Deciding on a path for History

I thought that I was going to dive into Tapestry of Grace for HA this next year. I first looked into it last Jan and printed out all the samples to look into. I surfed around to find info from others who use it and more info on how it works. I gathered opinions, price lists, etc. I really like all that it entails and how multiple students can use it at one time. (Check out Trivium Academy for more good info on TOG)

And then we had Reagan evaluated and I came to understand that she, entering K this year, is going to walk a different path than Jefferson did (yeah, yeah - don't you veterans of multiple kids laugh at that observation!). I have found that it is going to take a more right-brained, time consuming approach to teach her the things that Jefferson just learned from 2 workbooks.

Therefore, I don't want to have to divide my time any more than I have to in adjusting to teaching 2 (VERY different) kids. Reagans phonics will require much crafty work and focused attention. Jefferson will be adding Spanish, a structured Bible program and possibly piano lessons (next Jan) in 2nd grade. Lincoln will be crawling (oi - what that will entail!! LOL) and Adam will be old enough (3) to want to be in the throws of it all.

So, knowing what I know about myself and how I get easily overwhelmed with trying to do it all, I have decided NOT to go with TOG this year. I think that it will just have too many choices for me and require a little too much to add to the other changes coming this year. Since Language Arts is still my main focus, I don't want history to throw us off or burn me out. Also, from what I know of TOG, we can choose to use it later when we are ready or when we have even more students to use it. I am a little dissapointed since I really like what I have seen in this curriculum. But again, I think I will just look forward to it for possible use later.

For this year then, we continue with SOTW 2 - The Middle Ages. I'm used to it, Jefferson enjoys it and we can use it at any speed that we want to. Thankfully, I can get it here in time to begin it on time this year too! Looking forward to it -we love history around here!

Trying something new!

So as many of you know, I get silly for anything that has to do with organizing. This does not mean that I am organized, only that I strive for it. This past schoolyear we moved from 1 phonics and 1 math book in kindergarten (Jefferson 2006-2007) to 4 subjects, one of which (Language Arts) which has multiple facets! I found myself struggling to manage the daily lessons, paperwork and projects ..... for JUST.ONE.STUDENT.

I soon set up binders for the subjects so that we could tuck the paperwork away (can't just throw away his work as he does it - he likes to keep even his band aides!) and see his progress over the year. I set up hanging folders for each day of the week so that he could start taking part in which items needed to be completed in which day. I brought up a new bookshelf from the basement and got another one for the school room to organize our books by subject and by student.

I developed spreadsheets to meet my "Teacher's Manual" needs for the year (2007-2008). These included:

1st Grade Yearly Lesson Plan 2007-2008

Daily Lesson Schedule

Weekly Checklist/Record of Completed Work

1st Grade Reading Log

1st Grade Memorization Goals

Chore Chart

HA 1st Grade Goals by Subject

HA Overall Goals 1st-4th Grade

These took tons of time but helped me to feel confident in our plan as we flexed due to illnesses and new baby and kept me focused as I waded through the vastness of a homeschool curriculum fair the size of a football field. I worked with them and adjusted them as we went as our school needs changed.

I soon realized that I just won't have the time to make and adjust so many spreadsheets/ documents as I add new students and more courses to our academy roll! My dh, computer geeky that he is, convinced me that I could find software that already does all the heavy lifting which would help me to organize these necessary items each year.

Sooooo..... we bought Homeschool Tracker Plus to use for our record keeping and school scheduling needs this year. Have any of you heard of this or do you use this? I'd be interested in your input before I invest too much time in the product. It seems to be easy enough to figure out and I'm hoping that it will make tracking and planning easier (once I get past the learning curve of it, that is). So far my problem with it seems to be that it has so many great options and powerful features that it is bringing out all of my indecisiveness and slowing me down. Again -I hope that this is just a learning curve. I have to remind myself that if I were using my spreadsheets I wouldn't be done yet and they wouldn't be nearly as flexible (or nearly as cooool, anyway!).

My job as a teacher is to learn and grow and find what works the best to achieve our goals for our students. Investing time on my part is fine but I just don't want to be wasting time either. I'd appreciate any input on this type of homeschool organization - what types of things works for you? And I'll let you know how it goes down the road!

How is it possible?

How is it possible that I could be busier during our summer break than when we were in the throws of school? Every minute seems to be filled with so much that I'm finding myself ignoring my computer and all my favorite blogs as well. I want to spend good play time with them each day as well as getting my planning for August done. Play time is easy - planning time is not. I can't even seem to sit down at the computer without Adam at my feet and someone else screaming due to some 5 yo catastrophe or 6 yo mess. I've got 4 books that I'm desperate to read (teaching resources) and 1 I just want to enjoy. Add 1 week of vacation (if you could call it that), swimming lessons, doctor appointments and I can see my summer slip, slip, slipping away.......

So to anyone that actually visits this blog (ha!)- my apologies for being scarce on the bloggy scene this month! Sometimes priorities much actually be held and blogs be held off....

Back soon - I hope with solid plans for 2nd grade and K.

Oh, the things we've all learned this year!

We are officially finished with this school year! I could do a little jig from the excitement of having a break ('cept I can't dance so I guess I'll just jig in my head). I'm sure Jefferson could too. Monday was our first day without me running back and forth between baby, toddler, food prep/cleaning, lessons, web research, reading, diapers, more food prep, more lessons, more reading, bandaids, someone's screaming, run a brush through my hair 'cause there ain't gonna be a shower, lessons, preschool "school" crafts, drama queen throwing a fit again, etc., etc., etc........

*SIGH*

Such a relaxing day. Not that we did nothing - just that it wasn't the same structured push to achieve feeling. We read and ate and crafted and enjoyed the weather. There was even some screaming here and there. But we didn't 'push' to get lessons in. And I felt like I could breathe.... :-D

But we learned soooooo much this year that I almost can't believe it! Here is a rundown of our goals and accomplishments.

2007-2008

Jefferson - Grade 1

Reagan - Preschool

Adam -Toddler on the Move

Lincoln - Just Introduced to the World

Jefferson

• started 1st grade with phonics, reading, Spelling Workout A, and RightStart Math B.
• his penmanship started strong and improved through daily copywork.
• worked hard from August until November learning to read
• learned that phonics is "not fun, Mommy!" (my most frustrating subject thus becomes his most frustrating subject - I must work on my patience and encourage him more); we struggled to remember rules and 'decode' long words even though he could read well
• learned that math is "my favorite!"; we covered money, place value, addition (2 and 4 digit), word problems, geometry, reading time & graphs, measurements, fractions; his confidence grew with fun games and manipulatives
• learned to read!! Began the year with "Max and the Cat" reader and now reading "The Indian in the Cupboard" because he 'wants to'; this skill has been the biggest improvement in how homeschool works for he and I - it's amazing and I'm so excited for him; I use this to remind him of just how far he's come in one year
• learned that grammar can be fun but also can be boring; doesn't really understand the memory work that is required; I've found that he doesn't really realize how much he's learned here either; covered 1st half of FLL
• history was a favorite with all it's fun activities and books and interesting people; we covered SOTW chpt. 1 to 37, Nomads to the Beginning of Christianity; J struggled learning to listen well so that he could narrate back - he improved greatly at narrating by the end of the year
• science started out very late (didn't start until after Lincoln was born in Oct) so we didn't cover as many animals or body systems as planned and plants need to be covered casually over the summer; learned lots through living books and observation (butterflies, caterpillars, ants, robins, bunnies, hermit crabs, frogs, our own bodies)
• spelling was frustrating before Jefferson was reading fluently but after taking a break from SWA he began to really enjoy the lessons and completed SWB by year end; I still feel that he needs to review the last 1/4 to 1/2 of SWB next year however; after considering other books, I've decided to stick with Spelling Workout since he enjoys them
• he discovered that he can handle simple dictation since he has learned so much from reading, grammar, phonics, and spelling

Reagan

All I can say here is that she has grown by leaps and bounds in just this year, as have her daddy and I! There is so much to write about her that it'll have to wait for another post. I am soooo proud of her and thankful for the wisdom God has given to us in dealing with her!

Adam

This is the year he has begun to find his voice! We thought that he would never talk but thankfully has begun to try harder to communicate with us. His willingness along with speech therapy has resulted in less tantrums and frustration and a happier boy. He also loves to be in the room or involved when the older two are learning.

What a great year!! The LORD has blessed us immensely and given us such wisdom and guidance. He knows exactly what each of us needs and I am so thankful to Him. I've never learned so much myself. I'm so happy for the kids and I'm looking forward to the great things we will learn next year!