A Great Adventure…

We have been homeschooling our children for seven years.  We have enjoyed it immensely.  We had good days and bad days.  We had frustrating days as well.  On those frustrating days we would dance! If a lesson was getting to us, we’d fire up the stereo and dance around the family room for a few minutes until we felt better.  One of our very favorite songs to dance to was Steven Curtis Chapman’s “The Great Adventure” I love the orchestral intro, and then the big “Saddle up your horses” followed by some seriously great electric guitar licks! We loved it.

This year we will be doing homeschool a bit differently.  My kids will both be in high school, and I didn’t feel confident that I was qualified to carry them through high school.  I struggle to pick curriculum, and the whole planning lesson business is very hard for me as well.

So…we have enrolled our children in an online virtual academy through a very good public school district north of us.  Many of our friends’ kids attend this school, and we’re confident that if the kids are going to be enrolled in a public school, this is a good one.  The enrollment process took a few weeks for us, but all went well and the kids were accepted.  We met with counselors to talk about placement and curriculums, attended a wonderful orientation, signed up for some wonderful elective courses where the kids will actually be in a classroom once a week (can you say Momma time?!), and got school pictures taken and IDs made.  Both kids met with their mentor teacher (they have to check in with her every week regarding their progress, and she is there to help them…and me), and we were very impressed with her.  Parker also got to meet his English content teacher, and I am SO excited about his English class this year.  By hook or by crook, this kid is going to learn to like to write!   I think his teacher will be able to help him do that.

The kids will receive grades for the first time since we started homeschooling, and we’ll get progress reports and credits toward graduation.  At the end of high school there will be a diploma from the school district, and a REAL graduation ceremony with cap and gown with other kids graduating from the academy. 

I am SO excited about this opportunity! I’m relieved that the kids will be getting great instruction, and I only have to oversee it and help them if they need it.  I’m excited that they’ll have someone else to answer to, and will be stretched beyond what I’m qualified to do at home.  We will no longer be the “Protecting The Seeds Academy”, though I will still be protecting them.  I am still very much in control of their education, and can protest if there is anything in their curriculum that doesn’t fit our beliefs or philosophy as a family. The name of their new academy sounds much more sophisticated

We picked up laptops last week, and today we got all of the kids login information for each course.  I’m having the high anxieties, but I’m so excited. 

Next week we’ll attend an orientation for the place where they’ll be taking their elective courses, and we’ll be all set.  School starts Tuesday.

Here is a picture of my Lovies in front of the high school on orientation day…

We’ll let you know how things are going after we get started with the great adventure!

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!!!

The Last Lazy Days Of Summer…

A few weeks ago I was in panic mode because I felt like the summer was slipping away.  I really didn’t have a plan for school, we’ve had many concerns of late as a family, and my stress level was through the roof.

My son is starting high school this fall, and I was concerned about being able to continue to teach him at home.  I was worried about transcripts, grading, keeping track of credits, etc.  I have never done that.  From the start, we have never graded the kids on their work.  We usually just work on a concept or lesson until it is grasped.  Some take us longer, others we breeze through.

I had gotten the advice from some women at church to speak to another woman in our church who had homeschooled through high school.  I could get some pointers, possibly a road map, and maybe feel more at ease about the whole thing.  I do not have women in my life right now that I get together with to chat or have coffee.  We’re all busy, and I never seem to be able to find the time to do that.  So I love the input that I am able to get from online friends, right here in the comfort of my home.  I was never able to work out a meeting with that woman from church.  I got busy, and time just got away from me.  It wasn’t that she wasn’t willing…

The other day on Facebook (my link to any friends/family in my life right now), I was talking about browsing through curriculum, and the fact that I was going into this coming year with a great deal of trepidation.  A high school friend of mine sent me a private message that started a back and forth conversation between us about high school, curriculum choices, etc.  She has home schooled four children. One just graduated from college, one is still in college, one will graduate from high school this year, and another is a freshman in high school.  I don’t know why I didn’t speak up on Facebook sooner! She was an IMMENSE help to me.  She gave me a list of required high school courses and number of credits in our state, explained how she home schooled, gave me great suggestions for curriculum, and a “pep talk” on how to just relax, enjoy the time with my kids, don’t grade every little thing, and have fun!  I nearly cried when the conversation was over, because I had been so overwhelmed and stressed out about the coming school year. Now I’m not.

We made the difficult decision to drop out of our co-op group this year.  The day had changed to the same day that I work at the church, and it would have made for a REALLY long day for us.  It already has been the past couple years.  The classes offered were mostly electives, and the last two times my kids have taken a science class with this group we have fallen behind because our schedules didn’t match.  I couldn’t afford the lab costs, wasn’t comfortable teaching what they wanted me to teach, I’m not particularly close with any of the other women there….so there were a number of reasons why it was just good to bow out.  I was stressed about giving that up, but God confirmed the decision in my mind just a few days after we made it.   I’ve got to focus at home more.  Home needs my undivided attention right now for many reasons.  I need to make sure that school is accomplished every day before my husband gets home, so there is no added stress to him at this time.  He is under a great deal of it without that added burden.

My idea all along has been to try to make school at home different than it would be in a classroom.  I haven’t done that for a couple years, and I want to get back to that.  I want the kids to enjoy home schooling, and not have it be boring and drudgery.  I have found some new curriculum that I think will work for us much better, and I’m excited to stock up and get going.  I’ll share those choices with you in another post.  Right now dinner is calling…

So here’s to our 7th year homeschooling! I pray it is a good one, and that the kids and I learn a lot together.  How I love these little darlings (not so little anymore…my youngest is about to become a teenager :/)

The Lazy Days of Summer…

I’m trying to console myself over the fact that today is the last day of summer.  We have a long weekend, and then on Tuesday we are full swing back into school. My kids have a lot on the docket this year.  Aside from the stuff we will do at home: English, spelling, math, history, reading, copywork, Bible…they will have 3 courses they will take at our co-op.  They will be doing this… Introductory Logic

And this… Apologia Physical Science

 

They will also be taking a civics course, but I’m not sure what book they’ll be using for that.

We’ll be continuing with the Queen’s Copywork series, because I LURVE it!. There are some great quotes, Scripture verses, and poems the kids have to copy, it gives them great writing practice.  Our Rod & Staff English also has writing lessons every few lessons, but they are pretty tedious, and my littles hate doing them.  My friend Heidi gave me a great idea for writing practice, and it will also give my kids typing practice.  They already practice their handwriting with the Copywork, so learning typing skills will be an asset too.

Once a month both children will put out their own one-page newspaper/newsletter.  They will review the books they have read on their reading lists, will review what they’ve been doing in their lessons, and will update on any family news.  There will be a small section for a comic/picture that they will each draw.  The newspaper will be printed and sent to my MIL so she knows we are actually teaching our children at home :).  It will also give them writing/typing practice.  Great idea huh? I loved it!

We don’t have a reading curriculum per se, but we will be heading to the library next week and the kids will pick 10 chapter books that must be read by the end of the semester.  They are not the biggest fans of reading, so we’ll start with 10 and see how they do.  I’ll give bonus points for extra books read.  The books they pick will be the ones they review in their newspapers, and they must write a book report on each book they read as well, so I know they read it. :)

It’s going to be a fun, but busy year….I’m really looking forward to it! I’ll post our annual first day of school picture on Tuesday! :) You’ll be able to tell by the looks on their faces how THRILLED my littles are to be back to school! ;)

Starting School Soon…

In our home we are in the throes of back to school preparation.  I LOVE this time of year.  I LOVE the new curriculum coming in, and getting lesson plans ready.  I found this WONDERFUL FREE homeschool planner on the New Beginnings Blog, and I just printed it out.  I tried to design one myself last year, and it just didn’t work.  I homeschool two children, and it would just work better for me to have their lesson plans together on one sheet.  I also found planning calendars, attendance sheets, Reading list sheets, and some “tracking my week” sheets.  This will all be a great help to me.  I can’t wait to get it all ready to go!  Go check it out and see what you can find!

A Lovely Tea…

At our home school co-op this year, Morgan took a Keepers of the Home class.  She really enjoyed it.  The ladies taught the young girls manners, hospitality, things about keeping a home, and all of the girls had a great time.  Each girl made a darling trivet for their mom to end the semester.  Morgan gave me mine last week, and of course it has a giant butterfly on it…she knows how much I LOVE them.

This past Saturday all of the moms were invited to a tea with their daughters.  We sat out in the backyard of one of the teacher’s, and enjoyed fresh fruit, chicken salad on tiny pieces of toast, some desserts, and lovely iced tea.  The girls had to sit with their moms, and take care of any needs they may have.  It was really a lovely day, and a great end to the class.

This first picture is of the whole class of girls… Morgan is just behind Madeline, the darling little redhead in the front row.

Here is a picture of the girls with all of their moms.  I was taking the picture :) Morgan is sitting down in front with the white headband…

Here is my beautiful girl…

Here is a picture of Morgan’s BFF, Julia.  We adore this little girl… I just love the little freckles on the bridge of her nose. :) Isn’t she lovely?

Now you’ll see where she gets her lovely looks.  Here is a picture of Julia’s Mama, and her little sister Becca…

Caught sweet Madeline REALLY enjoying that food! LOVE the red hair!

Just caught one of the other moms enjoying a strawberry.  I forgot I had my zoom lens on, but I like how it turned out.  I decided to have a little fun with it, and put a focal black/white effect on it.  I likey :)

It was a really fun morning, and I really enjoyed getting to have that special time with my daughter hearing about all she learned this semester, and just enjoying her company!  Thank you Katrina, Amy, and Ann for teaching these little girls to be Godly keepers of their homes!