What I Am Doing New Years Eve (Long Post about Homeschooling)

Since I have to stay up until at least 12:00 am because the kids insist I have to because it's New Years Eve, I have been busy. Some of it's been online, some not.

First, planning for the kids' first week back to school. I got the entire week mapped out! It took me two days- almost- to do it. I feel such a relief though. I noticed that one of the books we are using for Fox has taken us about 10 months (we have had a month off in that time though and a few 'vacations'). I hadn't realized this before and it made me take a good look at the books we are using and the progress we've made. 

I am actually concerned that we are not covering our core subjects as well as we should be. Another thing that I noticed: we are moving away from CM methods. Well, actually, let me rephrase that- we are moving away from the books that are suggested at AO. I think that is more accurate as we still employ the 'methods' that CM used (narration- oral and written; copywork; and starting dictation).

Without really changing much of the books we are using but really the schedule, I hope that the school year will go smoother. I've taken out Shakespeare for the remainder of the year because it is not getting done anyway. There is no point in my stressing over it not getting done just because it is on our schedule. I think that I will leave it until 'high school'. Maybe.

I'm not entirely sure if anyone is interested in seeing what we are going to be doing but because I want to put it down in writing, here are the kids' first weeks schedules:

Lee:

Monday:

Bible (Verse; Reading)- Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Exodus 37

Math (Ten Marks; Life of Fred Beginning Algebra)- Ten Marks worksheets

Grammar/Writing/Literature (Jensen's; Research Paper; History of the English Literature for Boys and Girls)- Read page 4 and become familiar with Jensen's book; make copies needed.

History/Geography (The Brendan Voyage; World Studies; In Freedom's Cause)- TBV (to page 193); WS (pg 206-209; Section Review)

Science/Health (Fearfully & Wonderfully Made; Christian Kids' Explore Physics)- F&WM (to chp 18)

Economics/Logic (Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?; The Fallacy Detective)- WHtPC? (chp 9)

PE/Band (Wii; Trumpet)- both for 30 minutes

Foreign Language (First Form Latin; Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek)- FFL (Lesson 10- recitation; vocabulary; worksheet 1); GRK (Lesson 6)

Other Subjects (Church History/Devotional (Mere Christianity)/Plutarch's Lives/ Art (Line Upon Line)/Free Reading/Natural History)- MC (to page 110); Free Reading

Tuesday:

Bible (Verse; Reading)- Deut. 6:4-7; Mark 13

Math (TM; LoFBA)- LoF (lesson 4 through? we had started over and are going through the book quickly but at her pace until she is caught up to where she was, or she feels more comfortable)

Grammar/Writing/Literature (J; RP; HOEL)- J (Lesson 1); Choose topic for RP

History/Geography (TBV; WS; IFC)- WS (210-217; Section Review); IFC (to page 22)

Science/Health (F&WM; CKEP)- CKEP (Lesson 7)

Economics/Logic (WHtPC?; TFD)- TFD (Lesson 28; read)

PE/Band (Wii; Trumpet)- 30 minutes each

Foreign Language (FFL; GK)- FFL (Lesson 10- worksheet 2)

Other Subjects (CH/D-MC/PL/Art/FR/NH)- CH (Jerome); Art (The Cube- exercise 4); FR

Wednesday:

Bible (Verse; Reading)- Deut. 6:4-7; Exodus 38

Math (TM; LoFBA)- TM worksheets

Grammar/Writing/Lit (J; RP; HOEL)- J (Lesson 2)

History/Geography (TBV; WS; IFC)- TBV (to page 199); WS (pages 218-219; SR)

Science/Health (F&WM; CKEP)- F&WM (to chp 19)

Economics/Logic (WHtPC?; TFD)- WHtPC? (chp 9)

PE/Band (Wii; Trumpet)- 30 minutes each

Foreign Language (FFL; GRK)- FFL (Lesson 10- worksheet 3); GRK (Lesson 7)

Other Subjects (CH/D-MC/PL/Art/FR/NH)- MC (to pg 114); PL (Solon?); FR

Thursday:

Bible (Verse; Reading)- Deut. 6:4-7; Mark 14

Math (TM; LoFBA)- LoFBA

Grammar/Writing/Lit (J; RP; HOEL)- J (Lesson 3); HOEL (chp 7)

History/Geography (TBV; WS; IFC)- WS (Chap Review); IFC (to pg 28)

Science/Health (F&WM; CKEP)- CKEP (Lesson 7); might do F&WM (to chp 20) or move to Friday

Economics/Logic (WHtPC?; TFD)- TFD (Lesson 28; exercises)

PE/Band (Wii; Trumpet)- 30 minutes each

Foreign Language (FFL; GRK)- FFL (Lesson 10- worksheet 4)

Other Subjects (CH/D-MC/PL/Art/FR/NH)- NH?; FR

Friday:

Bible (Verse; Reading)- Deut. 6:4-7; Exodus 39

Math (TM; LoFBA)- TM worksheets

Grammar/Writing/Lit (J; RP; HOEL)- J (Lesson 4)

History/Geography (TBV; WS; IFC)- TBV (to pg 205); WS (Test 4) -optional- (This is for her to make a decision on how fast she would like to progress through the book- four days are required but Friday is optional)

Science/Health (F&WM; CKEP)- CKEP (Lesson 8); F&WM (chp 20)

PE/Band (Wii; Trumpet)- 30 minutes each

Foreign Language (FFL; GRK)- FFL (Lesson 10- worksheet 5); GRK (Lesson 8)

Other Subjects (CH/D-MC/PL/Art/FR/NH)- MC (to pg 118); Art (The Cube- Exercise 5); FR 

Fox:

Monday:

Bible (Verse; Reading)- Psalms 32:1-5; Leviticus 3

Math (Ten Marks; Life of Fred PreAlgebra 2 with Economics)- Ten Marks worksheets

Writing (The Write Foundation; Research Paper)- The Write Foundation (Lesson 6, worksheets 3, 4)

History/Geography (This Country of Ours; Story of the World; Of Courage Undaunted; Complete Book of Marvels)- TCOO (to chp 88); CBOM (chp7)

Military History (Boys' Book of Sea Fights)- to "The Ship That Strangely Disappeared
PE/Band (Wii; Guitar)- both for 30 minutes

Foreign Language (First Form Latin; Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek)- FFL (Lesson 10- recitation; vocabulary; worksheet 1); GRK (Lesson 6)

Other Subjects (Church History/Devotional (The Greatest Story Ever Told)/Plutarch's Lives/ Art (Line Upon Line)/Free Reading/Natural History)- TGSET (chp 50); Free Reading

Tuesday:

Bible (Verse; Reading)- Psalms 32:1-5; Luke 5

Math (TM; LoFPA2wE)- LoF (chp 3 Finding a Job)

Writing (TWF; RP)- TWF (Lesson 6, worksheet 4 -continuing); Choose topic for RP

History/Geography (TCoO; SotW; OCU; CBoM)- SotW (finish chp 14); OCU (to pg 95)

Science/Health (CKEP; ?)- CKEP (Lesson 7)

PE/Band (Wii; Guitar)- 30 minutes each

Foreign Language (FFL; GK)- FFL (Lesson 10- worksheet 2)

Other Subjects (CH/D-TGSET/PL/Art/FR/NH)- CH (Jerome); Art (The Cube- exercise 4); FR

Wednesday:

Bible (Verse; Reading)- Psalms 32:1-5; Leviticus 4

Math (TM; LoFBA)- TM worksheets

Writing (TWF; RP)- TWF (Lesson 6; sentences)

History/Geography (TCoO; SotW; OCU; CBoM)- SotW (chp 15); CBoM (to chp 8)

PE/Band (Wii; Guitar)- 30 minutes each

Foreign Language (FFL; GRK)- FFL (Lesson 10- worksheet 3); GRK (Lesson 7)

Other Subjects (CH/D-TGSET/PL/Art/FR/NH)- TGSET (chp 51); PL (Solon?); FR

Thursday:

Bible (Verse; Reading)- Psalms 32:1-5; Luke 6 

Math (TM; LoFPA2wE)- LoF (chp 4 From English to Equations)

Writing (TWF; RP)- TWF (Lesson 6; ws 5 Action Poetry)

History/Geography (TCoO; SotW; OCU; CBoM)- TCoO (to chp 89); OCU (to pg  99)

Science/Health (CKEP)- CKEP (Lesson 7)

Military History (BBSF)- to "The Monitor and the Merrimac")

PE/Band (Wii; Guitar)- 30 minutes each

Foreign Language (FFL; GRK)- FFL (Lesson 10- worksheet 4)

Other Subjects (CH/D-TGSET/PL/Art/FR/NH)- NH?; FR

Friday:

Bible (Verse; Reading)- Psalms 32:1-5; Leviticus 5

Math (TM; LoFPA2wE)- TM worksheets

Writing (TWF; RP)- TWF (Lesson 6; finish 'homework')

History/Geography (TCoO; SotW; OCU; CBoM)- TCoO (to chp 90); CBoM (to chp 9)

Science/Health (CKEP)- CKEP (Lesson 8)

PE/Band (Wii; Guitar)- 30 minutes each

Foreign Language (FFL; GRK)- FFL (Lesson 10- worksheet 5); GRK (Lesson 8)

Other Subjects (CH/D-TGSET/PL/Art/FR/NH)- TGSET (chp 52); Art (The Cube- Exercise 5); FR 

So, now that I've rambled on about our first week... I need to find- or design one myself (but you know they say if it ain't broke don't fix it, and don't reinvent the wheel)- a Health curriculum for Fox. I cannot use Fearfully & Wonderfully Made with him just yet. Perhaps next year, maybe. I would like to find a book for boys that is like the girls book from American Girl. But at the same time, I don't want a book like that for my baby! I am perhaps being silly; he can't stay young forever. In just 7 months he will be 12 years old, for goodness sake!

Well, that is what I've been doing for the past hour or so. Oh! I also decided to purchase a calendar and planner for next year. The one I chose is because it is the one I had this year. I originally got it as a gift from my mother-in-law (in January 2010). It's the Mom's Family Calendar and Planner. You may have seen my post about the TOS Homeschool Planner. I definitely think that the TOS planner has absolutely everything I could possibly ever want in a planner. With the not so small fact that it is digital. I love that I can print what I want, when I want, and even in the size I want. The weekly plan I made for the kids' first week of school was done on one of the forms form the TOS planner. Also I printed out quite a few things that I just can't find in most planners (and I'd have to rip the pages out in order to have them where I want them, when I want them). But honestly for the every day planner part, I enjoy having a small planner to carry around with me. That is why I chose the Mom's Family Planner.The one I had from last year came in so handy. The spiral binding and cover are like none I've seen before (perhaps I've not looked, eh?). The spaces for writing are good sized and I love the graphics. 

Perhaps with my last 1 1/2 I will look for a skin for my Kindle. But really, I probably won't be able to decide on one. This is one reason why I don't like to stay up so late- I'm tempted to spend money... 

Well, I'm going to try to not fall asleep for the remaining bit of 2010 and then try to fall asleep at the start of 2011. :)