Posts Tagged ‘homeschool’
Schooling,Week One
School is going well so far. We are finishing in a timely fashion. Some things are taking a little longer than anticipated but I think that is due to the fact that we are using a few new curriculum items and are still trying to “figure it out.”
We are still on our summer schedule for extra activities and that will soon mix with the school schedule. It seems everything switches from summer mode to school mode at different times which really makes the scheduling interesting.
We have had two field trips in this first week of school and completed four days worth of lessons (more in some subjects). We took a trip to the Anchorage Museum which also houses the Imaginarium. The Imaginarium is a hands on museum for children. Lots of fun learning without realizing that you are learning! We also went on a berry picking expedition. You can read a little about that trip on my Soaked in Adventure post.
I think that the first month or so of homeschooling is always such an encouragement. Most of the beginning of a new year is review. I know many homeschool parents who tend to skip a lot of stuff located in the front of their books because their children know the material and they want to move forward rather than just having busy work. I understand that. I, however, have decided not to do that. I think the review is good for the children and it encourages them when they can sit down and say “This is easy Mom!!!”
We are able to move through school lessons quickly and the children like that. It just seems to get our year off to a good start. We often do more than just a day’s worth of lessons and the children are motivated to do more because it isn’t such a challenge. It begins to develop a good work attitude before things become more difficult.
Our school year has started out well! I hope this is a good indication for the rest of the school year!
How is your new school year going? Even if you haven’t started yet, what is your usual plan for the beginning of the year? Do you do a lot of review? What field trips do you have planned? Share with me!
Just One Question
Whose bright idea was it to start our new school year today??? Just wait until I get my hands on them! I am EXHAUSTED this morning! I am not used to getting up this early! I could have easily slept for another three hours! I am really NOT ready for this! So tell me!! Whose idea was it?!?!?!
Oh wait, that would be me! Never mind. Off to shower and get ready for this grand adventure of another school year!
Draw, Write, Now
This school year we are trying something new. I saw this at the curriculum fair this year and I just couldn’t resist. For my younger children we will be using this three days a week. It is a basic handwriting (manuscript) program combined with a drawing (art) program. It is colorful and fun. There are also book lists and thematic study suggestions if you want to expand you study.
I bought the entire boxed set but you can purchase each book individually. I also purchased the workbooks to go along with it. It is just easier for me to keep everything organized that way.
We have not begun yet but I have all three of my little girls asking when, when, when we can start on it. I think it may be a highlight this year!
If you are interested take a moment to visit their website, HERE. They also have sample lessons so you have a first hand look at the curriculum. You could even try it out with your children before purchasing.
Have any of you used this curriculum before? If so, what do you think? Did your children enjoy it? Did it improve their drawing skills? I would love your input!
Almost There
Image via Wikipedia
Lessons plans for the entire year will be finished and printed today. School supplies are purchased. The children’s school buckets are cleaned out and organized. Morning wake up times move earlier this week in preparation. School begins next Monday and the school bell will be ringing early.! (Can’t you just hear the squeals of joy?)
We are almost there. Everything is pretty much ready except for the students. We are easing in to it a bit though. There will be several breaks in August due to camp, visitors, and jelly making. AND if Mr. sunshine ever decides to show his face in Alaska then we will run out to meet him. The days we do have lessons though will be full!!
Anyone else starting this early??
Getting Ready for School
The last of the curriculum has finally arrived and I am finishing up next year’s lesson plans. I am almost finished with that. Then it will be time to get it all printed and put in the binder. I wonder if I will be able to make copies needed for their school work before we begin or not. I always intend to do that but have succeeded in getting that task finished before hand only once.
The plan was to begin school the beginning of August. We have a new baby coming and there is always extra days off when a new baby comes. Then I got to thinking…. I will have two girls in the lower 48 for camp for about 10 days and my mother is coming for a visit the end of August. Soo, do we begin or not? The older two would have lessons for a week be gone 10 days, have lessons for a week, then off for another week. The younger children could go straight through but then we would not all be on the same page (lesson plan wise).
I had decided that we would just wait until September to begin but I am really wavering on that for several reasons. One being that new baby thing, also when daddy comes home he will have time off and we need to break from school and just enjoy having him home after such a long separation, the holidays always add extra days off, not to mention the fact that my children NEED some structure added back into their lives.
I think we are going to push ahead and start school in August after all. The older girls may be a little behind but they can do double time for a little while. The youngers will have some much needed structure. Time with daddy gone will go faster because we will be occupied. We will be able to cover a some time off later in the year if we begin earlier.
I am not talking rigid, stick to the plan school, after all there is still jelly making season that will need our attention! But we do need some routine back into our lives. Staying up late, getting up late, and then wondering what to do all day which doesn’t include irritating each other is getting pretty old.
So, we are getting ready for school to begin the first Monday in August. The children are not overly pleased but are growing on the idea when I mentioned they could take time off when daddy came home. I have the curriculum and the lesson plans. I only need some school supplies restocked and we are ready to go. NOw to break out and actually pay attention to those pesky alarm clocks!
Image via Wikipedia
Are you ready for the next school year to begin??? Where are you in your preparations?
Catechism Resources
I am interrupting the series which I am blogging to share this with you. Jennifer @ Quiverfull Family left me a comment the other day about catechism resources.
I’ve been feeling led towards catechizing lately (I don’t come from a Christian background, so this is really totally foreign to our family.)
Do you use the Westminster Shorter? Any specific resources that you can recommend?
I decided it would be good to share the information with all of you. Thank you Jennifer for asking!! These are resources that I love and am so excited to be able to share them!
First, yes, we do use the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Second, here are a few resources that we use with our family! I am also listing a few others that are out there that we have not tried just in case you want to check them out! I hope that these resources are helpful to you in training your children.
Training Hearts Teaching Minds
Vic Lockman’s Catechism in Cartoon form.
Songs for Saplings by Dana Dirksen
I know that Veritas Press also has a catechism songs collection and a song book but I have not heard them yet…they are on the order form for us to try out this school year.
We also have some of THESE children’s catechism books…they were used along with their Sunday School curriculum a few years ago.
Covenant Home also has a catechism course which my hubby has used for youth group sessions. It is designed for 5th grade and up.
