I love New Year's! I guess the main reason is that it usually means new beginnings and who doesn't love a new beginning. It reminds me of the new beginning we get when we ask Jesus to be the Lord of our lives and the new beginning He gives us over and over when we inevitably keep screwing up!
So much has happened since I last updated and I am definitely going to be more diligent about it. This journey with my girls is too important not to record the details and we have a new beginning with our homeschooling, too.
Last semester was not very productive. We did unit studies on the Human Body and World War II but for some reason, I just was not satisfied with the quality of education I was providing for the girls. No matter how diligent we were, it just didn't "feel" right and I still don't know why.
So I consulted a professional to advise me on curriculum. I told her our learning styles/teaching styles, curricula that I had tried and liked, curricula that I had tried and did NOT like, what my expectations were, etc. Anyone who knows me knows I'm pretty structured but not TOO structured. I am not rigid on times, etc. but I am pretty set in a "laxed" kind of routine. I wanted more hands on things but also like a curricula that is rich in literature and reading. So she basically customized a curriculum for me and I made final adjustments and that is what we're going with. So far, it has been WONDERFUL!!! I am so pumped about their progress!
She recommended Bob Jones for Social Studies and Science. It's a Christian curriculum but not 'overly' Christian like A Beka if you know what I mean. I wasn't sure I wanted to spend that much on books sight unseen. So I checked eBay and what do you know...I got great deals on used books to use for the remainder of the year. If we do indeed like it, I'll consider getting the whole kit and caboodle for next year.
I declined to take her advice for the Language Arts segment. I was very happy with the Spectrum Spelling and A Reason for Handwriting that we were already using, I just wanted to add a few things. So I looked at Spectrum's Writing and Language Arts and got those books instead.
And of course, we're sticking with Saxon Math.
I also ordered both girls a Bob Jones Reading textbook, although I'm still waiting to receive Kayti's.
Last week, we did a sample lesson from Myklin Vinson's "What Every Girl Should Know". Contrary to the title, it's NOT about puberty and sex but about Biblical ways to handle problems preteens face. The lesson we did was on choosing friends and role models and each of them was required to select a woman from the Bible and write what they liked about her, what they disliked, what they felt they could learn from her, etc. Kayti at first chose Esther but decided the story was too long! LOL She ended up choosing Abigail. Brooke chose Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus. I hope to order the rest of the Bible study soon.
In the meantime, we are reading Hero Tales Volumes 1 & 2 by Dave & Neta Jackson. You just can't go wrong with Neta! She is the author of the Yada Yada Prayer Group series which I LOVE so much! She and her husband have written a family treasury of true stories from the lives of Christian Heroes. This week, we read about Corrie Ten Boom, which was fitting after last semester's study of WWII and yesterday our latest movie from Netflix arrived---The Hiding Place about the Ten Boom family!
Since we only received our new textbooks this week, we are finishing up a chapter in some old A Beka books I already had on Mesopotamia (Social Studies) and Rocks and Minerals (Science). We may take a field trip to Rickwood Caverns tomorrow.
I also implemented my own accelerated reader program. I gathered a list of recommended books from several resources, including the Children's Book Council and sifted through it to find ones I thought were appropriate to their interests and reading level. They can choose a book, they can even read the books together but they each much write their own book report on the book following criteria that I have posted on our bulletin board. After they present their report, they can go into the reward jar and this reward jar is ONLY for accelerated reader--and these rewards are GOOD! They have already selected their first books! Kayti has chosen The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright and Brooke has chosen a book about horses by Seymour Simon. Since we took her trail riding last year shortly before her birthday, she has been obsessed with horses. I'm sure watching endless hours of The Saddle Club on TV didn't help either!
Next week, we will have our first lesson with our new co-op that we started!! Right now, it is very small and is only offering Spanish for Children. But if all goes well and the Lord willing, we may expand it to include other enrichment classes such as Art, gym and maybe even a small group Bible Study.
Kayti is going to DiscipleNow this weekend with our old church. I know she will have a great time. And that gives me some one on one time with my youngest which I am looking forward to!
Blessings for a great homeschooling week!
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