This is a post in which I ramble about homeschool software and my husband's Microsoft predjuice

This year, instead of using a regular lesson plan book, I am trying out a free online planner. Here is the link. It takes awhile to set everything up, but the initial time investment is worth it.

I never plan out more than 2 weeks at a time- it overwhelms me and leaves no room for my impulsive nature. But, to have the subjects in front of me every day keeps me accountable and on track.

My brilliant husband found the website when I told him I wanted to use homeschool planning software this year. He devoted hours and hours to finding me just what I wanted- but since he can't bring himself to let me have Windows on my computer (we are a Lenix -open source- family) all available software is out of the question-- it all runs on Windows. He complained loudly about this and even threatned to write an application for me to use. I find it amusing and ironic that all of my friends' husbands work for Microsoft- that evil empire. They laugh at me because of my husband's predjuice. JP is forced to use Microsoft at work, but no earthly powers can prevail on him to bring it into his house.

He convinced me that an online application is better anyways- my computer is old and prone to crashes. I will lose everything if it dies. Plus, I am getting a Mac next, and wouldn't be able to move the software over (don't get me started on those virtual Windows boxes).

Subjects for next year.

I tried talking the kids into cutting their summer short and starting school early this year. Imagine my surprise when this was met with choking and gasping noises.

I couldn't even win them over to my point of view when I explained that the earlier we started, the earlier we could stop. Oh Well. As of now, we will start September 1st. They don't know that I shaved off a week of summer (we were going to start on the 8th). Please don't tell them.

Next week I will commence planning lessons and plotting courses. I would love to hear your ideas and plans.

Here are the subjects we will cover this year:


4th Grade Son:

Bible- Read children's version of Bible
Latin- Latina Christiana
Grammar- God's Gift of Language A (Abeka)
Writing- Writing Strands level 3-4
Spelling- Spelling Workout
Penmanship- copywork, dictation
Reading- 60 minutes a day (30 history related, 30 fiction)
History- Story of the World, vol 3
Math- Math U See (Delta level)
Science (physics)- Science in a Nutshell kits
Art- I Can Do All Things (How Great Thou Art)
Music- Continue second year of piano lessons, study classical composers and their music.
Memory Work- Various poems, scriptures, speeches (determined by our history study.)




1st Grade Daughter:

Bible- Children's version of Bible
Latin- Prima Latina
Grammar- First Language Lessons
Phonics/Spelling- Phonics Pathways, Explode the Code
Penmanship- Handwriting Without Tears
Math- Math U See (Alpha level)
Art- I Can Do All Things (How Great Thou Art)
Music- Piano lessons and study of classical composers and music
History- A Child's History of the World (Calvert School)
Memory Work- Poems, Scriptures, other stuff...

It's official- I am homeschooling this year. I just mailed in my Declaration of Intent to Provide Home Based Instruction.

I am becoming mildly excited about the upcoming school year. All of our curriculum is tucked away, but when I am ready to get it out and start planning, I will become unbearable. Look out!

This year we will only be doing piano lessons- both kids will be taking piano. And perhaps a sport. We need to be academically focused this year, so no co-ops and MOPS groups.

My intended start date is Sept. 8, although I haven't nailed that down yet.

It's early, I know. But my favorite part of homeschooling is the planning!

So the other night, we are playing a golf game on the Wii with the kids. My 9 year old son was busy giving directions to the rest of us, (even though he has the lower score). It was my husband's turn, and he was practicing his swing.

All of a sudden my son yelled, "Come on Dad! Spank it like it lied to you!"

I laughed so hard that I cried, and it has become a catch-phrase in our house.

He may be mad, but there's method in his madness. There nearly always is method in madness. It's what drives men mad, being methodical.
- GK Chesterton

I am so hot!! (No, I mean literally- hot)

Oh my goodness.
I love the summer and the heat, but- not without air conditioning. My house is an oven!!

Great resources!

Last weekend I went to the home school convention, and some of the speakers I heard were Susan Wise Bauer (The Well Trained Mind) and Andrew Pudewa (Institute for Excellence in Writing). They were both amazing speakers and were a source of motivation and inspiration for all who attended their workshops.
I noticed, upon exploring Mr. Pudewa's website that he has downloads available that cover the same topics that I heard him speak on. The downloads are only $3 and are very much worth it. The ones I heard
(I have not listened to the downloads yet) were the following:
Freedomship Education Paradigm Audio Download

Nurturing Competent Communicators Audio Download

Teaching Boys & Other Children Who Would Rather Make Forts All Day Audio Download

There was one other workship called "The Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing. This may be the same thing:

Teaching and Evaluating Writing Audio Download



If you only choose one, I reccomend the Freedomship one (the first one linked).