2014/2105 School Year

I can't believe another year is about to start.  I still don't have all the decisions made, and I'm not close to being ready, but I am making slow progress.  We've begun some things slowly, and will start full force August 18.  Here's most of the lineup.

Luke:

The Greeks (Roman Roads Media)
Spielvogel's Western Civilization (relevant portions, along with the study guide)
Saxon Algebra 2
Vocabulary for the High School Student
English Grammar Revolution
Writing with Skill 1
Rhetorical Devices
Discovery of Deduction
Derek Owen's Physical Science
Lingua Latina (online class through Compass Classroom)
Introduction to Engineering Design (he'll be taking this at the high school)

Drums, piano, robotics, and recreational tumbling/trampoline gymnastics

Ezekiel:

The Greeks (Roman Roads Media)
Spielvogel's Western Civilization (relevant portions, along with the study guide)
Saxon Algebra 1
Rod & Staff Spelling
English Grammar Revolution
Writing with Skill 1
Rhetorical Devices
Discovery of Deduction
Derek Owen's Physical Science
Lingua Latina (online class through Compass Classroom)

Piano, robotics, recreational tumbling/trampoline gymnastics, and team t&t gymnastics

Jacob:

Winter Promise Quest for the Middle Ages
The Human Odyssey (relevant portions)
ctcmath.com/Learn Math Fast/Mathematical Reasoning
Rod & Staff Spelling
Hake Grammar 7
Writing with Skill 1
Figuratively Speaking
Lightning Literature and Composition 7
Building Thinking Skills
Holt Earth Science
Getting Started with Latin/Visual Latin

Enrichment program, piano, and recreational tumbling/trampoline gymnastics


Micah:

Winter Promise Quest for the Middle Ages
The Human Odyssey (relevant portions)
ctcmath.com/Learn Math Fast/Mathematical Reasoning
Rod & Staff Spelling
Hake Grammar 5
Classical Academic Press Writing & Rhetoric 1 & 2
Mom's Reading List
Building Thinking Skills
Houghton Mifflin Science 6


Enrichment program, piano, and recreational tumbling/trampoline gymnastics


Nicholas: 

Winter Promise Quest for the Middle Ages
Story of the World 2
ctcmath.com/Learn Math Fast/Mathematical Reasoning
Rod & Staff Spelling
Hake Grammar 4
Classical Academic Press Writing & Rhetoric 1 & 2
Mom's Reading List
Building Thinking Skills
Houghton Mifflin Science 4


Enrichment program, piano, and recreational tumbling/trampoline gymnastics

It's a New Year!

Craig heads back to work today, so it's time to take down the decorations, find homes for the gifts, and figure out our spring semester.

Some of the changes on the horizon:

• Luke will finish up robotics at the high school.  They have two teams, Junior Varsity and Varsity.  We've decided to only do JV this year.
• Ezekiel has started team gymnastics (tumbling & trampoline).
• Luke will start drum lessons.
• I'm considering a change for grammar.  I love Rod & Staff, but find it works best for us when I'm teaching it.  I'm looking at Get Smart Grammar from English Grammar Revolution because she has diagramming & teaching videos. 
• I'm also considering going back to Visual Latin & Lingua Latina.  I haven't had the time to teach Wheelock's well.  I think Dwayne is a great teacher, and I'd like the boys to take his online class in the fall.

I'm still figuring out how to balance all of my responsibilities.  A new year is a great time to evaluate old systems and figure out how to run things more efficiently and intentionally. 

Happy 2014!

True Confession

I still haven't started our New Loop schedule because I lost my printed copy.  I knew I'd left it on my desk (you know, so I could laminate it, because everything is More Official when it's laminated), but I couldn't find it anytime I made my way down to the school room.  It somehow miraculously appeared on my desk yesterday, though, so we'll start it next week.  After I laminate it, of course.

A New Loop

Several years ago, I posted about a Loop schedule I was trying out (here and here).  It worked well for a season, but (like most things) it served its purpose and we moved on to another way of scheduling.

We're on day 42 of our school year, and I've yet to find a good teaching schedule.  I'm simply running around too much and we have too many irregular interruptions for me to get us into a good, scheduled groove.  I need to be home from 8-4 to teach everybody everything everyday.  I'm not sure that's happened more than a couple of times this year.

So I'm bringing the Loop back.

I'm a horrible Fly-By-the-Seat-of-My-Pants-er.  Oh, how I've tried to change this about myself, and I'm more flexible than I used to be.  But if I don't have a plan, I become overwhelmed and my brain shuts down.

So, here's my plan.  The boys do Bible everyday, and I'd like to do our Shared Learning everyday (a read aloud, sometimes a Teaching Company video, poetry memorization, etc.).  After that, I'll start with math with Luke, and move through each boy.  I'll move around the circle sequentially.  If I only make it through Latin with Jacob on Monday, then I will simply pick up with Latin with Micah on Tuesday and continue the circle.  The boys can do a lot independently for every subject, but having this structure will make sure nobody is totally going through a subject alone because I can touch base with everyone.  It will also keep me from just focusing on the subjects that are easiest for me to teach.  I figure this method can only help me at this point!

Review: Circle Time

Preschoolers and Peace recently sent a download of the eBook, Circle Time:  Plan the Best Part of Your Homeschool Day! for review.

Priced at $4.99, this little gem packs quite a punch.  Don't let the name "Preschoolers and Peace" fool you.  Since my youngest is now in 2nd grade, I'm well out of the preschooler phase.  Despite that, I still found a lot of helpful information packed into the 33 pages of this book.

So, what is Circle Time?  It's basically a time when you gather all your children together and work on learning the same things.  It can include anything you might want to teach:  Bible, prayer, memory work, etc.  It's a great way to teach your youngest students to sit still and engage.  Circle Time can be as long or as short as you and your children need it to be.  Obviously, a preschooler won't have the same attention span as your elementary or junior high or high school student.  Since your high school student will have more school work than your preschooler, you can do a bit with your older students present, and then dismiss them to go work on something else while you continue Circle Time with your younger students.

The author, Kendra Fletcher, uses this little book to help you to create a Circle Time for your family.  She has several suggestions for activities, and there are printables included in the PDF download to help you organize and think through what you want your Circle Time to look like.

As I read Circle Time, I was reminded the years we did Sonlight G & H.  During those years, I spent a lot of time reading out loud.  We would gather in the living room to start our days and I would read all of the Sonlight reading to the boys.  The boys declared it the best history ever, and I think it was in part due to the fact we were learning together.  This past year we didn't have that and I really missed it.  Circle Time has inspired me to reinstate a shared learning time with all the boys.

Our Circle Time plans include:

• a read-aloud
• a poetry selection
• poetry memorization
• American artist selection
• listening to music selections
• learning the States & Capitals
• learning the Presidents

Most of our plans (minus the poetry memorization) are centered around our American History studies this year.  That's the beauty of Circle Time--you can personalize it and study what you'd like to study.  The memories you can create by taking the time to share learning like this are wonderful--Circle Time isn't something that you'll regret spending time on.

As you plan for this coming year, I'd highly recommend that you get a copy of Circle Time and add a group learning time to your day!

For more reviews of Circle Time , visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew.