I went to the WHO Homeschool Convention this weekend, and had a great time with my friend Colleen. We had two full days of shopping and seminars and came home tired and overflowing with great ideas.
Happily, I didn't really need to buy much curriculum this year, so I am able to keep the cost down this time around. I was able to find what I hope to be the perfect math curriculum for Ian. We have been using Math U See since the second grade and were ready to try something new. He is struggling in that subject, so I did some research and found Teaching Textbooks. It is a software based program, but also uses a workbook. I am hoping this pulls him out of the "I hate math" slump.
I now have next year planned as far as curriculum goes, and I am working out the daily schedule.
My one last task is to find homeschool planning software. We have outgrown the paper notebook lesson planners, and I enjoyed using the free online planner (http://home-school-inc.com) until the website grew sluggish towards the end of the school year. So, I am going to invest in a good quality software program to do our daily planning. I found that the children really liked having their daily assignments printed out for them each day. It gave them ownership of their assignments and made them a bit more independent in their work. It is also really nice for record keeping.
We are leaving for TN in a few weeks, so I am putting off some of the planning until we get back.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Aahh, the irony...
For the last 2 years, we have worked dilligently on "Memory Work".
Ian has memorized 7 poems, all the books of the Bible, the Pledge of Allegiance, the introduction to the Declaration of Independence, the first 16 presidents, the Preamble to the Constitution, and the first 4 verses of Psalm 20.
In just this year, Mayah has memorized the Pledge of Allegiance, all the books of the Bible,
7 poems, the definitions of a noun, verb and pronoun (as well as the list of all 22 pronouns), the definition of a sentence and all 4 types of sentences, her address, and the first 4 verses of Psalm 20.
They have also memorized 4 prayers in Latin and hundreds of Latin vocabulary words.
Who do they choose to quote on a regular basis? Sponge Bob Square Pants.
Monday, May 11, 2009
The latest edition of The Well Trained Mind is out- I just got it in the mail- just in case you care. I for one am excited. I am all agog to begin planning out next school year. It's the best part of homeschooling, don't you know.
God is unceremoniously dropping little nuggets of ideas on me every few days concerning what to do next year. I am trying to write them all down in an orderly fashion, and keep track of them all.
I have discovered that as my oldest advances, I become more and more apprehensive about my decision to homeschool. I am starting to think, "Hey, this is getting serious. I am actually going to have to teach him something that I don't really know much about. What if I royally screw him up? I could ruin his entire future if I forget to teach something important!" (and so on and so forth) The younger years are fun and games, arts and crafts and songs. I can do that. But formal logic? Geometry? ALGEBRA and PHYSICS?! How am I going to make up rhyming songs to teach those?
He is staying home next year, not going to Akoloutheo Academy, which turns out to be a great thing, but, OMG, I am a little freaked out about having a 5th grader!
God is unceremoniously dropping little nuggets of ideas on me every few days concerning what to do next year. I am trying to write them all down in an orderly fashion, and keep track of them all.
I have discovered that as my oldest advances, I become more and more apprehensive about my decision to homeschool. I am starting to think, "Hey, this is getting serious. I am actually going to have to teach him something that I don't really know much about. What if I royally screw him up? I could ruin his entire future if I forget to teach something important!" (and so on and so forth) The younger years are fun and games, arts and crafts and songs. I can do that. But formal logic? Geometry? ALGEBRA and PHYSICS?! How am I going to make up rhyming songs to teach those?
He is staying home next year, not going to Akoloutheo Academy, which turns out to be a great thing, but, OMG, I am a little freaked out about having a 5th grader!
Friday, May 1, 2009
My little girl had a stumbled out of her room last night as I was going to bed. She was mumbling something about a bad dream as I ushered her back to her chambers and tucked her in. Apparently, a giant bee had been chasing her around the house in her dreams and scared her.
After soothing her by rubbing her tummy, she sleepily informed me that she couldn't possibly get back to sleep without listening to High School Musical 3. It was my regretful duty to inform her that the only thing we owned baring the logo of High School Musical 3 was the pair of pink fuzzy PJ's and matching robe that were tucked in her dresser.
As her eyes drooped further, she darkly informed me that I might want to keep an eye out for any large menacing insects that might be flying around the house threatening family members.
After soothing her by rubbing her tummy, she sleepily informed me that she couldn't possibly get back to sleep without listening to High School Musical 3. It was my regretful duty to inform her that the only thing we owned baring the logo of High School Musical 3 was the pair of pink fuzzy PJ's and matching robe that were tucked in her dresser.
As her eyes drooped further, she darkly informed me that I might want to keep an eye out for any large menacing insects that might be flying around the house threatening family members.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Girls Weekend.
I just got back from a very fun weekend in Chicago where my sisters and I did some girl bonding. We got a tattoo, drank beer and jello-shooters, played poker, and analyzed our parents to pieces (one sister is getting her major in psychology at Wheaton). We took 1001 pictures and did quite a lot of shopping as well.
My sweet husband was quite willing to be home with the kids for 5 days. In the course of those days, both kids got sick, the car broke down and he cleaned out the garage. Needless to say, he stayed quite busy. I almost think the worst part for him was figuring out how to get a comb through our daughter's waist-length hair after her bath. He took it all in stride and never make me feel guilty for being gone, and never called me in a panic begging me to come home. What a guy.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Family Update
It's been awhile, I know. Sorry...
So here is the latest in the family- My dear husband just bought another motorcycle. Apparently he has some ambition for buying old things and fixing them up. He will try to resell this one for a bit of profit. Note: he still has not finished the first one. He is enjoying himself immensely, and since snowboarding season is effectively over, this should keep him out of my hair.
Also, I am going to Chicago this week to see my sisters. We are getting tattoos! We decided to get the same tattoo with minor differences. It's a sister bonding thing, and I am very excited.
I am attempting to get Ian into a homeschool academy for next year. He would go 2 days a week and do the rest of his work at home. It is a very small school and dosen't have many openings, so the chances are not to good but I have peace leaving it in the Lord's hands. Of course, I do have a back-up plan if he doesn't go and have already researched curriculum for next year. Mayah will be home with me, regardless of where Ian goes next year and I am looking forward to doing 2nd grade with her.
JP and I will be going on vacation this summer- sans children. They are spending a week at "Grandparents Camp" in Tennessee while we sit in a cruise ship, or warm tropical beach. I am sooo looking forward to that! Not quite sure yet where exactly we are going, but be assured it will involve sunshine and relaxing.
So, other than making exciting plans for the next few months, things have been relativley quiet around here. Homeschooling is going great- we have accomplished so much this year buy staying focused academically and not participating in many co-ops and extra curricular activities. JP's job is stable and he is enjoying what he does. I am happy at home with the children and- as ever- burried in mounds of books. It tickles me to see Ian following in my bookworm footsteps. On some mornings he wakes up early just so he can lay in bed and read for a few hours before he has to get up and start school. I do the same thing :)
So here is the latest in the family- My dear husband just bought another motorcycle. Apparently he has some ambition for buying old things and fixing them up. He will try to resell this one for a bit of profit. Note: he still has not finished the first one. He is enjoying himself immensely, and since snowboarding season is effectively over, this should keep him out of my hair.
Also, I am going to Chicago this week to see my sisters. We are getting tattoos! We decided to get the same tattoo with minor differences. It's a sister bonding thing, and I am very excited.
I am attempting to get Ian into a homeschool academy for next year. He would go 2 days a week and do the rest of his work at home. It is a very small school and dosen't have many openings, so the chances are not to good but I have peace leaving it in the Lord's hands. Of course, I do have a back-up plan if he doesn't go and have already researched curriculum for next year. Mayah will be home with me, regardless of where Ian goes next year and I am looking forward to doing 2nd grade with her.
JP and I will be going on vacation this summer- sans children. They are spending a week at "Grandparents Camp" in Tennessee while we sit in a cruise ship, or warm tropical beach. I am sooo looking forward to that! Not quite sure yet where exactly we are going, but be assured it will involve sunshine and relaxing.
So, other than making exciting plans for the next few months, things have been relativley quiet around here. Homeschooling is going great- we have accomplished so much this year buy staying focused academically and not participating in many co-ops and extra curricular activities. JP's job is stable and he is enjoying what he does. I am happy at home with the children and- as ever- burried in mounds of books. It tickles me to see Ian following in my bookworm footsteps. On some mornings he wakes up early just so he can lay in bed and read for a few hours before he has to get up and start school. I do the same thing :)
Friday, February 6, 2009
My son has always hated writing. I mean, he LOATHES it. Imagine my surprise when we had this conversation this morning.
Me: "Finish your history, and then we will be done with school today. We have to leave in half an hour to go bowling."
Son: " But I want to write in my journal today."
*shocked blinking*
Me: "Ok, well we might not have time."
Son: "Can I write in my journal when we get home?"
*still blinking in shock*
Me: " Of course. If you finish your history quickly, you'll have time before we leave."
Son: "OK!"
I believe the reason he likes writing in his "journal" is because of the topic on which he writes. He likes to draw pictures of battle scenes from history (French Revolution, American Revolution, Civil War, etc.) and then write descriptive narrations of what might be occuring on the battle field.
Who would have thought it?
Me: "Finish your history, and then we will be done with school today. We have to leave in half an hour to go bowling."
Son: " But I want to write in my journal today."
*shocked blinking*
Me: "Ok, well we might not have time."
Son: "Can I write in my journal when we get home?"
*still blinking in shock*
Me: " Of course. If you finish your history quickly, you'll have time before we leave."
Son: "OK!"
I believe the reason he likes writing in his "journal" is because of the topic on which he writes. He likes to draw pictures of battle scenes from history (French Revolution, American Revolution, Civil War, etc.) and then write descriptive narrations of what might be occuring on the battle field.
Who would have thought it?
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