In Full Swing…

Today marks the start of our third week of school.  It is going great so far.  We love our new curriculum choices, and are happy to continue ones we have used all along.  I am SO glad we opted out of being a part of our co-op this year.  It would have made for a really long day for us, and it is one less thing I have to put on our schedule.  One of my women’s ministries has also discontinued this year, so I’m finding extra time I didn’t count on…God knows what we need, and makes it happen.

The kids and I are really enjoying school this year.  We have not had a grumble or complaint yet.  We’ve had a bit of frustration, but we always get up and dance for a bit when that happens, and we’re fine. :)

I’m extremely busy at church right now.  I just played for my fourth wedding this weekend, and I have much to do to get our Christmas kickoff ready for the choir this weekend.  Fall is always a busy time there, and there is much work to be done to have the choir music ready.  I’m grateful for the hours and extra finances this allows.

We have had an extremely difficult year as a family, but God has been good.  I have come to realize that they are the most important people in my life, and there is no one on this earth that I would rather spend my time with.  Andy and I were stressing out about extended family relationships that have been strained.  Some for YEARS, and others just recently.  We have decided that it just doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.  God has given us to each other, and our focus should be on our own little family, and loving and serving each other.  We will let God take care of the rest.  It has become increasingly clear to me that family is not always blood.  God brings “brothers” and “sisters” into our lives to fill those voids, and encourages us by the “family” He has given us in Christ.  That is what has carried us through this year.

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I played for a wedding this weekend.  We were all dressed up, so I took that opportunity to grab someone to take our family picture.  My pastor was happy to help! I really like how it turned out, and can’t believe how great my boy looked in that suit, and how tall he is getting!

I hope you are all having a great fall season too!

Here We Go!

My littles working on their science lesson…

We are four days into our seventh year of homeschooling!  Woohoo! This year is a whole new ball game for us, as our son is now a freshman in high school! Sigh… The years are going by far too quickly! Our daughter is right behind him in 8th grade, so I’m still combining many of their subjects.  It is just easier for me that way!

This year I made some changes in our curriculum choices, and I am very happy with those changes so far.  Here is what we are doing…

History/Literature/Bible ~ A friend brought a wonderful company to my attention called Notgrass Company.  I find it very similar to what I have read online about Sonlight.  It is a literature based curriculum, so the kids will be reading a lot of classic literature this year.  We chose the American History package this year, and as I said, it includes an English/Literature lesson, as well as a Bible lesson.  We are only four days in, but already I LOVE this curriculum.  We will be reading many famous speeches, essays, poems, hymns, etc. as well as the classic literature I mentioned before.  The kids will be writing a history research paper every month (maybe every other…depending on how things go), and studying the Bible as it relates to our history.  I am SO excited, I can’t even tell you!

Science ~ We love the Apologia science curriculum, and this year we are working on Biology.  I took it myself in high school, but didn’t do well at all.  We are only just beginning, but already I am enjoying it so much.  I am really loving learning all of this stuff over with my kids.  I remember certain things, but much of it seems new to me.  The kids are really enjoying science so far.

English ~ Rod & Staff grammar is hands down the best in my opinion.  I have never seen any reason to change.  My kids are learning things that public/private school students are not even touching anymore.  I don’t remember learning half of this stuff myself, so I’m THRILLED to be learning it now with my children.  It involves a lot of writing if you decide to go that route.  My kids prefer to do their lessons orally, so I only make them write if there is an accompanying worksheet with the lesson.  I love R&S grammar and will probably continue to use it as long as we home school.

Spelling ~ I am making my kids continue spelling as long as it is offered by Rod & Staff, because it is so important.  I was always a really good speller, and I really want my kids to be too! I am appalled by the spelling I see on blogs/Facebook, and it has just impressed on my mind how important spelling continues to be all the way through school.  So we continue…

Copywork ~ This is another “extra” that could be left out, but like spelling, I think it’s important.  My kids have extraordinarily beautiful handwriting, and I want that to continue…even in an age where most writing is done on a computer.  I have done copywork with my kids from the beginning, and will continue all the way through.  We found a lovely curriculum called Queen’s Homeschool, and it has a real Charlotte Mason feel to it.  Lots of copying speeches, hymns, famous quotes, Scripture, etc.  I really like it.  This year we chose a book based on nature, and so far it is really lovely.  This week my kids are writing the old hymn “I Sing The Mighty Power of God”.  I love it, and I love to see it in their beautiful handwriting.

Math ~ MATH U SEE all the way baby! I’ve used it from the beginning, and probably will not switch.  Mr. Steve teaches the lesson for me (a terrible mathematician), and then the kids do a practice sheet/test depending on how they have mastered the concept.  My kids “stink” at math just like I did, so we are able to go at whatever pace we need to with this curriculum.  I really like it.

Typing ~ One of my kids’ favorite things to do in their free time, is to play on the computer.  They play games, educational games, make/edit movies, skype with bestie cousins, etc.  I really wanted them to learn to type properly, so I bought a Mavis Beacon typing curriculum.  We’re only doing it a few days a week, but already the kids are doing great with it, and are being rewarded by getting to play fun typing games when they get 100% on a lesson.  They really like it.

Extra-curricular ~ Morgan will be taking piano lessons from a friend from church twice a month, and I will also be working with her to develop the “ear” she inherited from her momma :):):).  I love to hear her compose pieces already, and she catches on very quickly when I teach her something new.  Parker is interested in the cello, so we are looking into possible lessons for that.  He didn’t take much piano, so I’m hoping he’ll be able to do the cello without much knowledge of reading music. 

We’ll be looking into some art classes, graphic design (for Parker), gym related stuff, and other extra curricular as we go.  For now, I’m concentrating on core subjects, and starting to keep track for transcripts and credits.  Neither child is a big fan of sports, and that is just fine with me.  I will help them develop their other interests, and will never have to sit in the rain/cold at a game! :):)

We are really enjoying school so far this year, and are looking forward to sharing more with you as we go…including pictures!  Have a great school year everyone!!!