Handwriting

I love it when we are spurred on to new things through natural curiosity. Max told me recently that he would like to start learning cursive. This is something I've thought a lot about, and questioned when and if he needed to learn. So,  I guess that now is the time. So begins my quest for cursive materials. Some that I've found online and thought I would share are:

Handwriting Worksheets
WorksheetWorks
Donna Young
KidZone--- really like this one and will be using for Max.

W2: No Greater Joy

I had a very wise friend mention 3 John 1:4 to me this week; " I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." How true that is! I have nothing in my life that brings me as much joy, hope, and satisfaction than knowing that my children have such an incredible love for Christ. And not just a blind faith kind of love, but a true grounded in the truth love.  I can get so hung up on the things that aren't important and stress about those things, when the most important thing I can do everyday is share Christ with my family.

This May we found out some information that caused us to decide whether we weren't going to be able to continue homeschooling Max. I immediately just had a sense of peace about it. I didn't know what would happen, I didn't know what God's will was... I did know however that I desperately wanted my son at home, but that God may truly have a different plan for him. We prayed about it all summer and didn't fret but just trusted that God would give us an answer when we needed it. Obviously, that answer was to continue on and the reminder that they are His children, and He will take care of them. The first scripture passage that when through my head at the time we found out we had to make a decision was Habakkkuk 3:17-19:

Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls-
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, 
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength; 
He will make my feet like deer's feet, 
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

I continued to hear that verse over and over the following weeks, and I knew that regardless of what happened it would be okay. God would not fail me... He can't. He is my strength. He WILL make me walk on high hills. The other verse that immediately came to my mind, as clear as could be the reminder from God : I know the thoughts I have toward Max-- thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give him a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

So this year I am trusting that as always God will be in control. He will guide us in the truth. Today was a reminder of that as I watched my struggling reader sit and read by himself. A book that was way out of his reach last year. To hear him lay in bed last night spelling words, to tell me that he loved to do school. To hear him speak of the lessons he is learning through the sound biblical teaching of his pastor and his dad. In the same way, I look at Kahli, and I look backwards 17 years ago, and see the life I was living and I am so grateful for the choices she has made for her own life because she loves God so very much and wants to serve him wholeheartedly. Yes, I have no greater joy and I am so grateful that God allows me to pour into His children on a daily basis.

Hard at Work

Q&A: Recordkeeping

I thought I'd post any questions from people and answer them openly. This question is one that could have five billion different answers depending on who you ask. I'll give my answer, but if you are a homeschooler feel free to jump in with your thoughts.

Bobbi-jo wrote:
"Do you use a homeschool planner/organizer?"

I've used a number of different online printable organizers in the past, and most have worked fine for us. It's just depended on the year, and what we are doing, and what our needs are. Last year, I simply used the Sonlight Instructor's Guide, and checked off and dated when we completed things. I added a few boxes for math and language arts, and science and that was fine. This year though, we are doing and more, and combining various curricula, so I picked up a Teacher's Plan Book and am using that. In pencil I write down the plan for the week (or next few weeks). That way I have guideline for what we are doing. I use a "teacher pen" and add notes upon completion, as well as a red checkmark. 

A few of the resources we have used in the past and are worth checking out:

Donna Young - lots of free printables

Homeschool Tracker- they have a free and PLUS edition

Homeschool Musings: A Sonlight Mom's binder system 

Love, love, love The Pioneer Woman's System and blog. It is very similar to how I organize our IG. I have all of ours organized by week in our big 3" binder with IG, and all worksheets, etc. we may need for the specific week. Max has a 1" binder divided into subjects. When he completes something, it goes in his binder. At the end of the quarter I will go through and add them to our end of year binder to assemble for a portfolio.

 

W1: Balance

Balancing Rocks by Foxbert

One week down, 35 to go. We had a good start this week. It was an average week,  met with unexpected visits and plans, but we moved through it and adjusted. I think that is one of the best and worst things about homeschooling. It's definitely something we all have to find a balance with. I want my kids to learn that people, and serving people, and heck, real life just come first sometimes. I have never strove to do "school at home," meaning trying to replicate the "institution" of education. I want our home educating to reflect our family's ideals, and moreso to be geared around my children's individual strengths and weaknesses. So all that being said I thought I'd share a bit of how are days are working so far and some of the safeguards we try and put in place to give us freedom when the day to day "interuptions" occur.

First off, we are doing a four day curriculum leaving the fifth day for specials (art, Phys Ed., field trips... Life.) It made such a difference last year scheduling it in, even if it was simply to assuage Mama Guilt. Secondly, we start school mid-August for a couple of reasons: a.: Boredom and b.: flexibility. I sludge through winter and I love vacations. This way we have plenty of room for vacations, snow days, and sludge days. Also, not over scheduling; I know what I want each day to look like, and I certainly schedule appointments, but a lot of stuff is spur of the moment and dependent on our day/week. I love schedules and being involved, but commitments and obligations can quickly morph into drudgery for me. Flexibility is key. Lastly, last year I really began guarding our time by ignoring phone calls. The answering machine usually picks up when we are doing school, I can screen and will answer the phone for an emergency--- BUT I'm a phone person and can get sucked into long conversations way too easily.

So that's it... Each family has different views, this is what we've evolved into after seven years of homeschooling. Things change each year (week, month... whatever), and that's okay. I love that my kids have such a real look at life and balancing things. I guess it's the real life day to day things that I hope make an impression on them. That they can look back and see how we tried things and failed or succeeded. How we adapted things. Most of all I hope they can look back and see Christ shining and leading despite their Mom's failings. That is what I want... I love this life that God has given me. I never EVER pictured my life being like this. Never. I love it though, it's not always easy, but I wouldn't choose any other way.

The Rundown

Today was our official first day of 5th grade for Max. Overall it was a great day. Can I tell you how much I love Sonlight?! For years, I tried pulling everything together on my own and while that worked great for a while, eventually I was always fizzle out. Last year was by far, my best year homeschooling... best year I tell ya!  So, we naturally decided to continue on with Sonlight this year. Last year we did World History, Part 1 (SL1) and originally I had planned on moving on to Part 2 (SL2), and doing a condensed Early American History ( SL3+4). But, after thinking about it I decided I'd rather spend two years studying American History. Plus, we were given SL3... so it just made sense.

So you've obviously figured out that we are using Sonlight Curriculum, but let me give you the run down of everything else.

Bible- Sonlight 3
History- Sonlight 3
Read Alouds- Sonlight 3 (we use both the Read Alouds and Readers for reading aloud.)
Language Arts-- For reading we use the Spire Program, handwriting is A Reason For Handwriting, and for creative writing we do prompts.
Math- We use TouchMath, various online worksheets, and FlashMaster
Science- Sonlight 4 spread out through this year and next
Art and Phys Ed will take place at our local elementary school. Max and I would also like to begin working toward learning the guitar this year.

Also, if you look on Sonlight's website you'll see they offer 4-day and 5-day options. We choose to do the 4-day, and use the fifth day of our school week for specials at the public school and real life learning.

Here I Go Again....

Here I am again, back in front of Blogger, feeling inspired and hopeful. It's kind of the way my heart is feeling looking forward toward the next nine months. Another school year, one filled with uncertainty, one filled with hope, one filled with milestones. This year we'll be tackling fifth grade with Max, and Kahli is...gulp... a Senior. How quickly time flies. In all fairness, K is only supposed to be a Junior, but we decided at the end of her seventh grade year to bump her to high school due to the level of work. But still.... what happened to the past 16 years?!

So, back to this year, and this blog. With the exception of the first year of homeschooling we have always used the CAT (California Achievement Test) for our end of the year assessment. Both kids have hated it, but Max has definitely struggled more. Due to some learning glitches he tends to struggle in some areas, and this always seems highlighted during testing. This year it dawned on me, and I decided that for his 5th grade year we will put together a Portfolio Review. The thing I struggle with though is documenting through photographs. I love, love, love photography and (sorta) like journalling. However, I never do it. Secondly, I love looking at other Mama's homeschool blogs, and desperately miss the encouragement and "sisterhood" of our old homeschool group. So.... I decided a good way to tackle all these issues would be through documenting this year here.... on blogger.

There are some guidelines though... as you have already learned. Firstly, I've decided to not make this blog public. This is a record of my children's education, I don't think the world needs to see it... at least not right now... who knows I may change my mind. Secondly, I would ask that you be sensitive with things you read here. If I write about one of my child's struggles (ie., with reading), please don't ask about it right in front of them... y'know, common sense stuff. So that's it... that's the plan (Stan). My plan is to update once a week, or so. That's my goal: once a week. More maybe, but not less.

School for Max starts Monday. Kahli really will be doing minimal homeschooling this year, a few basic loose ends to tie up, but mostly her education will occur at our local high school. I'll be posting goals, and a curriculum run down soon. But for now, this seemed like a good place to start.