It's Working!!!.....

Well, the paragraphs finally have been corrected! Hopefully...

I missed random posts about things we do/experience/witness.

Our Academics!!!

Since I last was able to post consistently....the co-op the kids were attending has disbanded. The workload to much for many. Over the 2012-2013 the co-op offered a writing class through Instutute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). What a difference this program has made for these three, especially the oldest. The kids did science class, History class, Literature and Writing, the oldest added Logic into the mix. This year, we miss the once a week companionship, we miss seeing these people on a weekly basis, but academically we were ready to be done with trying to work on someone elses schedule.

One other thing that happened...we were using Switched on Schoolhouse for math and language arts. While we were in San Diego we found some inexpensive laptops at Best Buy, they lasted just shy of a year and 2 of the 3 hard drives died within a week (they were different makes/models so I think the boys were probably to rough on them) Since I could not get them fixed nor replaced right away I switched their math to Saxon, by doing this I found that they were not retaining the SOS very well. Since switching, their maths have florished, so we will be sticking with Saxon.

For the Language Arts, I have combined multiple curriculums. Spelling is done through Spelling Power, Grammar is IEW Fix it, Writing is IEW Bible Theme. The spelling and Grammar only take the kids 10-15 minutes per day, however the writing is more time consuming.

Literature is based primarily following their history classes. Among some of the books we plan on, Across Five Aprils, Call of the Wild, The Diary of Anne Frank. There are others on the list as well but this is our starters, currently we are reading Across Five Aprils and the kids are enjoying it.

We are using Route 66 for our bible study, the kids are loving this as it is a overview of the entire bible. I think this book is our favorite time together.

For Science, the oldest is doing Apologia's physical Science. It is odd having him do this on his own. I have found his retention is better when it is read to him and he follows in the book, so we have the audio CD for him to listen/read. The younger two are currently working Anatomy (again Apologia). We are working with another family who is also using this book. We read at home and find a project/experiment to do on Mondays.

History also is done on two separate cycles. Last year for History the oldest did All American History 1 so this year we are following up with Volume 2. This is by far his favorite subject as I incorporate different video links for him to watch in conjuction with the reading/workbook. The younger two are reading Story of the World vol 4. I have the activity books for them but when I can I adapt the crafts/drawings to something more interesting for them, for example we took a color page for Japanese Coins and outlined the markings with glue. After the glue was dried, (the next day) the kids painted them so now they are more 3d.

God has blessed us with another year of homeschooling, each day I am grateful for the chance to watch the light bulb moments as a new concept or idea takes root. Yet through teaching them, I am the one who learns. How incredible this journey is.