Well, we have made it through to mid-November and I wanted to update how things were going thus far. I have been really pleased with what we have been doing for our study of the Renaissance & Reformation periods. We have really enjoyed Truthquest History as our "guide". Mystery of History has been nice for all three kiddos to do independent reading and related activities. We have also REALLY enjoyed all of the mapwork that came with Mystery of History! The Story of Liberty and Renaissance & Reformation Times have been nice to use for read-alouds, as well as for Haley to use for some independent reading. Haley likes the Notgrass books Exploring World History & Exploring America as well. All in all, we have enjoyed learning up to around the 1530's!
As for math, Haley began using Math-U-See's Stewardship math program and has enjoyed it. She is learning some very practical math that she will use in her daily life for the rest of her life! Cole & Garrett are using Math Relief Algebra 1 and have finished the first phase. They are both doing well. They are not thrilled with the program, but it's done the job. We may be looking for something else for Algebra 2...
One other curriculum that has been FABULOUS that we started about a month into school was "Cover Story" by One Year Adventure Novel. The boys really like being able to choose what they want to write about and they are getting to create their own magazine in the process. I really love that it's not me teaching directly to them...they get tired of mom all the time! Daniel Schwabauer (sp.?) is a great teacher and he holds their attention! I must say that they are definitely learning good writing skills and techniques! Yay!
Haley is using BraveWriter Help For High School. She really enjoys it as well. She enjoys Julie Bogart's writing style and is also doing well with her writing skills! It's a keeper!
Science is not my favorite...the boys are studying astronomy this year & we are using a couple of different things, but I'm not thrilled with it and neither are they! Will be on the hunt for something more hands-on next year!
We have been blessed this year and are looking forward to a nice Thanksgiving break!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
2013-2014 Philosophy & Curriculum
So...my last post ended with me saying I would be writing about my philosophy of homeschooling and how it has morphed. Let's just say I have decided we are a little delight directed, a little eclectic and somewhat relaxed in our homeschool. Letting go of 19 years of public school was a little bit difficult. But, I needed to do it. I truly believe that God created us unique and that our "schooling" should not look the same. This year instead of purchasing curriculum with everything already completely planned out, I am using a hodgepodge of different things. Here goes...
Haley will be a junior and Cole & Garrett are in eighth grade this year (I CANNOT believe it!). We will be studying history and bible/biblical worldview all together. I am using an amazing resource called TruthQuest History as my guiding piece de resistance! I LOVE Michelle Miller's commentary and thoroughness. We are using the Renaissance/Reformation/Exploration guide for the bulk of the year and then will head into Age of Revolution I. Cole & Garrett will be using another FABULOUS resource called Mystery of History Vol. III. Haley will be using a combination of several different things, but nothing in its entirety. Some of the books/resources she'll be using are: Exploring World History by Notgrass, The Story of Liberty & Sweet Land of Liberty by Charles Coffin, Heroes of the Faith, Renaissance & Reformation Times, and a few other books. Biblical worldview is woven beautifully into Truthquest.
It only makes sense to integrate geography into our history studies so we will be using the maps from Mystery of History as well as Map Trek. We will be creating a timeline this year using a timeline book from Miller Pads and Paper and the timeline pieces from Homeschool in the Woods (I just adore all of Amy Pak's stuff!). I also plan on incorporating some lapbooking and notebooking using resources I have found all over the internet! All 3 of my kiddos like hands-on stuff and despise reading (I, for the life of me don't know where they got such a distaste for reading, as I LOVE to read. It just kills me!).
For our bible we are using Life in the Word from Simply Charlotte Mason. We will be learning how to do a book study, Word study, Topical study, Doctrinal study, Narrative study and Character study in the bible. Really looking forward to that!
For math we are using Math Relief Algebra I and II. We really like how he explain things so clearly!
Haley will be integrating science into her study of photography this year learning about light, aperture, color, etc. She will be using the videos from Lynda.com as well as some books and curriculum given to her by a photographer who is mentoring her. The boys decided they wanted to study astronomy this year so we are using Our Universe from Answers in Genesis and Christian Kids Explore Earth & Space from the Christian Kids Explore series along with Khan Academy and some other cool websites and books.
Reading & writing will be integrated into history as much as possible for the boys. I'm also using Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide to Middle School. Haley is really feeling like God may be calling her to some type of mission work, so most of her LA will be using missionary biographies and other books, along with BraveWriter's Help For High School.
We are also spending a couple of hours one day a week at the Round Rock Serving Center and PE will be at the YMCA.
Whew! That's a lot, but I'm really excited about this year. I can't wait to get started.
Haley will be a junior and Cole & Garrett are in eighth grade this year (I CANNOT believe it!). We will be studying history and bible/biblical worldview all together. I am using an amazing resource called TruthQuest History as my guiding piece de resistance! I LOVE Michelle Miller's commentary and thoroughness. We are using the Renaissance/Reformation/Exploration guide for the bulk of the year and then will head into Age of Revolution I. Cole & Garrett will be using another FABULOUS resource called Mystery of History Vol. III. Haley will be using a combination of several different things, but nothing in its entirety. Some of the books/resources she'll be using are: Exploring World History by Notgrass, The Story of Liberty & Sweet Land of Liberty by Charles Coffin, Heroes of the Faith, Renaissance & Reformation Times, and a few other books. Biblical worldview is woven beautifully into Truthquest.
It only makes sense to integrate geography into our history studies so we will be using the maps from Mystery of History as well as Map Trek. We will be creating a timeline this year using a timeline book from Miller Pads and Paper and the timeline pieces from Homeschool in the Woods (I just adore all of Amy Pak's stuff!). I also plan on incorporating some lapbooking and notebooking using resources I have found all over the internet! All 3 of my kiddos like hands-on stuff and despise reading (I, for the life of me don't know where they got such a distaste for reading, as I LOVE to read. It just kills me!).
For our bible we are using Life in the Word from Simply Charlotte Mason. We will be learning how to do a book study, Word study, Topical study, Doctrinal study, Narrative study and Character study in the bible. Really looking forward to that!
For math we are using Math Relief Algebra I and II. We really like how he explain things so clearly!
Haley will be integrating science into her study of photography this year learning about light, aperture, color, etc. She will be using the videos from Lynda.com as well as some books and curriculum given to her by a photographer who is mentoring her. The boys decided they wanted to study astronomy this year so we are using Our Universe from Answers in Genesis and Christian Kids Explore Earth & Space from the Christian Kids Explore series along with Khan Academy and some other cool websites and books.
Reading & writing will be integrated into history as much as possible for the boys. I'm also using Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide to Middle School. Haley is really feeling like God may be calling her to some type of mission work, so most of her LA will be using missionary biographies and other books, along with BraveWriter's Help For High School.
We are also spending a couple of hours one day a week at the Round Rock Serving Center and PE will be at the YMCA.
Whew! That's a lot, but I'm really excited about this year. I can't wait to get started.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Homeschool thoughts
We finished our first year of homeschool. We began in August of 2012. Haley began her sophomore year and Cole & Garrett began their 7th grade year. After teaching in the public schools for 19 years, it was quite a change. I began with your typical "school at home" mentality. After all, that's what I'd been used to for so many years.
But, slowly God began revealing to me that one of the reasons we chose to homeschool was to do things differently. So, I gradually began letting loose of my created schedule and chilled out on needing to control everything...it was a battle I didn't want to fight any more. My children are gifted by God with unique abilities and passions. Why not allow them to pursue those things that are interesting to them rather than studying what the "schools" think they should study? One of the things I have learned over the years is that you can't MAKE someone learn something if they aren't interested.
I'm really speaking more for Haley here than anyone. She's the one who dislikes (that's putting it quite mildly) school. She is my strong-willed, right brained, creative, smart child who wants to be a photographer and possibly a missionary. For the first half of the year we were butting heads on her biology course. She HATED it. I did everything I could to make it fun and interesting, but she just DID NOT care about it. So, I began praying...and decided that not every person needs to know biology! I know, I can hear a gasp! What???? That's crazy. Doesn't everyone need to study biology, chemistry and physics? My answer to that is a resounding NO!!!
One of the things I struggled with in the school system was how every child was expected to learn the same things at the same time just because they were the same age. I knew in my heart that just wasn't right, it didn't make sense. I worked my butt off making sure I pre-tested, differentiated learning for each student and made sure my kids learned. But, that sucked every bit of time and energy out of me. I was EXHAUSTED! I also had my own 3 kids who needed me & many times they weren't getting what they needed at school. I can't tell you how many parent conferences we attended that I left feeling so irritated because I knew there wasn't anything wrong with my child. There was & is something wrong with the system. It was so frustrating to be working so hard for other people's children and not having the same thing being done for mine. So, I quit. I knew my children deserved better.
Boy, have I made mistakes this year with them! They learned a ton, but it wasn't always easy... We've had to learn how to be around each other 24/7. We've had to learn how to give each other space (I'm an introvert, so this has been really hard at times). We've had to learn how to try and not annoy each other. But, we have gotten to be much closer to each other. Our family life is much less chaotic. Our family is much less stressed. My kids are beginning to like learning...a little.
My next post will be discussing the overall philosophy of our homeschool heading into year 2 & the curriculum choices that emerged from that philosophy . It's kind of a combination of a few...stay tuned!
But, slowly God began revealing to me that one of the reasons we chose to homeschool was to do things differently. So, I gradually began letting loose of my created schedule and chilled out on needing to control everything...it was a battle I didn't want to fight any more. My children are gifted by God with unique abilities and passions. Why not allow them to pursue those things that are interesting to them rather than studying what the "schools" think they should study? One of the things I have learned over the years is that you can't MAKE someone learn something if they aren't interested.
I'm really speaking more for Haley here than anyone. She's the one who dislikes (that's putting it quite mildly) school. She is my strong-willed, right brained, creative, smart child who wants to be a photographer and possibly a missionary. For the first half of the year we were butting heads on her biology course. She HATED it. I did everything I could to make it fun and interesting, but she just DID NOT care about it. So, I began praying...and decided that not every person needs to know biology! I know, I can hear a gasp! What???? That's crazy. Doesn't everyone need to study biology, chemistry and physics? My answer to that is a resounding NO!!!
One of the things I struggled with in the school system was how every child was expected to learn the same things at the same time just because they were the same age. I knew in my heart that just wasn't right, it didn't make sense. I worked my butt off making sure I pre-tested, differentiated learning for each student and made sure my kids learned. But, that sucked every bit of time and energy out of me. I was EXHAUSTED! I also had my own 3 kids who needed me & many times they weren't getting what they needed at school. I can't tell you how many parent conferences we attended that I left feeling so irritated because I knew there wasn't anything wrong with my child. There was & is something wrong with the system. It was so frustrating to be working so hard for other people's children and not having the same thing being done for mine. So, I quit. I knew my children deserved better.
Boy, have I made mistakes this year with them! They learned a ton, but it wasn't always easy... We've had to learn how to be around each other 24/7. We've had to learn how to give each other space (I'm an introvert, so this has been really hard at times). We've had to learn how to try and not annoy each other. But, we have gotten to be much closer to each other. Our family life is much less chaotic. Our family is much less stressed. My kids are beginning to like learning...a little.
My next post will be discussing the overall philosophy of our homeschool heading into year 2 & the curriculum choices that emerged from that philosophy . It's kind of a combination of a few...stay tuned!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)