Math

Miquon Math

Five In A Row

Apologia Elementary Science

Considering God's Creation

Lapbooking Units from Hand of a Child and Knowledge Box Central

Story of the World (I start this in 1st)

History Pockets

4th

Intermediate Language Lessons

Saxon 5/4

Story of the World

Mystery of History

Apologia Elementary Science

Lapbooking Units from Hands of a Child and Knowledge Box Central

Bible and Character Training for PK-4th

The Child's Story Bible

Big Bible Timeline

Miller Stories

Discovering Jesus in Genesis

Jotham's Journey

Answers In Genesis DVDs and Seven C's Curriculum

For Instruction in Righteousness

Jonathan Park Adventure CDs 

I've used many other things, but these are my favorites.  I'm never using everything at once, just in case you think the lists look really long! 

I would love to hear some of your favorites!  Please add them to the comments.

Caleb told me the other day that first grade sure is harder than Kindergarten!  He's right.  I'm expecting a lot more from him this year, but nothing he can't handle.  He's a very active child and would much prefer to climb a tree than do a phonics page.  I make sure he has PLENTY of time to climb trees, jump on trampolines, work on the farm with Dad and anything else that gives his body the movement it needs. 

But, he is expected to get school work done first.  His typical day consists of Bible, math, reading, writing and doing some history and/or science with his big sister.

Bible, science and history are done together as a family.  Sometimes I make simpler worksheets or notebooking pages for him.  Other times,  I just find a coloring sheet that goes along with the topic.  Having nothing to do other than listen doesn't keep his mind focused.  Surprisingly, building with blocks while he listens is good enough to keep him focused, too!

They both have memory verses each week, too.  Mahayla writes hers out in a notebook for handwriting practice, but I just copy Caleb's onto card stock and let him tape them up in our school room for now.  He's made a memory verse cave under the table that we use for school and he loves to go in the cave to read his verses.

As for reading, we started with Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons and stopped about halfway through.  We'll probably pick it back up again soon, but have been using the Starfall materials, BOB Books, easy readers from the library and phonics worksheet books from the dollar store for now.  Starfall is AWESOME!

For math, we use Horizons 1, NC Math grade 1, Mind Benders and some other logic/problem solving books that I have around the house.  Remember, we don't do everything in each of these curriculums! 

Fridays - we usually read a "character training" book rather than the Bible.  Caleb's favorites are the Miller's books by Mildred Martin.  Mahayla likes to read anything and everything!  No matter what we're reading, we all love to cuddle up on the couch for a good book.  Needless to say, you can imagine that my bookshelves are full to overflowing!  I think I'll post soon on some of my favorite children's books......

What do we do at our house for school?  Good question - it's always changing.  We are eclectic homeschoolers, using whatever materials and methods work best for the "season".  I used to get frustrated with myself, wondering why I couldn't just stick with one thing and be done with it.  It takes A LOT more effort to think, plan and change courses.  But then I started to see that my children were the same as me.  We get bored doing the same things day in and day out.  God has given us active minds, and not just "anything" can fill those minds and keep us content.  Some may call that ADD , but I choose to call it a gift from God!  You see, we are ready to take on new challenges, willing to try something new and never afraid to say something didn't work.  And we've never failed to learn new things, either academically or about ourselves, in the successes AND failures.

So, what does our homeschool look like right now?  I would call my philosophy a mixture between Classical education and Charlotte Mason education.  We spend most days sticking to a fairly regular schedule, using the materials below.  But, we're always ready and willing to ditch the schedule for a field trip!!

Mahayla's day usually consists of Bible, math, language arts, independent reading, piano and history and/or science.

Like I said before, we get bored easily SO we spice up the week by using various curriculums.  NO, I don't try to finish everything in every curriculum. I just try to make sure we have covered and mastered what's necessary.  My philosophy is:  Why practice the same thing over and over if the skill has already been mastered?

Bible - Child's Story Bible (VOS), NIV Bible - we'll often color a timeline picture from The Big Bible Timeline to hang on the wall, or I'll print a coloring page to go in the Bible notebook, or I'll find a "review" activity from the internet to add to the notebook.

Math - Saxon 5/4 (only the mental math and about 1/2 of the daily problems), lessons from NC Math (link posted to the right), logic and problem solving activities from sources like Mind Benders and fun math activities that go along with units we're studying.

Language Arts - We do at least one activity a day, sometimes more.  I've come up with my own grammar packets this year.  She has to read a book and then do various grammar/writing/comprehension/spelling activities to go along with the book.  We've also used  Literature Pockets, computer games, writing stories and poetry that go along with a unit, and grammar practice pages that come from various workbooks I find at dollar stores. 

History - We're currently taking a break from Mystery of History I.  Why?  Well, I'm trying to decide if it's really enough world history.  There's plenty of Bible history (which is good), but I don't feel like it's tying the Bible into other world history like I had hoped.  Since we're in the middle of a large human body unit, I have a little time to make a decision.

Science - We follow the four-year-cycle of The Well Trained Mind for science (and history).  This year is a biology year.  We just finished Exploring Creation With Botany and LOVED it!!  Now, we're working on a human body unit that should last through Christmas.  My main spines for this unit are Considering God's Creation and and hand's on acivity book put out by Scholastic.  (I forget the name right now.)  After Christmas, we'll finish the year with Exploring Creation With Zoology II (Mahayla's choice.)

Mahayla also does LOTS of extras - crochet, knitting, sewing, baking, art, crafts, and she loves to be outside helping Dad on the farm.

We love notebooking!  We love books on tape!  (The Trixie Belden series right now)  We love reading and going to the library!  And we love our co-op that meets once a week!  Oh yeah, we love our Keepers At Home group, too!

Caleb's typical days.....that will have to wait for another post.