Everything is about EASY

Our lessons have been going well this year so far. Bob has taken on the responsibility of teaching Math and Spelling, as well as leading the prayer time. Talk about a big help! When the kids have a math question, I can say, "Hey! I'm not the math teacher! Go ask your dad!"

I redesigned our schedule to be more friendly to a momma who doesn't get home from work until well past midnight and who rarely gets to sleep before 2 am. This way, I can sleep a little more in the mornings and Bob can get them ready and started on their work. The schedule needs a bit more tweaking, but when doesn't it?

We start with prayer time and I am usually still in my jammies then, with a big cup of coffee! Then David and James begin their language arts, doing the independent parts first, so I can finish getting ready for the day. David does his reading and writing in a literature journal, while James does some independent phonics practice (read: WORKBOOK pages! lol) Meanwhile, Emily and Suzy are doing math, under Bob's supervision. Suzanne has been so extremely excited about her lessons, now that she is in "kindergarten"! Once I am ready, I do reading and phonics instruction with James. He also writes in his lit journal.

After this segment, they switch, and I do phonics instruction with Suzy while Emily reads and writes in her literature journal. At this point, Bob is doing math with the boys.

At some point, I gather them all together and do group instruction in Science OR History (we are seeming to do alternate weeks so far this year), as well as Bible and any other group subjects, such as Art. I give any grammar or writing assignments at this point as well.

We have lunch and I read aloud. Our current read aloud is The Secret Garden. They spend a little time on chores and then they finish their studies for the day, which would be anything not finished yet and Spelling with Dad. We are usually done by 2pm, but always by 3pm when I leave for work. My goal is to have them done by 2pm so that we can spend an hour being together. That usually ends up being half an hour though, since I need to spend some time getting ready for work. I am streamlining that process though too.

Soccer keeps Bob busy in the evenings. With 4 kids playing and practices or games almost every night of the week, he is always running someone to practice or picking someone up! Saturday mornings are filled with soccer games also!

Everything is about EASY this year!

First Day of Lessons

Although the first day of lessons was FOUR weeks ago, I am finally getting around to posting. Our first day traditions include new learning supplies, a scavenger hunt, and ice cream sundaes for lunch.

Kids Who Like Workbooks

Children who like workbooks feel this way because they are good at them, find them easy, and are not required to think critically. Many children want workbooks because they think they are supposed to have them. They see older students, older brothers and sisters, or neighborhood children using them. Children and parents like workbooks because they are perceptible evidence of something occurring in school (workbooks can often be the only tangible evidence of learning in the classroom). There are many more effective tangible items children can bring home.
Raising Readers: Helping Your Child to Literacy
by Steven Bialostok
(emphasis added by me!)

Curriculum 2007-08

Well, I hate to be a copycat, but Jennifer posted her curriculum choices for next year, and since I have mine mostly worked out, I thought I'd do the same. So, thanks, Jennifer, for the impetus!

For those that might not read regularly here, I have 4 children and work full time on second shift. My kids are David, age 12-1/2 in 7th grade; Emily, age 10 in 5th grade; James, age 7-1/2 in 2nd or 3rd grade; and Suzy, age 5 in kindergarten. (Only homeschoolers could be unsure of their children's grade level! lol)

Bible

All kids - Baker Bible Study Guide for All Ages - Finish Volume 3

and alternate with:

Character Building for Families – Volume 2

Math

David - Math U See – continue with Pre-Algebra, then move to Algebra 1

Emily - Math U See - Gamma and memorize all math facts

James - Math U See – Finish Beta, start Gamma

Suzy – learn the numbers and practice counting

Language Arts

Reading

All will do child-chosen silent reading and mom-chosen instructional reading (some aloud, some silent).

All will listen to Read-alouds, Mom-chosen, of general interest

Literature

David – still deciding (perhaps Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings?)

Phonics

James – Finish Alphabet Island Phonics 2B, Explode the Code 3 & 4, & Phonics Pathways (to supplement when needed

Suzy – Alphabet Island Phonics 1 and Bob Books when ready

Grammar

David – Sonlight Grammar Ace

Spelling

David & Emily - continue with Spelling Power

Penmanship

David Self-Instruction in Handwriting (Zaner-Bloser) Cursive

Emily Self-Instruction in Handwriting (Zaner-Bloser) Neater Printing & Cursive

James Self-Instruction in Handwriting (Zaner-Bloser) Printing

Suzy - Writing the Letters and her name

Writing

All kids will write back and forth to me in their Journals, and write to others via the postal service

Composition for David and Emily will be Institute for Excellence in Writing's course - Student Writing Intensive B.

Science

David – Apologia General Science (or possible Physical Science, if co-op offers this class)

Emily, James, Suzy – Scholastic Science Mini-Journals (9 mini units on various science topics)

Social Studies

Might do From Sea to Shining Sea & Sounding Forth the Trumpet since I already own those, thus continuing our American history study.

Or we may go on to Mystery of History Volume 2....

Physical Education

All kids will play AYSO soccer in the fall & spring.

All kids will have PE at co-op twice a month.

Will include in some form: Music Appreciation, Art, Geography, Typing

May also include Spanish, which I can teach, but I might get Rosetta Stone instead.

Teaching My Own Kids

I have had a very hard time deciding if I should take the job that has been all but offered to me at the Christian school for next year. (Full time teaching 3rd/4th). I prayed like I never have before and I very clearly heard from God that my calling is to teach my own children at home.

So, next year, I will be back home with my kids. Well, actually, starting June 16! lol

Things will be very different for us though, as I will be working full time, just not during the "school day". My job is Monday-Friday from 3:45pm to midnight. I am working in a plastic injection molding factory as a machine operator.

But I will be teaching MY OWN KIDS AGAIN! Praise the Lord!

Finished Mystery of History Volume One - Wonderful!

Friday was our last day of Mystery of History Volume 1! I am so excited that we have finished! We took about a year and a half to complete the curriculum. It was an awesome experience and I recommend MOH to everyone.

We will take a break from World History and do some American history before going on to MOH2, mainly because I cannot afford to purchase it right now.

I already have The Light and the Glory for Children (by Peter Marshall and David Manuel), as well as the 2 continuing volumes, so we will read these and do some corresponding activities before going on to MOH2. This will give us a "quick" survey of American history.

(Note: I am doing all the planning, but my husband Bob is doing almost all of the actual teaching!)

IEW, TWSS, SWI

I wrote: In other news, I've decided to put the IEW curriculum aside until I can afford to buy the SWI. The TWSS is too complicated for Bob to take over and I often don't have time or energy to teach it when I get home from work.

Michele asked about the alphabet soup! Sorry, Michelle, and any of my other confused readers!

IEW is Institute for Excellence in Writing. It is the curriculum written by Andrew Pudewa, who spoke at INCH last year.

SWI is the Student Writing Intensive put out by IEW. It is the beginning curriculum and it comes in 3 levels, depending on the age/grade of the student(s) using it. It is a DVD-based curriculum, with Mr. Pudewa providing instruction to the students via video. There are lesson plans as well, which I have, but they are less useful without the DVDs.

TWSS is Teaching Writing: Structure and Style. It is an informational DVD set for the teacher. I had intended to teach writing with just this information, but am finding it would be easier if I had the SWI.

So, on my curriculum wish list? SWI-B.

Playdough Day and Poetry

Due to Easter, I have three days off work - last Thursday and Friday, as well as today. So, I had lessons with the kids Thursday all day and Friday morning, instead of my husband being the teacher. I had plans to do lessons with the kids today as well.

However, last night I wasn't feeling very well and purposed to sleep late today, which I did. (At least compared to my usual 6:50 alarm.) The kids were encouraged to clean their rooms during that time, and they made some motions like that might be happening.

Right about the time I was hoping to start our lessons, Suzy got out her tiny pot of playdough that came in her Easter basket and asked if she could play with it. I agreed, and this led to James dragging out the playdough drawer. Emily joined in and they've been playing with playdough for over an hour now and don't show signs of stopping!

I find that amazing! If I had PLANNED for them to play playdough, it might have lasted fifteen minutes. So, today is Playdough Day. (or at least Playdough Morning!)

In other news, I've decided to put the IEW curriculum aside until I can afford to buy the SWI. The TWSS is too complicated for Bob to take over and I often don't have time or energy to teach it when I get home from work.

I have a book on writing poetry that I think we'll do for a couple of months. That shouldn't be too taxing for Bob to handle.

I'm a working mom and Bob is the homeschool dad!

I have gone back to work and Bob is the main teacher right now. This is NEVER how I imagined my life.

I currently am in my second week as an instructional aide at a local Christian school from 8:30-1:00 Monday-Friday. I am a teacher in all but job title, since I am the sole math instructor for the 3rd/4th graders, and I have autonomy over my lesson planning and teaching methods.

Bob has been teaching the kids, with lesson plans that I leave for him. We will continue this through the end of this school year and re-evaluate then. I am looking for full time work, but still am not sure where the Lord is leading us.

My heart is still at home with my children, although I do love my job. I would dearly love to be able to remain at home. I don't think I'd ever complain again.

Husbands Can Teach!

My husband has been teaching the lessons on occasion lately, when I've had job interviews or when I am substitute teaching. He has done pretty well, from the evidence! I still do the planning and leave him detailed instructions, but he does the teaching.

He has been here for nearly 5 years watching the teaching and the learning happen, so it stands to reason he'd be pretty aware of how it works. He does often help the kids one-on-one with their math or listen to them read aloud, but other than that he really never taught any lessons.

So, this was a pleasant surprise to me actually!