Well, it seems as if my kids do get tired of sleeping until 10:00am and watching brainless Youtube videos and episodes of “Dance Moms.” They have been asking to start school! They keep telling me that they are ready for a schedule, and Mack says he cannot wait to learn some History.
After sitting in my disbelief for a few hours, I decided that we would go ahead and start school Monday then! I was planning for after Labor Day, but I mean, C’mon….if they are asking for it, I would be crazy to delay! So here we go…..
RUBY ELIZABETH, 8th grade, 13 years old; loves music and funny quotes and inspirational quotes and wrote many of them down this summer in a notebook, still likes to read, I think…haven’t seen her with many books this summer! But I feel certain she will get back into that groove once the screens go bye-bye Monday–Thursday.
MATH–Online Pre-Algebra with Dr. D, Xtramath.org daily facts practice
SCIENCE– Online Apologia General Science
HISTORY–Beautiful Feet, Early American and World History (with sketching and watercolors)
LANGUAGE ARTS–Grammar FixIt! Book 3, Phonetic Spelling Level C, BraveWriter Readers (copywork and literary discussions), Poetry TeaTime and Nature Walks weekly, Faltering Ownership Writing Program for monthly assignments and some online writing classes as mom sees fit
BIBLE– 30 Days to Understanding Your Bible and the Bible Project Videos, personal devotion
GEOGRAPHY– Beautiful Feet, Geography through Literature (probably start 2nd semester)
ELECTIVES– Typing program, weekly piano lesson, weekly chorus lesson, home-ec (Clean your room and do your laundry and fix your own lunch, help with dinner!), sex-ed (What Are You Waiting For? by Dannah Gresh), DOGGY 101 beginning some time in late October
MOLLY LEE, 7th grade, 12 years old tomorrow, loves to play guitar and taught herself!, sleeps really late and will probably have the hardest time with our new school schedule, has enjoyed making friends at church and always seems to be planning for the next social event, enjoys playing around with make-up and straightening her 10 pounds of naturally curly hair.
MATH–Saxon 8/7, Xtramath.org daily facts practice
SCIENCE– Online Apologia General Science
HISTORY–Beautiful Feet, Early American and World History (with sketching and watercolors)
LANGUAGE ARTS–Grammar FixIt! Book 2, Phonetic Spelling Level B, BraveWriter Readers (copywork and literary discussions), Poetry TeaTime and Nature Walks weekly, Faltering Ownership Writing Program for monthly assignments and some online writing classes as mom sees fit
BIBLE– 30 Days to Understanding Your Bible and the Bible Project Videos, personal devotion
GEOGRAPHY– Beautiful Feet, Geography through Literature (probably start 2nd semester)
ELECTIVES– Typing program, weekly piano lesson, weekly chorus lesson, home-ec (Clean your room and do your laundry and fix your own lunch, help with dinner!), sex-ed (What Are You Waiting For? by Dannah Gresh), DOGGY 101 beginning some time in late October
MACK JOSHUA, 5th grade, 10 years old; loves wrestling and learning magic tricks, is growing like a weed!, still wishes he had a brother, but is super-excited to get a dog in a couple of months and tells me often how he will make sure that the dog is his best friend and not the girls’ best friend
MATH–Saxon 6/5, Xtramath.org daily facts practice
SCIENCE–Monthly TinkerCrates
HISTORY–Beautiful Feet, Early American and World History (with sketching and watercolors)
LANGUAGE ARTS–Grammar FixIt! Book 1, Phonetic Spelling Level A, BraveWriter Readers (copywork and literary discussions), Poetry TeaTime and Nature Walks weekly, Faltering Ownership Writing Program for monthly assignments and some online writing classes as mom sees fit
BIBLE– 30 Days to Understanding Your Bible and the Bible Project Videos, personal devotion
GEOGRAPHY– Beautiful Feet, Geography through Literature (probably start 2nd semester)
ELECTIVES– wrestling lessons, home-ec (Clean your room and do your laundry and fix your own lunch, help with dinner!), sex-ed (What Are You Waiting For? by Dannah Gresh), DOGGY 101 beginning some time in late October
Ruby’s first Reader is ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. Molly’s first Reader is WONDER. And Mack’s first Reader is DANNY THE CHAMPION OF EVERYTHING. I chose these books specifically because Ruby loves Anne, I mean, who wouldn’t?!? Molly loves reading about people with special needs or with physical challenges, and when we saw the movie trailer for that book I knew she would want to read it. And for Mack, I needed a book either about football or wrestling or at least about a BOY, so that’s why I landed on Roald Dahl’s, DANNY.
KEEPING UP WITH THE PLANS: I have a binder with monthly dividers that I will be using to keep up with our monthly writing project plans and also to record what we do each day. Nothing fancy, but it will be a way to note our progress. I also use the binder to house the list of books each child will be reading. I still plan to start a construction paper chain to keep hung in the school room as a visual of our progress.
SOMETHING NEW: Last year the kids each had a small sketch book that they drew in. We started with science pictures, but then it evolved into whatever they wanted to draw. That was ok, but this year I hope to use a sketch book and some water colors to keep them inspired during History to draw. I don’t know exactly how this will go, but I am going to stay flexible, but intentional to have them doing something pertaining to History while I am reading aloud from our many books.
ANOTHER SOMETHING NEW: I also want to add a blog for each kid to have them type out summaries a few times a week from what they’ve read and to record “golden quotes” from their books that they don’t want to forget. I thought it might be a good idea to have them use words to explain a new math concept since they say that if you can articulate a concept, then you probably understand it pretty well. And of course, I would like them to use the blog for a Friday “FreeWrite,” so I can see what is on their minds or how creative they can be.
WHY: It is so important to keep my WHY in the front of my mind during home schooling. There WILL be bad days. There will be tears over math lessons. There will be frustrations from everyone for various reasons, YET I cannot let the emotions and ups and downs (especially at these ages of my kids!) get me discouraged. I tell myself regularly that I am the adult and need to act like it! I can’t get on the rollercoaster. I need to be steady and firm and loving and fun all at the same time. NOT EASY. I began home schooling because I wanted to be the primary influence in my child’s life for as long as possible. I wanted to know my kids by spending time with them, listening to them and watching them. It has been much more difficult and challenging than I ever imagined, but it has also been rewarding. I am still home schooling because I still feel called by God to it, and I enjoy being with my kids and helping them learn. And I still think it is a grand way to foster a love of learning and set my kids up for success.
So, here we go! Our second year of homeschooling in North Carolina begins Monday. Will it be perfect? NO WAY! Will it be hard? YES WAY! Will it be worth it? YOU BET!