Getting Antsy for Year End...and Next Year

There are only 2 more months of school left. A-W-E-S-O-M-E

I love schooling my kids. But really, I can't wait for our month long 'summer' break. But at the same time, I'm looking forward to next year already. Oh yeah.

Lee is going to be a FRESHMAN- when in the world did that happen?? I'm so grateful that for the last two years I've been able to have my kids with me 24/7 and been able to not miss things. Being there with your children when they are young -when they get their first tooth, when they learn to crawl and walk, when they say their first word- is great and beneficial to both parent and child but honestly, I think those tween and teen years are uber important. 

My dd says she is glad that she has a mom like me- I can be fun at times (downright silly) but I am serious and stern when I need to be. Homeschooling has been a blessing for our family in so many ways.

Today Fox was plugging away at his History/Geography work (which he said wasn't 'too bad' lol) and I realized he only has 2 months to 'catch up'. We have blocked our days for his school to include on Tuesdays History/Geography, Wednesday Language Skills (Composition, Grammar, Vocabulary), Thursday Earth Science, Friday Literature. Today was to include at least 4 hours of H/G- didn't happen. Although he didn't mind the learning and assessment taking, he just was more into other things. It's tough sometimes to cover one subject for such a long period of time in a day. Tomorrow we will be doing subjects he doesn't like- hope that goes well! He has reached almost 30% complete on PreAlgebra though! Yea!!

For Fox I am having a bit more difficult time thinking about next year and am thinking more in terms of year end. I know that I will have to procure the books he needs for next year if I do not go the k12 route (which at this moment we will not be going the k12 route) but I haven't even stopped really to think what books I will be needing. Cross that bridge a bit later. 

But I did just realize he is right on track for finishing one of his history books from Yr5 AO. Well, the first part anyway. The second part of The Story of the World Volume 4, pagers 244-474, he can do for Yr6 as recommended. I looked at the Geography selections for AO and I've decided not to go the suggested route- will have to find something else. I've not gotten any farther with his next year plans.

For Lee I've been thinking Science. I'm not science oriented. Rather I should say, I'm not the hands on science type. I found it difficult to do labs when in high school - I could/can keep great records of observations and can write reports but please, let someone else do the labs! With the route I've decided to go, there are no physical labs (unless I/she decides we should/need to do one) but still the learning that would be gained from doing labs will be had with the interactive lab component that is online. I started plotting out a schedule for her ninth year. 

The book that we'll be using is not Creation based; it is typical of college science classes. There are definitely places/topics that will need discussion/omission/deletion/scribbling-out-with-black-marker ;) but we'll do fine with this book. When Lee saw the book she will be using at first she balked because it is a college textbook. She did remind herself that her reading/comprehension is supposedly 2nd year college level anyway. And you know, even though I used this book and took a class I just now realized that the chapter questions have answers in the back of the book. Sheesh... but helpful to me!

I do know also that for Fox I will need to get him a better guitar. We have an awesome guitar program that he really cannot use because the guitar he has is not very well made. It will not stay tuned and there are parts of it that look like they will fall off at any moment. 

It will be sooo nice (I hope) next school year because I will be done with school and can focus more on their schooling. Well, I am off to do more planning.

Perhaps in another post I will tell what I've decided to do for both of their grades next year. With only 1 month between this year and next, I've got to get planning!