Back to School

Where has the summer gone?  It seems like just yesterday we were finishing up last year.  Now we're gearing up for the new school year.  I have several friends that have already started back!  The stores are filled with pencils, crayons, glue sticks and more, and back to school sales are in full swing.

I have big plans for this year.  I really felt like last year was a bad school year for us.  We were involved in a co-op for the first time, and although my kids learned lots and we enjoyed the other families, I feel like we had one of the worst years school wise that we've ever had.  Obviously, having somebody else dictate what and when we're doing doesn't work for me.  I'm the type that needs everything to be cohesive, and when things aren't, I get messed up.  It could have also been the fact that I was involved in WAY too many things.  I was so busy and stressed throughout the year that I let some of my favorite activities go.  We didn't get together with friends like we normally do, or do any of the super fun things we've done in year's past.

So, in planning for next year, I'm staying home and getting back to the things that make homeschooling fun for all of us.  I'm reorganizing the school room, breaking out the work boxes again, and planning ahead for a great year.  I'll be posting shortly on our curriculum choices so stay tuned!

Curriculum Choices

Its that time of year again...the time when I start thinking and planning for next year. In doing so, I thought I would share some of my favorite, no brainer, curriculum choices. Before I do so, let me just say that I am one of those people who loves trying different things. I'm always trying new products, ideas, and ways of teaching. There are only a handful of curriculum choices that I have stuck with and love from day one. This is not to say that I haven't tried to find something different, it just means that I have yet to find something that I like better. Because some of my ideas on certain curriculum choices could be quite extensive, I'll do this by touching on one product or subject per day. I'll start with my (and Haley's) least favorite subject...math.

Saxon Math - This is one area that I can say that I have explored extensively. You name it, we've tried it, seen it, heard about it, or currently own it. Here's just a few of the math programs we've tried: Horizons Math, Math U See, Teaching Textbooks, and Math Mammoth. No matter how good the program seems, or how much my kids liked or disliked it, we've always come back to Saxon. Why, you ask? Bottom line...it works! It might not have all the bells and whistles of some of the other, fancier programs, but it has proven effective and solid in my household. I recently added the DIVE CD for Saxon 5/4 to our math lessons, and so far we're loving it. I looked at both the teacher CD's that Saxon offers and the DIVE CD's, and chose to go with DIVE. I really like the fact that he explains it in his own way. He uses different examples from those found in the text. The Saxon CD's are just going over exactly what's in the text itself. I can do that. The DIVE CD's are using the same method's but different problems. This way we can read over the lesson in the book, listen to the DIVE CD lesson, and then work through the problems. Its just an additional tool that works great for auditory or visual learners. It has greatly reduced the complaining about math in my home!

In summary, Saxon is a well rounded, solid, proven, spiral method of teaching math. I feel it prepares them well for standardized testing, which some of the others don't in my opinion. I've heard people complain about the extensiveness of the lessons. In the K through 3 program, we simply skipped portions of it. I never did the daily meetings, the second worksheet, and skipped anything my kids were already proficient in doing. This really cut down the time it takes to complete the lessons. Keep in mind, nobody is policing you...you really don't have to do everything in the lessons. Some people try to do everything and burn out quickly. The teacher text is a guideline...not something you have to complete and do from cover to cover. So, even though we've looked and tried so many math programs, we're sticking with Saxon. Next year we'll be doing Saxon 6/5 and most likely using the DIVE CD's again.

Curriculum Planning for 2011-2012

This upcoming school year is fast approaching and I've been spending quite a bit of time pouring over catalogs and websites trying to decide what we'll be using this school year. I have to say, this is probably my favorite time of the homeschool year. It reminds me of when I was a child in public school. Do you remember the feeling you'd get when your mother would take you shopping for new clothes and school supplies?

I would always pick out my folder (called a Trapper Keeper) for the new year. I would spend weeks organizing it just so. I would carefully pick out my outfit for the new school year. It was always such an exciting time. I still feel that way. Every year I get so excited when we pick out our new curriculum for the upcoming year. Its like Christmas for me. Oddly, the kids never seem nearly as excited.

I'm just about finished for this year as far and curriculum.  The curriculum fair is coming up in a few weeks and I'll get the rest of the needed supplies there.  I can hardly wait!!

To be completely honest, I'm a little apprehensive about this upcoming school year.  I have a lot on my plate.  I have a full year of challenging curriculum picked out, and with our recent ADHD diagnosis, I need to revamp my teaching style.  Structure needs to become a big part of our life.  Have I mentioned how much I hate structure?  Yep, I'm 99% sure I have ADHD too.  Regardless, I've made the major decisions regarding curriculum and I've posted them.  Now I'm off to do some serious praying for the strength and wisdom to become the person I need to be to best serve my children.  Do me a favor...pray for me too?

Planning

I know that this year isn't even done, but I tend to do my curriculum planning in late winter/early spring. (This just happens to correspond to when we get our tax refund & I have money to spend.) Next year I'm making some changes...again. For those who know me, you'll know that this is not uncommon. Let's face it, there are just so many awesome products out there, and so many choices! I get bored easily. This is the lineup so far.

The twins - 2nd grade

Saxon Math 2 - No changes here. I knocked around the idea of changing back to Math U See, but finally decided to leave it alone. Saxon just seems more through to me and the boys are doing great with math.

Explode the Code - We will be finishing up Book 2 by the end of this school year, and will continue using this program. Both boys are now reading really well.

Easy Grammar 2 - I purchased this book when Haley was in 2nd grade and it seems to have done the job.

All About Spelling - This will be new for us. We've been using A Reason for Spelling Level A this year, but just haven't enjoyed it. I'm looking for something a bit different this time around, and this one comes highly recommended. I'll post a review once we've used it more.

The Story of the World Book 1 - We will be continuing with this book, and will hopefully finish it by the end of the school year.

I Can Do All Things Art - This was another purchase made when Haley was in 2nd grade. We haven't used it at all really. My plan is to set aside one day each week to do art.

R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey, Earth & Space Level 1 - We have been using Living Learning Books and unit studies for science up until now. I'm hoping this program will be a bit more in depth. Also, we haven't studied earth and space extensively yet.

Power Glide Spanish - This is one of the items that tends to get left out each week if we get too busy. I intend to make it a weekly must.