Curriculum Thoughts for 2009/2010

I am taking a much needed break from studying for my classes to talk about some of my thoughts for next year. While I love Sonlight and have used it exclusively since The Ark was in preschool we are taking a bit of a deviance this year and only using part of it. One of the reasons is because I didn’t like Children’s History of the World for younger grades and I switched it to Story of the World by Susan Bauer. Well here we are getting ready to go into our second rotation of history and Sonlight uses SOW but we have done them. So we are going to Mystery of History  with Sonlight Readers and Read Alouds. I had already left Sonlight’s science since I’m not fond of it, we are doing Astronomy, will finish Botany this summer and then go to Zoology 1 this fall. If we get through it on a good pace, we will move onto Zoo 2 next spring.

The Ark has been flying through Saxon math for the last two years but I want him to have a solid foundation in fractions since they are so important in Algebra and I want to wait for his brain to hit the logical thinking stage before we hit algebra, meaning not earlier than 8th grade. While Ace and the Princess have been doing Horizons Math. Ace has the hardest time getting through that work, I guess it is not hands on enough for him so we are switching all three of them to Math U See. I like their newer program, so we will see how it goes. The Ark was complaining a bit until I explained how Algebra is mostly fractions and then he realized that he really needed to get fractions down pat.

The next change is grammar, the kids hate it. So we are going to take a year to do more hands on things with it as well. Starting with reading GrammarLand

We will also do Hands of a Child ‘s  Operation: Grammar and  Mission:Paragraph Island Rescue for lapbooking. For writing we will use Writing Strands for all 3 of them.

I had panned Latin for The Ark since he was still struggling with his dsylexia. We are adding in Ace and will start it back up in the fall.

For Art and Music we are doing Harmony Fine Arts, with Artistic Pursuits and Meet the Great Composers.

Of course we will be doing swim lessons, swim team for the boys,bike riding and hiking this summer, as well as lots of playground time while we are waiting for swim team and swim lessons to be over.

My Daisy girl (Kendra’s nick name from a friend) and The Ark are going to camp in June. I’m helping out with VBS  again in June.

I have some books at my amazon wish list that I want to add into our homeschooling. I will post them as i buy them. I found some really great math stories and will probably get the ones that fit into our ancient history theme.

Ok, enough of an update for now.

Oh my goodness

We are part way through our school year and working steadily if a bit behind still. This week we spent time working on the Louisiana Purchase, Harriet Tubman, French Revolution as well as Simon Bolivar and the revolution of South America. I think before we move on we will do a few projects on the above subjects. Probably coloring pages, lapbooking, some mapwork etc. I did get movies from the library on many of the subjects even a cartoon of Harriet Tubman.
The boys watched the inauguration, even though I dislike Obama, I’m glad that we have finally elected a black president. Although I’m not naive enough to believe that racism is dead in our society. They will do some lapbooking on that as well. Noah even wrote a paragraph for me of things he saw on tv.

Since tax time is close, I need to research our curriculum for next year. I feel like Ace and the Princess need more hands on with their math, so we will be switching to MUS until they are older. The Ark will also be taking a year off from Saxon to do MUS until he really understands the concepts of fractions. We are only going to be using the readers and the read alouds from Sonlight next year. For science we will study Zoology 1. History is going to be a bit rough, as The Ark has already done SOW 1 and we are back to ancient history. So he will be using Mystery of History and the others will be using SOW1. We have lots of great books to supplement, so that will be fun. We love our history. Ace will be staying on with First Lang. Lessons, but for 3rd grade and the Princess will be starting with FLL gr. 1. The Ark is probably going to be using Shurley Grammar but I’m not sure what grade as of yet, it only goes to 7th grade and he is weak there so I might use 5th grade next year to give him an extra year with it. We will still be using Artistic Pursuits for art as well as adding in Harmony Fine Arts. I’m looking into Bagpipe lessons for the Ark. hmmm gotta find those numbers again. if we can afford them he will take them, he really wants to learn how to play. I’m kind of looking forward to a bit of a change with our schooling, it has been a bit dry lately. I think we need a few more projects or hands on thing to liven us up.

Ace received his bible today, in our lutheran church when the children hit 2nd grade they receive a bible in front of the congregation. Yesterday he went to a brief fun day and learned more about the bible he would be getting and spent time with the other 2nd graders. The Ark has played 4 basketball games and his team has won 3 lost 1. So we are quite proud of all of them and the coach for all their hardwork.

Well that is all for now. I will keep you posted on any events.

Plans for 2009

I know I’ve not been posting much but between schooling, college classes and children. I don’t have a great deal of time. Our plans for next week are:

• Start The Ark on Saxon Math 76
• Finish SOW vol. 3 within 2 weeks, then spend two weeks on a Ohio unit study.
• Get Ace motivated in his schoolwork
• Get back into a routine!!!
• Find time for science again….we are doing Astronomy, we love it but we are lacking time
• Need to find time for our read alouds as well.
  
• I found a new bible study for us here
  
• I’m also planning for our schoolbooks for next school year. I have to buy them with our tax money so planning starts about now.
• So planning for next year is rolling around in my head.
  

I need to get the boys to write out their individual goals for this year as a writing project for them. We are also checking out prices for The Ark to take bagpipe lessons and if we can afford them will be adding them into our life, as well as art lessons for the Princess, who also starts back to swimming monday night for 9 weeks. Kendra is also in the final months of confirmation class. I start my classes on Jan. 12th.

taking a break….

From planning next year that is. So I thought I would post a couple of photos of our produce from the garden.

Our basil, it was getting to overgrown so I picked some to use for something

Our red leaf lettuce. I added it to our leftover salad from Fresh Express and it is very good.

Ok, I’m back to planning. So far I have worked out our school calendar, 197 days to allow us to catch up and possible sick days.

Our Evaluations

are done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The boys did fine, Noah talked up a storm and Adrien was quiet…..just like Noah used to be. It was Ace’s first year having to see the teacher. He said it was fun but scary having to talk to her. She loves the boys scrapbooks and their portfolios. She said we are doing a great job and have done a lot of work * I still feel we could have done more* But if you ask any of my professors they will tell you in no uncertain terms that I’m an over achiever. She made a few suggestions about teaching Noah typing, and using different notebooks for Adrien to write his copywork in. Our only issue is figuring out how to integrate Noah and Adrien’s learning style. Noah is my auditory learner and Adrien likes to work more independently. I’m going to look for easy readers for him that cover our history topics this fall. So all in all we have done great and I’m feeling much better. I’ve given the boys off until Monday and then we hit the books again. I’m working on promotion certificates for them. We stopped at McDonald’s on the way home for lunch and Adrien asked me if he was now in 2nd grade? I laughed and told him yes. He was so excited.

Noah's updated Reference Book.

I updated his schedule for next year and included a book list as well as curriculum outline, that we have to send into the board of ed. We cross off the books as we finish them. I still have to do Adrien’s and Camryn’s maybe I will start on them later tonight.

noah-aka-the-ark

Books……

I finally sat down and ordered the children’s schoolbooks for this fall. We even bought a microscope this year. Would you like to see what I ordered? Here’s the lists:

From Sonlight.

DIVE CD MATH 7/6 – 4TH ED
ELOISE WILKIN STORIES
MICROSCOPE FOR N AMERICA ONLY
MICROSCOPY SCIENCE SUPP KIT
MILLY-MOLLY-MANDY, THE
STARTING STRONG
SING THE WORD: THE HEAVENS DEC
DIARY/EARLY AMERICAN BOY
DISCOVER & DO VOL. 5-SCIENCE 4
SPACE, STARS, PLANETS
ELECTRICITY/MAGNETISM
ELECTRICITY, TOPS 32

MAGNETISM, TOPS 33

COMPLETE BK OF MICROSCOPE
LIGHT AND COLOR
SCIENCE SUPPLY KIT
SCIENCE 4 IG ELEC,MAG,ASTRONMY
RULES OF THE ROAD
WINGED.WATCHMAN, THE
GREAT TURKEY WALK, THE
ACROSS FIVE APRILS
OXFORD ILLUS BX AMERICAN POEMS
CADDIE WOODLAWN
ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY
MIRACLES ON MAPLE HILL
LITTLE BRITCHES
CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN
GREAT WHEEL, THE
MOCCASIN TRAIL
ALL SAIL SET
LETTER TO MRS. ROOSEVELT, A
LINCOLN: A PHOTOBIOGRAPHY
MONITOR.AND MERRIMAC
WEE SING AMERICA – CD
HERO OVER HERE
IN SEARCH OF THE SOURCE
WORLD WARS
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE

STORY.OF THOMAS ALVA EDISON
SIMON BOLIVAR
SOUTH AMERICA
UNIT.ABOUT CANADA
STORY USA 3, AMERICA – GIANT
STORY USA 4, MODERN AMERICA
4 TIME LINE FIGURES
PERILOUS.ROAD, THE
BY THE GREAT HORN SPOON
FREEDOM TRAIN: HARRIET TUBMAN
SHADES OF GRAY
TURN HOMEWARD, HANNALEE
OLD YELLER
HELEN KELLER

ALL OF A KIND FAMILY

THIMBLE SUMMER

IN THE YEAR OF THE BOAR
PLAIN GIRL
GONE.AWAY LAKE
SEVENTEENTH SWAP, THE
BRUCHKO
WRIGHT BROTHERS, THE
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
TERRIBLE.WAVE,THE
SING DOWN THE MOON
CORE 4 IG INTRO AMER HIST-2

The List from Rainbow Resources Center:

Horizons Mathematics K Workbook Book One –
000682 – Horizons Mathematics K Workbook Book Two –
000689 – Horizons Mathematics 2 Workbook Book One –
002333 – Language Arts 5 Lifepac Complete Boxed Set –
004023 – Spelling Power Stdt Acty Record – Red –
004028 – Spelling Power Stdt Acty Record – Green –
004100 – Reading Detective Beginning –
004473 – MCP Word Study Worktext E (1995 edition) –
004841 – Artistic Pursuits Book 1 Grades 4-6 –
004956 – DUPLO Garage Set –
005652 – Story of the World Vol. III –
009088 – Exploring Creation with Astronomy –
009330 – God and Me Devotional Series (Girls 2-5) –
010030 – Basic Botany Prepared Slide Set –
010814 – Artistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Bk 1 Intro Vis A –
011083 – Reason for Handwriting D Student Workbook –
013043 – Gettysburg (a Landmark Book) –
016189 – Veritas Phonics Gr 1 Student Kit w/out Primer –
016193 – Veritas Phonics K Student Workbook (no Primer –
016429 – Building Christian Character –
017687 – Alnico 2‰ Horseshoe Magnet –
020082 – American Revolution (Landmark) –
020598 – Horizons Health Student Book Gr 5 –
020732 – Horizons Health Workbook Gr 2 –
020758 – Horizons Health Workbook Gr K –
021614 – Horizons Mathematics 2 Workbook Two –
022989 – Watercolor Crayons (12) –
023746 – Designer Paper 20# acid free 100 shts –
023764 – Marble Paper 20# acid free 100 sheets –
023767 – Pastel Paper 20# acid free 100 sheets –
024179 – Can You Find Me? K –
024433 – Math 7/6 4e Homeschool Tests and Worksheets –
024848 – Pirate Diary: Journal of Jake Carpenter –
026489 – Galloping the Globe –
029954 – Magic Mud – 3 lb. container –
031209 – Story of the World Vol. 4: Modern Age –
033024 – Patriots in Petticoats (Landmark Book) –
033033 – Riding with the King Puzzle w/Matching Toy
035094 – Legend of the Knight 1000 piece Shaped Puzzle
035350 – Art for Kids: Drawing –

Hopefully this will keep us busy and having lots of fun and great bonding time.

The start of a new year…….

We started back to school today, i planned a light schedule this week so we could still relax a bit. Noah sped through his work. I need to get on Adrien in a bit to finish. We had to stop and go take down the xmas trees in our church sanctuary. Volunteer work at its best. The kids also played in the snow for a bit so at least they got to run around and get some exercise. I’m going to have to get to work on next years school books so that I can get them ordered with our income tax. I’m so not ready to think about next year yet. But I know that I have to. Ok, well I better go see what is what at Sonlight.

A homeschooler's dream

This morning,  the husband walks in from work carrying two boxes. I look at him and say” What is in there?” He said”remember that guy who was a teacher? I told you he had some books for us?” “ummm, no you never told me”I reply.  “well, anyway, he had some books and gave them to us.”

So, I start going through the boxes and we are truly blessed,  almost all of the titles are Modern Curriculum Press, which we do use occasionally. There was a children’s dictionary as well as a thesaurus. Lots of readers, book about every imaginable subject and every reading level. I’m so excited. These books will definitely enhance our studies and they were free……… there is still one more box in the van yet. Can’t wait to see what is in it. I will have to catalog them sometime today.

More poetry

Haiku~ If I were grown

Then I could be a pastor

I could teach everyone

A Couplet~If I had lots of money

I could buy lots of honey

Free Verse

War…….

I like to play war

with my Playmobil’s

My ships have canons

That make a big “Kaboom”

I attack my enemies

With lots of men

Capturing their captain

the survivors surrender

The Pirate Skeltons seize

the day.

Yes, he was given some help, I would say the sentence he came up with and then make him fill in the blanks.