2012-2013 Homeschool Curriculum

It's time for the 4th annual "Not" Back-to-School Blog Hop!

This week is all about curriculum. *swoon*

Hello, my name is Marsha and I am a curriculum junkie.

With all the new! and amazing! and fun! products that come out every year, no wonder it is hard to choose or stick with the same program each year. Even when I have chosen and purchased and planned, there is no guarantee that two weeks into the program we will decide that I was overly ambitious in the planning stage (hello, Mapping the World by Heart from last year... not!).

It will be interesting to see how our daily schedule plays out with Ian in the mix.

He is a pretty happy and easy going baby 99% of the time.
But sometimes that 1% is a doozy! :-)

AUSTIN - 13 years old, Grade 7/8

Math:
Teaching Textbooks Math 7

History:
All American History Volume 1: The Explorers to the Jacksonians

Science:
*Science Fusion Life Science: Cells and Heredity, The Diversity of Living Things, The Human Body

Language Arts:
Wordly Wise 3000 Level 7 and Level 8
The Giggly Guide to Grammar
The Paragraph Book 2: Writing the Paragraph that Tells a Story
Daily Language Review Grade 8

Foreign Language:
**Rosetta Stone Latin Level 2

Other:
Type to Learn 4: Agents of Information
Guitar
Swimming
Scuba Diving

NOAH - 11 years old, Grade 6

Math:
Math U See Epsilon
Teaching Textbooks Math 7

History:
All American History Volume 1: The Explorers to the Jacksonians

Science:
*Science Fusion Life Science: Cells and Heredity, The Diversity of Living Things, The Human Body

Language Arts:
Wordly Wise 3000 Level 6
The Giggly Guide to Grammar
The Paragraph Book 2: Writing the Paragraph that Tells a Story
Daily Language Review Grade 6

Foreign Language:
**Rosetta Stone Latin Level 2

Other:
Type to Learn 4: Agents of Information
Guitar
Swimming
Soccer


* Just so y'all know, the science was discounted through Homeschool Buyer's Co-op. Membership is free and I have purchased programs and curriculum for 30-60% off retail price.

** I HIGHLY recommend Rosetta Stone. If you buy it through My Father's World, you will get their Daily Lessons Plans for Level 1 for free. If you can swing it financially, buy Levels 1 & 2 together as you will kick yourself later for having to pay for Level 2 by itself. It's a much better deal together.

To see what everyone else is doing this year or to join in the fun, visit the iHomeschool Network HERE.

PS I can't leave y'all with a crying Ian!



Ahhh... that's better.

Our 2011-2012 Curriculum

This pregnancy has really put me behind schedule in a lot of areas of my life. When the goal of the day is to attempt to be out of bed for more than 2 hours and try to cook at least one meal without puking, one can see how some items related to homeschooling would be put on the backburner.

I am tardy in recording our 2011-2012 Curriculum by a mere 3 months. *cough, cough*

Pish-posh, right?

For the record, we have been educating our boys in the midst of moving halfway around the world, a pukey but precious pregnancy (in which I now feel great!), (me) freaking out (only slightly) about a certain child's venture into puberty, and the usual how can we start the new year when we haven't quite finished up last year?! debate within myself.

Onward, shall we? :)

AUSTIN - 12 years old, Grade 7

Bible:

The Ultimate Devo for Boys

Math:

Math-U-See Epsilon and Zeta

History:

Sonlight Core F Eastern Hemisphere (finish up from last year, then geography- see below)

Mapping the World by Heart (we will attempt this, might be too ambitious?)

Language Arts:

Writing Strands 3

Language Lessons for the Elementary Child 2 by Sandi Queen

5 Minute Daily Practice Grammar

Sequential Spelling for Adults 1 and 2

Science:

Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science, Second Edition

Rock N Learn Human Body DVD

It's So Amazing

What's the Big Deal?

Foreign Language:

Rosetta Stone Latin Level 1 (Homeschool Edition)

Other:

Spectrum Test Prep 6 by McGraw-Hill Children's Publishing

Dr. Funster's Think A Minutes, Level C Book 1 and Book 2

NOAH - 10 years old, Grade 5

Bible:

Gotta Have God

Math:

Math U See Delta (completed 10/2011) and Epsilon

History:

Sonlight Core F Eastern Hemisphere (finish up from last year, then geography- see below)

Mapping the World by Heart (we will attempt this, might be too ambitious?)

Language Arts:

Writing Strands 3

Language Arts for the Elementary Child by Sandi Queen

5 Minute Daily Practice Grammar

Sequential Spelling for Adults 1 and 2 (if too difficult, will use different level)

Getty Dubay Italic Handwriting Book F

Science:

Christian Kids Explore Biology

Rock N Learn Human Body DVD

Foreign Language:

Rosetta Stone Latin Level 1 (Homeschool Edition)

Other:

Dr. Funster's Think a Minutes, Level B Book 2 and Level C Book 1

I do have a question for y'all.

We have Rosetta Stone Japanese Level 1 that I would like to implement, as tourism from Japan is a major economic force here in Guam. Have any of y'all done two foreign languages at the same time? Thoughts, please?

sewing, siblings and the subject of history

Want to see what I have been sewing today?

Not just one...

...but TWO blankets for my sister Bobo's baby.

Her husband is in the USAF and flies the C-5, hence the airplanes (even if these are a bit old school).

I still have one more blanket I want to make, but the sewing machine, fabric and notions need to be packed away. The survey person with the moving company is coming tomorrow to see what we're planning to take with us to Guam!

My sister needs to have her baby just a little early. She is due in June and we are moving in June... so end of May would be very convenient for me. And it's all about me, right? *snort*

Baby boy is already over 6 lbs! Definitely great with child. :)

My brother was also at Bobo's shower. Stephen and Debbie (aka Bobo) are less than a year apart.

He and Debbie do look a bit like twins, don't you think?

And now completely off subject, I have a HOMESCHOOL question for y'all.

Shocking, isn't it. Me? Write about homeschooling?

Austin will be starting 7th grade in the fall. That is typically the year that a student will learn about TEXAS history. However, we will be moving to GUAM next month.

Do we have him study Texas history anyway (since we will be back in 1.5 years to stay)? Or should he study something else?

A little background info: Our history this year is Sonlight's Core F: Eastern Hemisphere, which is culture and history in Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa. We have studied American History the previous 2 years. Regardless of the history, we will be focusing on geography this next year using Mapping the World by Heart and digging deeper into the countries we plan on visiting.

So tell me, what would you do? Texas History? Guam History? Something else? Just Geography and extra readers?

Our 2010-2011 Curriculum

I just love starting a new school year!

Why is it that thinking of the possibilities of a new curriculum and plan is so much fun, but actually completing the old one is such a drag? I guess I just love mixing things up when it comes to our curriculum, much like how I get great satisfaction from tweaking and rearranging the furniture.

For the record, here is what we did last year and the year before:

2009-2010 Curriculum

2008-2009 Curriculum

For practical purposes, Austin (11yo in 12 days) will be entering the 6th grade and Noah (9yo) will be entering the 4th grade.

Math:

Math-U-See

A: Epsilon

N: Delta

History/Geography:

Sonlight Core 5 (4 day schedule)

Spelling:

Sequential Spelling

Science:

Science Detective Software

A: A1

N: Beginning

Latin:

Latin for Children Primer A

Grammar:

Classical Conversations Essentials

Writing:

Institute for Excellence in Writing (through CC Essentials above)

Critical Thinking:

Dr. Funster's Think-A-Minutes

Music:

Guitar lessons, weekly

Extras:

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Jr.

Rosetta Stone Spanish

Typing Instructor

Boy Scouts

Soccer

LEGO Robotics

Masters Club at Church

To see what curriculum other homeschoolers are using this year, visit Heart of the Matter's Not-Back-To-School Blog Hop. Next Monday, the NBTS Blog Hop will be all about our school rooms!

Dictionary Debate

When I first heard about Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary, I thought I just had to have it. Since the reasonings were quite sound, I plunked down a good chunk of change to buy it and have it shipped to my house. (This is one heavy dictionary!)

Now that my boys are finishing up the 3rd and 5th grade, we have had more opportunity to use the Dictionary than ever before.

But there was a problem.

When we'd go to look up a word, IT WASN'T ALWAYS THERE.

While many words are there along with great example sentences and definitions, new vocabulary just isn't included. It's not Noah's Webster's fault that they didn't have modems or morse code back in the day.

This led me to buy the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary the other day.

What I like about it:

• -affordable
• -the lighter weight makes it more appealing for kids to pick up and open
• -pronunciation guide to each word (which the 1828 does not have)

1828 Dictionary

Both are good dictionaries.

But for kid-friendliness and usefulness in home studies, I would recommend Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

If you can afford and have shelf space for both, the 1828 would be valuable from a historical aspect and for its incorporation of the Bible in its definitions. With its example sentences, it would be excellent for use in Bible or character studies.

The MW Collegiate does not give any example sentences with its definitions, which can be a positive or a negative depending on how you look at it. But its straightforwardness and scope lends itself for use in a homeschool (or any) setting.

Anyhow, that's my 2 cents on Dictionaries.

Do you have either of these dictionaries? Do you just use Dictionary.com? What are your thoughts?

(See? We DO homeschool! Or do you at least think we do yet?)

I am loving these books for boys.

In the world of Captain Underpants and Wimpy Kids, I am loving that my boys are loving these other books too!

Max Elliot Anderson - I am sad that my boys think the Hardy Boys books are b-b-b-boring. However, they are enjoying and DEVOURING the thrilling mysteries and adventures by Max Elliot Anderson. Maybe this will make them give the Hardy Boys another chance?

Stories from History - 11 Graphic Novels; this set was only $16.95-- interesting and affordable! They have read each of these several times just because they liked it. I like that random historical tidbits will pop into their heads during our lessons or that they will be sitting there just thinking about something that happened to Anne Frank, Leonardo da Vinci or Khufu.

Robot Wars - We heart Sci Fi.

God's World News Magazine - These magazines make for very good breakfast reading. :) My boys like the pictures, puzzles and topics. I like that it is has a Christian world view and is a great springboard for discussing current events. (I saw this mag on your blog first, Ruthanne! Thanks!)

Do y'all have any book suggestions that I can add to our reading basket? We're almost done with the whole thing! Need. more. books. pronto.

Head on over to Cheryl's at Tidymom to see more I'm Lovin' It entries.

Books, Reading and the Wimpy Kid

I am an avid reader. I love the look, feel and smell of books. If I had the choice of a two story walk-in closet full of shoes and a library full of books, I'd pick the library-- along with the cool sliding ladder!

My husband, however, only flips through magazines and Best Buy ads.

You can venture a guess on whose footsteps I want our boys to follow.

When we instituted the token system of reading, my boys read every interesting looking book they could find in this house. I would leave books on the kitchen table and next to the couch in hopes of encouraging them to read what *I* wanted them to read.

We were all happy with this arrangement for a while.

The problem was that although they read with purpose (the purpose of earning a token!), they never got lost in the book. I never heard them chuckling or begging to stay up just a little longer so they could read. They did it but didn't LOVE it.

At least not until I gave in and bought the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series of books by Jeff Kinney.

I resisted the Wimpy Kid books for a very long time because of their general sassy attitude. But the need to encourage reading because it's FUN overruled the other objections I had with the series.

Sometimes you have to pick your battles and decide what is the most important. In this particular case, I had to forgo good literary taste in favor of seeing my boys LAUGH OUT LOUD while reading.

They loved the series so much, they have read each book a half dozen times. This was the first set of books that really captured their interest, made them seek out other "fun" books at the library, and really showed them that reading for pleasure is possible. Even for boys!

The movie? It was eh to me.

The main character was selfish, the big brother was mean, and all the middle school angst was tiring. It wasn't even HIGH school drama, y'all. It was MIDDLE school drama!

And yet my boys laughed and laughed and proclaimed it to be an awesome movie. Just add a dozen !!!!! after the word awesome.

An added bonus from all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (and movie) is that one child in particular has been inspired to create his own diary journal a la Gregg Heffley. That's something that this homeschooling momma would not have been able to inspire on her own!

The movie was not epic or profound. It was entertaining (more so for my boys) and gave me the opportunity to ask my boys about their feeeeeelings... :snort:

We talked about what it means to be a good friend (Gregg was a selfish friend for much of the movie) and how some people can get too focused on "being famous" rather than being themselves (per Noah).

Do you let your kids read the Wimpy Kid books? Did they like it? Did you like it? Are you planning to see the movie?

Do you even know what I'm talking about? (Especially you mommies of girls.)

Posse (homeschool style)

Each week, my boys attend an enrichment program for homeschoolers. They have been going for years and love their classes, teachers and friends.

My little writer informed me today that he's part of a posse.

Visions of a ruthless gang of homeschooled boys shaking the other kids down for their snack money came to mind.

I calmly asked him what he did with his posse.

Oh, you know... hang out, make comics... that kind of thing.

Comics? I am intrigued.

Wanna know the name of our comics? Obama Wars.

He proceeds to laugh like it is the most hilarious thing EVER.

It's like Star Wars but Obama is Darth Vader!!! Luke Skywalker is John McCain!!!

Pretty clever, huh? I thought so.

It's a fierce battle.

O' Vader will not concede.

(It's surprising to see the GOP on the offense, isn't it?)

Oops. I bet that hurt.

Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing? Would you still let your kid hang out with my kid? I think it's stinkin' funny and yikes at the same time!

I suppose it would be good to have yet another talk about being respectful of the President, even if we didn't vote for him.

(Do you think this is going to set off any red flags at the White House? Do you think they'll suspend my Blogger account? If you don't hear back from me in a few days...)

God gives a song

Emily over at The Learning Never Stops wrote about something new she started doing in her homeschool-- teaching songs from the Bible. Out of all the songs I have ever taught my children, there is ONE that stands out more than any other.

In the early weeks after Christian's passing from this world, God taught me so much. For the first time in my life, I learned what it meant to pray without ceasing (I Thess. 5:17) and the importance of turning my thoughts to those things that are true, noble, just, and of good report (Philippians 4:8).

But as time wore on, it became increasingly difficult to keep myself from sliding down into the dark depths of fear and self-pity and overwhelming sorrow.

I was SO weary.

Then God gave me a song, y'all!

It was this song from Nehemiah.

..for this day is holy unto our Lord: Neither be ye sorry;

for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

-Nehemiah 8:10 (emphasis mine)

I vaguely remember singing this catchy, repetetive song as a child.

So I ushered the kids to the piano, found the song and taught them the first verse...

"The joy of the Lord is my strength."

You pretty much just sing that line four times to a tune. It took a few tries before I could sing it without choking up. While other times I sang it without any strength and without any joy, just hoping that my heart would somehow follow the lead of my mouth.

Austin and Noah had no clue about my real intentions. They were just learning a song that they thought was easy and fun.

I was trusting God to bring that song to their lips and to my ears right when I needed it most.

It helped me more times than I can remember when they'd start singing it "out of the blue."

It is catchy like that and God is good like that! :)

In spite of being a slacker sometimes, I am thankful that God showed me the importance of being intentional. Intentional in parenting, intentional in our homeschool, and intentional in building up my spiritual arsenal. God gives us many tools and resources, we just have to USE them!

Has God ever used the seemingly smallest of things to make a difference in your heart or attitude? Has God ever brought a song to your lips or a verse to your mind that helped you when you least expected it?

I would love to hear your story.

Serenade at a price

Last night I was serenaded by two guitar players.

I was minding my own business when Austin and Noah casually walked into my bedroom, guitars slung behind their backs. They unzipped their cases, took out their music and began to pick a few notes.

It made me smile to see my boys concentrating so hard on producing song from wood and wire.

Noah proudly showed me how he could play without looking at his music.

Did I mention that they have only had one guitar lesson so far? And the fact that they were using this "practice" time as a means of procrastination? Not to mention being completely out of tune with each other?

I'm cool with ALL of that.

However, I must admit that I was a bit taken aback at how expensive lessons are! Zoiks. $92 a month PER CHILD. (I feel like I should throw some more !!!!!!!! after that number.)

That gives them each one 30 minute lesson every week. While I thought it to be a worthy investment, it took a little convincing for David to jump on board.

Tell me, does your child take music lessons? What kind? Piano, guitar, cow bell...? Am I getting a good deal or getting ripped off with that price? Enquiring minds want to know-- I want to know!

WW - Daddy P.E.

P.E. is kicked up a notch when David is home.

(that thing is used to pick up golf balls. too bad it doesn't shoot them!)

(color is wonky when camera is on full auto. bleh.)

Treasure Hunt

Noah finished his independent work early today-- math, language arts, handwriting, map skills. He had been waiting f-o-r-e-v-e-r for Austin to finish his math.

Since waiting is SO hard, he asked if there was anything fun that he could do.

Y'know, video games, computer, movies, anything?

The good mommy in me said "NO. Just finding something to do... anything! Go outside, go ride your bike, bury some treasure, whatever... Just go!"

And boy, did he ever!

Look! It's a treasure map! For ME! And drawn with a CHOCOLATE scented marker!

*sniff* He loves me with the details.

He said that if I find the treasure, I can keep it. SO LET'S GO!

Map-- check. Shovel-- check.

He was very thoughtful to walk me through the (not-so-detailed) map.

He expertly knew the way and even carried my shovel for me.

Uh-oh. Obstacles on the bridge!

(I wonder if he originally intended it to be for Austin.)

Creepy bugs and a brick won't force me to turn around!

Down the slide and a trek to the stick in the ground. Turn right.

That's looks like the perfect place for an X to mark the spot!

It's just not treasure if you don't have to dig it up.

He's clever to realize that there are certain laws governing the hunting of treasure.

Even more proof of his cleverness (and perhaps slight OCD from his mommy)-- treasure safely nestled in a ziploc baggy! Yay!

Crayons, two pennies, a peppermint and more garbled marbles.

As great a treasure as that is, it doesn't shine a light to THIS treasure.

I love him so much it hurts. I like that kind of hurt.

Pressing On

Christian's birthday is this Thursday. He would be 5 years old.

As we started this new school year, I have often wondered where he would be in our lessons right about now. I am pretty sure we would've made this year his Kindergarten year.

We had already been working on letter sounds and recognition, so this year would've been spent tying those sounds and letters together with reading. When our kids finish their Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, they are rewarded with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese, their very own wallet and a library card. Oh, you also have to learn to write your name before you get these rewards. :) But then again, he always did things in his own special way so I'm sure he would've required some other method of teaching!

Sometimes I'm sad when I think about these things. Other times I smile thinking about how he would most likely be advanced and super smart for his age (of course!).

When we would go to Austin and Noah's soccer games, Christian loved kicking the ball around with David. We were all excited about Christian starting soccer that season! When we go to the fields now and look at the other little kids running around, we imagine Christian running circles around his opponents and celebrating many a goal (even if they don't technically keep score at that age).

Look at his great form!

Or perhaps he'd be losing his temper when someone takes the ball away from him. Man, did he have a temper! And yet you never got mad at him... it just somehow made you laugh. I'm sure that had a way of frustrating him even more.

But we just couldn't help it.

Today, I am just in a remembering kind of mood-- and with each thought and memory, the emotions are always double sided. Joy for having the gift of those moments mixed with sadness for unfulfilled dreams. Perhaps that is why the death of a child is so difficult. We mourn not only the loss of the presence of Christian, but we mourn the loss of the dreams we had for him as well.

I don't want everyone to feel pity for me and my family. Yes, we still covet your prayers, but... well... it's just that God has given grace in our journey. It doesn't mean we don't hurt, cry, grieve and throw an occasional fit. It doesn't mean that we don't need and appreciate the acknowledgement that Christian is missed by others, that we must surely be hurting, that no one has forgotten him. It just means that we go through all of these things with hope. The hope and assurance that only comes by focusing on the sacrifice that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, made on the cross of Calvary!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

-John 3:16

Because when I focus on the Cross, I am reminded of what matters most. When I focus on the Cross, I stop feeling sorry for myself and can be thankful! When I focus on the Cross, I am reminded that Jesus innocently endured much for a guilty wretch like me (and you) and that God understands what it is like to be separated from His beloved Son. When I focus on the Cross, I am reminded that God has given us a purpose in this life-- to live for Him and to tell others about Jesus so we can have ETERNAL LIFE. No matter how long or short our life here on earth might be.

It gives me a real JOY in my heart to look at the things "which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor 4:18).

I am sure that some may wrongly think that I am a super-Christian or even whacko. I am neither.

I am just going through God's school, trusting His faithfulness in times of crisis, and pressing on.