Okay, here I am again, late at night on all these wonderful homeschooling blogs. The problem is, is that I am getting more and more overwhelmed! I want to do preschool in a more organized, focused way this year and have read SO MANY great ideas. I just don't know how to put it all together now. I have two curriculum that I want to blend. One is Letter of the Week from http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/ and the other is Raising Rock Stars Preschool from http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/. Then, there are several other blogs that just have tons of great ideas I want to remember to throw in somewhere. The problem is how to have the time to sort it all out into a manageable plan that works for me. Ugh.
On the other hand, I have a good grasp of school for my school aged children.
THE GIRLS:
Language Arts:
We are finishing up First Language Lessons 3 and then we will move into Writing With Ease and Easy Grammar.
Math:
Allison is finishing up Abeka 3 in math and then she will begin Teaching Textbooks 4.
Ashlynn is finishing up Abeka 2 and will move into Abeka 3.
(By the way, we just switched this year from MathUSee to Abeka and the kids have done SO MUCH BETTER!!! They really enjoy math now, and I am more comfortable with the way Abeka explains things. The other got confusing for us at times.)
THE BOYS: (Well, Kevin...Kaiden is the preschool issue I mentioned above, and Noah is excited to now be able to eat Cheerios.)
Language Arts:
Kevin is finishing up First Language Lessons 1 and 2. I am debating whether to begin Writing With Ease 1 or not. We will see when I can get my hands on it.
Math:
Kevin FLEW through Abeka K last year and so is half way through Abeka 1 already as we begin. He will just keep going at his pace. After Abeka 1, he will go into Abeka 2. We will also slow things down just a bit for him to get good at his math facts.
EVERYONE:
We will all do art, music, Bible, calendar, history, science, etc. together, just on the appropriate levels. I am hoping to find a PE co-op to either start or be a part of and we just joined a history and science co-op which I am excited about!
Art: This will be a combination of Global Art to compliment our geography and Come Look With Me books for art appreciation.
Music: This will be a combination of learning hymns, piano lessons, and Pfeiffer House Music Home School Music Curriculum. (I just kind of landed this curriculum and haven't taught it or looked at it in depth, but I have high hopes.)
We will begin our read alouds by finishing up the Chronicles of Narnia as well as reading Hero Tales and our Christian Heroes: Then & Now series.
_______________________
That is the curriculum plan. My next struggle is making my schedule a reality. In THEORY and ON PAPER, school can start at 8am and be over by lunch. BUT....then life happens, nursing happens, diapers happen, fights break out, attitudes slow progress, etc., etc., etc., and before I know it we are WAY off schedule. So, this is my focus and goal: to make a reasonable schedule that takes into account all of life's little happenings and our attention spans. Wish me luck!
Oh! I almost forgot, and maybe I have even mentioned this before, another big switch this year is the workbox system. I hope to acquire the boxes with our next paycheck if Sam's is still carrying them. I couldn't find them there today. If not, I will come up with a different plan but same concept. I am hoping this will keep our focus and momentum during our school days. I will let you know how they are working.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
JumpStart Get Moving Family Fitness for Wii
Over at http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com/ , she is giving away a JumpStart Get Moving Family Fitness!!! I am someone who, occasionally, wishes we didn't own a TV. I have also always disliked video games. Wii is TOTALLY different! I have played many different types of games, activities, and fitness programs on Wii. It is a fun family event when the Wii is turned on!
This program being given away has many different games on it that can be played in several different locations. For example, play baseball underwater, race on a farm, play football in Egypt. Even your 3 or 4 year old can participate, so it really is family fun.
Go check it out! http://www.jumpstart.com/wii/get-moving.aspx
This program being given away has many different games on it that can be played in several different locations. For example, play baseball underwater, race on a farm, play football in Egypt. Even your 3 or 4 year old can participate, so it really is family fun.
Go check it out! http://www.jumpstart.com/wii/get-moving.aspx
Monday, July 26, 2010
Family trip 2010-We saw many friends and family...
Bob and Gail in VA with their children Megan and Joseph!
The Dyer family in CT along with the history of the town!
David and Carolyn in TN!
Chris' mom's family in AR!
Chris' dad's family, also in AR!
Noah grows up!
Noah @ 6 months! This month, he went swimming and ate solid food for the first time.
Noah @ 7 months! This month, Noah endured a LONG road trip, sat up unassisted, ate Cheerios, reached for and played with toys, and started growing three teeth!Catching up...
We have had a wonderful summer! Our family was able to take a trip across the US, or half of it anyway, to visit friends!!! We saw family in Arkansas, friends in Nashville, TN, friends in Roanoke, VA, and friends in Stratford, CT. I will post a few pictures soon.
Now, I am trying to get myself off of vacation mode and start getting back into a schedule. We will be starting school very soon! Because of budget reasons, we will begin school with what I have and then order the other curriculum I need in Sept.. So, I won't have it right away, but that may be good anyway. This will give us all a chance to ease into a new schedule. I am hoping to get an organizational cart from SAM'S. It is $30 instead of the $75 that someone else got. I want to try the workbox system this year. I will have a 4th grader, a 3rd grader, a 1st grader, a preschooler, and a tot. So, some organization will be handy. I like the idea of the system because it gives each child their order for the day. There will hopefully be no whining about when will they be done or how much more. They will be able to see exactly what I am requiring of them and they are done when they reach the last drawer. I can even put a snack in there and get rid of that time sucker mid morning. I can't wait to get going again. Even though it is hard to get back on a schedule, we all work SO much better when we are on one and doing school. Don't you just love the beginning of a new school year!?!?! I will post more on how this is working and what we are using this year for everyone soon and keep you updated.
Now, I am trying to get myself off of vacation mode and start getting back into a schedule. We will be starting school very soon! Because of budget reasons, we will begin school with what I have and then order the other curriculum I need in Sept.. So, I won't have it right away, but that may be good anyway. This will give us all a chance to ease into a new schedule. I am hoping to get an organizational cart from SAM'S. It is $30 instead of the $75 that someone else got. I want to try the workbox system this year. I will have a 4th grader, a 3rd grader, a 1st grader, a preschooler, and a tot. So, some organization will be handy. I like the idea of the system because it gives each child their order for the day. There will hopefully be no whining about when will they be done or how much more. They will be able to see exactly what I am requiring of them and they are done when they reach the last drawer. I can even put a snack in there and get rid of that time sucker mid morning. I can't wait to get going again. Even though it is hard to get back on a schedule, we all work SO much better when we are on one and doing school. Don't you just love the beginning of a new school year!?!?! I will post more on how this is working and what we are using this year for everyone soon and keep you updated.
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