This year we are adding something new to our school schedule. We have joined a coop that starts on Monday.Altho we started schoolwork last week. This will be on Monday's from 9 - 2.
The coop will cover hands on activities for History and Science. For History we are covering from the Death of Jesus to the Middle ages. We are using Mystery of History while the Coop is based on Story of the World, so I am not sure how well these will meld together. I have gotten a used copy of Story of the World in case it gets to chaotic trying to meld the two.
Science will be Apolgia's Botany and Flying Creatures.
They are also doing literature, which I am excited about. This years reading list includes:
Around the World in 80 days
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Treasure Island
Gullivers Travels
Romeo and Juliet
The requirement here is using selected versions to maintain the story.
For Bible studies we are doing the Revelation study for kids from Precept Ministries. I really like these studies as it teaches the kids to really get in-depth with their studies.
Math and Language Arts...we are continuing with the Switched on Schoolhouse. The kids like doing their work on the computers, and they like the immediate feedback. What I have allowed them to do is if they get a question wrong, they can search for the answer themselves, if they find what is wrong they can send me a note to let me know and get credit. They like that part, and I like the fact that they are taking the inititive to find what is wrong, thus reinforcing what they have learned.
We will continue with the lifeprint.com. We were taking sign classes last year with the teacher using this site. Unfortunately some of the other students were less than enthusiastic which quickly rubbed off on my 3. For the next couple of weeks we will review what we have learned then pick up where we left off on those. I really like the teacher. IF she offers again I will probably join, but it will depend on those who attend. Once we finish this court, the kids want to learn either French or Italian. But we shall make that decision when we get to that.
This along with the random things that always come up will make for a challenging and exciting year.
As far as the coop, all parents must participate in "facilitating"...I did not want to be in the kids classes as I am trying to encourage them to step away from me a little to get them to be more independent in their studies. I really did not want to work with the older kids, so I am "doing" kindergarten this year. We will be covering the Seven Days of creation, and their reading list has been adapted. Many of the classics are being read from a series called "Wishbone" and are narrated from the view of a dog. There was a problem in finding these, however I found a full lot on Ebay that has all the books we need plus some. I am pleased that I was able to find these.
Since the littles don't have the attention span to fill the hour per class, I am bringing in "Signing Times" videos and we will learn a little sign language together.
For History they will be joining the lower grammar kids (1-3 grade level) so I don't have to do much there. YEAH.
The kids will continue with Taekwondo until at least January for that is what I have committed them to (personally, not with the instructor). Come January we may change over to a local gym because then I can work out while they are in class...and goodness knows I need it. The other alternative there is for me to go to the base gym 2-3 days a week. The kids can practice their forms while we are there as they are limited to what they are allowed to use. They have a family "play area" which includes a giant chess board (my oldest was intregued with this) tether ball, mini soccer court, a large inflateable as well as other things to "play" on.
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