This is the verse that I use as our reason for homeschooling:

1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice."   John 10:1-5

This week we are sharing our homeschool agendas for the year.  Here at Cdnkids Homeschool we have a 4th grader (Boo -9) and a 7th grader (Bug-11).  Technically Bug would be in 6th grade in public school, but I couldn’t find any 6th grade curriculum that she hadn’t already covered and since she is about to finish 7th grade math, we decided to skip 6th grade.

I’ve covered what we are using here.  So I’ll fill you in on our schedule and why we are using what I’ve chosen.

Our schedule looks like this:

We are using CQLA (Character Quality Language Arts) for language arts.  It is an all-in-one spelling/grammar/writing program that is centered around godly character qualities.  The author specifically stated that she wanted to combine elements from other excellent programs like Easy Grammar and IEW, and I love the result.  Both girls are using Red level A (I love anything we can do all together!).  A week’s worth of work generally includes a passage to read for comprehension and vocabulary words as well as copywork an dictation, a spelling list, 2-3 grammar lessons, key word outline – rough draft- final draft writing project, a proofreading exercise, and a spelling test and dictation quiz.  The program is also split up within the level into basic, extension, and further extension assignments.  The basic level will use perhaps 1 paragraph of the passage and only 10 spelling words, etc.  The extension and further extension assignments will build upon the basic assignments for older students.

We are doing American history this year.  There is a local man who does wonderful history workshops that are very hands-on and highly recommended so we will be attending his class on Tuesday mornings.  We will be using All American History Vol. 1 as our text.  It has brief but interesting reading assignments and the "paperwork" is rather like notebooking with a map assignment and a review for each Chapter.

For science we are using two different programs.  Bug is using Rainbow Science very independently so far, and she loves it.  I love it because there is very little work for me!  It is a good Middle/Junior High text and comes with ALL of the materials needed for the experiments and excellent instructions geared for the child to use independently.  It is a bit pricey, but I think it is going to be worth it.  I really wanted to use their new upper elementary program called The Colors for Boo, but due to publishing problems it won’t be ready until at least January.  So, we are using Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day from Apologia’s elementary series.  The free notebooking pages for this book are awesome and I think Boo will really enjoy it since she is a big animal lover.

For math, Bug is finishing up Teaching Textbooks 7th grade math (she has about 5 weeks left) and then we will order their Pre-Algebra.  I cannot say enough good things about Teaching Textbooks.  It is a computer-based program which gives detailed explanations for every single problem assigned.  For a non-math-minded mom (say that five times fast) and a math whiz kid it is IMO the best thing around.  I think it will work well for Boo when she gets there as well, because each and every problem is explained and if past experience is any indication Boo will need it explained a few times.  Boo is a bit behind in math.  She has unfortunately inherited her mom’s innate dislike for all things numerical.  We are stuck on our multiplication tables, and I have recently discovered that we don’t really have the concept of borrowing in subtraction down pat.  So we are using the Math Mammoth workbooks and going back over some fundamentals and taking our time. 

We are also using Polished Cornerstones this year.  We are using the Bible verses for copywork and the discussion questions for journaling.

On Friday mornings we have our co-op.  This year we are doing a music history/appreciation class (taught by me), classes on different countries, art, and some other various fun things.

So that is our formal agenda.  We may do some Latin’s Not So Tough later, and we always read tons of books.  I also have a sewing book that I would like to go through with the girls at some point this year.  Maybe in December and we can make Christmas presents!

I have decided to participate in HSBA’s new weekly meme "Homeschool Memoirs."  This week’s theme is all about the Mama and our home/school.

A little about me…well, I’m 37 years old although I actually have to think about it when someone asks me my age.  (I don’t know if it is subconscious avoidance or that I’m actually that ditzy.)  I’ve lived in Illinois (3 different times), Virginia (2), Mississippi, Washington,  Kuwait,  Australia, and  Maryland.  I was born in Illinois, graduated from high school in Kuwait, was married in Virginia, and had my second baby in Australia.  My favorite place to live was Washington, my least favorite Illinois.  If I had my way we’d live in the country with some land and some animals (like the 5 we have now aren’t enough).

I’m a church musician (I play flute).  I wrote a book once.  I believe with all my heart that God has called me to homeschool my children, but sometimes I resent it.  My husband and I are total opposites.  I would love more children even though everyone from my darling husband to my mom thinks its a bad idea.  I’m not the mom or wife or person I would like to be, but I am thankful for God’s grace and His ability to mold me into something else.

We have always homeschooled.  We’ve been at it for 7 years now.  I honestly can’t remember exactly how we came to the decision to homeschool…we had a lot of the usual reasons and some not so usual.  Bug (who is 11 now) would have started school in Australia and we would have had to decide whether to put her a half year ahead or behind in the 1st grade when we came back to the states because the Aussie school year follows the calendar year.  Also Bug had some issues that would have made "regular" school a nightmare for everyone.  So we kept her home.  At some point we realized it was a good lifestyle, and Bug is now so far ahead she will not go to school unless some catastrophic event requires it.  Boo is a different kettle of fish, but she likes being home with Mom, and as much as they drive me crazy I don’t want to send them off every day (one or two days a week might be nice though…and quiet…).

I have relaxed over the years, moving from set curriculum to eclectic.  I pick and choose and have learned that not every lesson needs to be completed on paper.  In fact, I have come to believe that the paperwork is mostly for our portfolio reviews and that the learning occurs through everything else we do.

Some other homeschooling moms and I were talking the other day (while our kids ran around like paparazzi after our summer photography class) about how we feel set apart from others around us, even at church.  We have this kindred spirit with other homeschoolers, but we often feel awkward and a little alienated with others.  We came to the conclusion that it wasn’t really about homeschooling or not homeschooling, but it was very much about making our children our priority and our families our focus.  There are a million little details that make me me, but who I am is a homeschooling mom.

I was asked for suggestions on what to use with a 4-year-old.  I had two very different 4-year-olds – one who could read after going over the alphabet/phonics not more than twice, and one who understood and could answer her 6-year-old sister’s social study and science questions, but didn’t read for 2 more years.  There are a couple of things that worked really well for us, and I highly recommend checking them out.

Before I give you the links, let me offer one bit of "been there done that" wisdom.  (Or perhaps its more like "do as I say not as I did!")  It doesn’t matter how highly recommended a curriculum is, how many people say it did or didn’t work for their child, or even if they say it did or didn’t work for hundreds of children that are somehow "just like" yours.  If it doesn’t work for YOU, it isn’t going to work for your child.  Like everything else in parenting it is a balancing act to find what works for both your teaching/personality style and your child’s learning/personality style.  With a 4-year-old you may have no idea what their learning style is.  I would suggest that you research learning styles – there is plenty of information to be had, and see if you can identify your child’s style.

A good starting point for PreK is an Enchanting Learning subscription.  We had one for years and I was able to find something there on pretty much any subject I needed.  We used a lot of their little printable books.  They have a huge variety for PreK through 3rd from phonics and math to holidays, states, music, and foreign language.

My favorite formal curriculum for the early years is ABEKA, especially ABC-123 and their phonics and math for K-2.  Of course I also really like Phonics Pathways: Clear Steps to Easy Reading and Perfect Spelling and Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics Complete Set 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B (Singapore Math).  I am also extremely fond of Handwriting Without Tears and wish I had found it sooner.

If I had it to do all over again, I would start out by simply making "school" part of the routine and not worrying about what "school" actually consisted of.  Seven years of homeschooling later, I think I would not have so many teeth-gritting moments when I question my sanity for ever taken on the education of my precious darlings if I had just been better about establishing that routine!

The homeschooling families from church are creating a tradition of having a "fun" class during the summer.  Last year we had Cooking Camp with 13 kids from 5-15 in my kitchen (it was a bit of a squeeze!).  This year we are having Photography.  The kids are really enjoying it, and the mom who is teaching is great!  The kids are going to have an exhibit at church of their finished portfolios at the end of the class, but I thought I share a few with you.  I may be biased, but I think they are pretty artistic.

The assignments for these photos were shadows and reflections.

Bug (11) was wondering what all the fuss about the Olympics was.  Here’s how the conversation went:

Bug:  Why is everyone talking about the Olympics?

Dad:  Because every country in the world sends their best athletes to compete against each other in hundreds of sports, and they have ever since ancient Greece.

Bug:  Oh yeah, we learned about that in history.  They had to eat a TON of vegetables.

Dad (to Mom):  THIS is what you taught them about the Olympics?