Homeschool Memoirs 4

THEME
Planning your homeschool is a lot of fun, especially if you’re going to be trying something new. Just like finding a shiny new penny you’re excited to use it. This week I hope you’ll share something new you’re using, why you’ve decided to use it, and if you have used it how you like it. Make sure to include the publishing information and where you got it from so others can look into if they like.

Well, we've tried a few new things this year and it's been great.

Lively Latin: I've been looking high and low for a Latin program that I felt would really work with the boys. When I came across Lively Latin, I knew I'd hit the jackpot. It's a great combination of vocabulary, history, art study, games, etc. One of the first vocabulary words was pirata, which means pirate. That scored huge points with The Computer. There are a variety of activities for each lesson, including some computer games. Each lesson takes a couple of weeks to go through and at the end, The Computer is always surprised by how much he has learned.

Growing With Grammar: We switched to GWG from Rod and Staff. It wasn't that we were having problems with Rod and Staff, I was just looking for something with shorter lessons and a little less writing. The Computer is doing the 3rd grade level and The Librarian is doing 1st grade. Both of them ask to do their lesson and sometimes even complete a couple of lessons at a time.

Writing Tales 1: Let's just say that The Computer really does not get into writing in any way, shape or form. He's just a numbers kind of guy, I guess. I wouldn't say he loves Writing Tales, but he doesn't complain about it. Basically, he studies one of Aesop's Fables for 2 weeks doing various activities with it. At the end of the two weeks, he has written a copy of the fable in his own words. We did a modified Ambleside Online this summer which included reading several of the fables. He looked through the list in Writing Tales and can't wait to get to King Alfred and The Cakes.

I could go on and on about our curriculum choices for this year. It's the first year that we really feel like we have found our groove and everything is falling in to place.

Wordless Wednesday

The Room...it is finished! (and it's LOUD)

Anyone that knows our family will know that all the boys are Bears fans. I guess I am also, but only by association with the boys. The Man was born and raised in a suburb of Chicago so he doesn't really have a choice. Since the rest of them look up to their Daddy so much, it's only natural that he has influenced their choice of sports teams. Who knew how far it would go? Well, we found out last week.

The Computer decided a while back that he wanted a Bears bedroom. Home Depot was so nice to oblige and make paint in team colors. So the obvious choices were Chicago Bears Blue and Chicago Bears Orange. The Man then spent a while coming up with various designs for the walls before we just slapped the paint on.

The Man stayed up until the wee hours of the morning getting these lines straight.

The Computer...sweat equity
Pulling the tape off
The room is done...come on in.The loft bed from Craigslist was a great find!

(next step...help The Computer organize his desk)

The final product looks great and it is a bit shocking, but very cool. I think the hardest part for me is the fact that the room is definitely a big boy room, something he's going to love for a long time. I guess at almost 9, I need to acknowledge the fact that he's getting older, but can someone please tell me where my baby went?

Week In Review - Projects

Nothing super exciting on the homefront this week for homeschooling. We took Monday off to enjoy Labor Day and to take care of a few projects. Tuesday the boys had a dentist appointment. No cavities...yay! Afterwards, we went to a really neat park and out for lunch. Wednesday was guitar lessons and some errands. Thursday was lunch and "hiking" at a State Park near us and today, well, The Man is home so hoping to get some serious play time with Dad in today.

In between all that stuff, the boys did math, grammar and a bit of writing. We'll be starting back up with our full schedule again next week.

We did get a few projects done though. The Computer was very excited about getting his room done finally. He's known what he wanted for over a year now. It deserves a post all it's own so I'll get that up tomorrow maybe. He's a huge Chicago Bears fan so you know it's a rather loud room.

Our other big project was to can the box of peaches sitting on the counter. It's so comforting to see those jars of peaches all sealed up and ready to take out during the winter. We weren't so sure we would get many peaches this year as it hasn't been a very good season for them. Right now, we've got 15 jars. I'd like a few more, but not sure that we'll happen.

Now to tackle the box of tomatoes sitting on the counter. This year, we had to buy all the produce, but next year we have great plans for a large garden in the backyard.

Our Routine? No, really, Our Routine!

Our assignment this week if our Homeschool Routine...so here goes:


Well, huh, routine, eh? It sure would be nice if every day could look a little like the one before, but somehow that just never seems to happen. I teach lessons during the day on Monday while Fearless Flyer is with Grandma and Grandpa. (hm...I need to come up with some fun names for them.) The other two stick with me. In between lessons, I work with them and during lessons, they have independent work, reading or play time.

Our Tuesday, Thursday and Friday is kind of, sort of the same. It all depends on The Man's schedule. If he's able to work from home, the kids like to finish up so they can have some play time with Dad. We are so blessed that he is such an active father with them. I don't think I could possibly handle all their activeness (is that a word?) on my own.

Wednesday, The Computer has guitar lessons near a Target and you all know what that means, right? Who can resist? So we take the morning to also run a few errands.

We do have a basic routine for the days we are home. It's not strict, but it definitely works for us.

6:00 - Mom wakes up, Bible Study (the youngins sleep)
6:30 - Mom works out (the youngins sleep)
7:30 - Everyone up and at 'em, get dressed, eat breakfast
8:00 - Breakfast over, make bed, brush teeth and some sort of morning chore
8:30 ish - School time starts and goes until about 10:30. During this time, we always start with Bible and try to finish a logic puzzle, math, reading for The Librarian, writing for The Computer, Grammar and handwriting
10:30 ish - Snack and Read Aloud, then run around and get those crazies out.
11:00 - Geography and possibly science, Latin, and anything else that we've left out
12:15 - start lunch
12:30 - eat lunch and relax
1:00 - Book Basket for the olders, rest time for the younger
2:00 - Practice piano, guitar, free time
3:30 - afternoon chores (unless I'm teaching lessons during this time)

After all that, it's just get dinner, play outside, shower/baths, bedtime story (currently reading Howl Inn - it's the book after Bunnicula), song, blessing, hugs and kisses. They are in their beds around 8:30. Occasionally they read for a bit.

Honestly though, this is truly a skeleton of our schedule. Some days we accomplish so much more and some days, not so much. I'm also sure I've forgotten something in there. Hopefully, it's nothing important.

I'm looking forward to reading what the days are like for others.

Happy Labor Day!

~from Wikipedia
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create "a day off for the working citizens".

Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.[1] All fifty states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer.
Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United States since the 1880s.[citation needed] The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday—a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

Today, Labor Day is often regarded as a day of rest and parades. Speeches or political demonstrations are more low-key than May 1 Labour Day celebrations in most countries, although events held by labor organizations often feature political themes and appearances by candidates for office, especially in election years. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer.

In addition, Labor Day marks the beginning of the season for the National Football League and NCAA College Football. The NCAA usually plays their first games the week before Labor day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day.