Progress Report; November 2010

I'm trying to get back into the habit of blogging our schooling again so here is our November 2010 progress report.

Ambleside for our oldest is going pretty well. He is enjoying the readings and likes telling me about them and discussing the readings with me. Beyond FIAR, when or when will I learn that this just doesn't fit well around here. The kids enjoy it but it is way more work than I have time for to make the lessons meaty enough for my liking. FIAR for my 4yo is awesome though. She is thoroughly enjoying it and learning tons. The big kids still like to listen in on her lessons.

SWR is going well, everyone's spelling is improving but we still need to really focus on consistency with it. That is going to be one of my top priorities from here on out. KISS Grammar was a huge flop, way too much work for me to coordinate. I pulled Junior Analytical Grammar out, we will start that soon with my oldest. I realize he could use Analytical Grammar but we just don't have the money for it right now. We'll use JAG this year and begin AG in 8th grade. I'm thinking of using these worksheets with my 4th and 5th grader or I may just hold off on formal grammar until next year and do JAG with both of them. I haven't decided yet. Bravewriter we still do and it seems to be working but I'm planning on some changes in the spring. The Arrow we never seem to get around to.

Art and Science never seem to get done around here. At least not as a formal thing. I have plans for that as well. Classics for Kids is a huge hit, that really works well for us. Due to several financial crisis situations this year, we are back down to one vehicle and limited finances. I still want to do homeschool PE at the Y but I need to get something worked out vehicle wise so we can get there. Extracurriculars are on hold until spring when, if our plan works out, our finances will be in better shape.

So here are some of the changes I have on the drawing board for spring:

History Odyssey Level 2 Ancients for all 3 of the older kids plus some Ambleside readings

CPO Middle School Science (still debating this one, I would love a secular middle school science with at least weekly labs that's not, read a section from here and section for there and now do a lab and find all the equipment yourself but doesn't cost a year's private school tuition either. any suggestions would be welcome)

Thinkwell 7th grade math for my oldest, he really likes the preview. We'll be doing the trial before we order

We are doing Math Mammoth, Math on the Level style, with the younger two...I'm considering Teaching Textbooks but on the fence still about it. Math Mammoth is great for my 4yo, I think she will just continue with it.

Looking at Atelier Art and still trying to find affordable local art lessons

WriteShop for my oldest; continuing WWE for the 4th and 5th grader. Hoping WWS will be out for them next year.

There are a few other things I'm considering but that's the biggest changes so far. My theme of keep it simple is going pretty well. Some of the joy of homeschooling is seeping back into our lives. :D

Back To School 2010

-or- I Really Needed a Summer Vacation

So some of the FIAR ladies may have noticed I haven't been around the boards much in the last few months. We had a lot going on this summer but I won't bore you with the details. The most significant thing we had going on was that we almost decided to send the kids to public school. But after a long couple of months of not having to think about anything school related and getting to be "just a mom" and not a mom and a teacher and chauffeur and...well you know how it is....anyways, we are going to continue homeschooling. :D

I'm going back to basics this year, keeping things simple, trying not to worry that I'm not doing enough or doing it "right" and just try to enjoy the kids and seeing them learn.

So here's what "basics" looks like for us, I've got a 12yo sixth grader, 10yo fifth grader, 9yo 4th grader, 4yo kindergartner and a 2yo Tazmanian Devil to teach this year.

Beyond Five In A Row (4th/5th graders as a group)
Five In A Row Vol 1-3 (K'er)
Ambleside Online Year Pre 7 (6th grader)
Spell To Write and Read (6-4th graders as a group; K'er gets her own lesson)
Math On The Level (some group and some individual lessons)
BraveWriter (Mostly for the older 3 but some for the K'er as well)
TOPS science books (just because we are a science loving family :) )
KISS Grammar (older 3)
The Arrow from Bravewriter
Bravewriter Lifestyle (to include Outdoor Hour Nature Study, Ambleside Online Poetry, Classic for Kids, Friday Freewrites and weekly library visits)
Art lessons from FIAR lessons, DeepSpaceSparkle.com and Primary Art

So that's my plan more or less. All the basics are covered and I'm working on keeping it simple with FIAR. No fancy lapbooks or paper proof for every project this year. They will have notebooks to keep any paper products we do produce but I refuse to stress myself out by trying to have at least a notebook page for every thing we do. My lesson plan notebook with dates completed I've decided is plenty of proof that we "did school". :)

We are looking into homeschool PE at the Y and art lessons at the university and we've heard tale of some neat horse classes that my older daughter is interested in. I will definitely count them as part of school but I'm determined not to overdo it this year. :D