Woohoo!
We just completed another successful year of homeschooling! Kayti did end up dropping out of her English class at CORE but it was no big deal. It was turning out to be nothing but a waste of her time. She wasn't learning anything and it was really dragging her down. As soon as she dropped it, her grades in her other classes shot through the roof! They didn't stay there, unfortunately, lol, but that's okay. She finished the year a solid B and I'm very proud of that. She was challenged and still came out a winner so I can't ask for more.
Brooke also finished her studies ahead of time. It was important to her to get done around the same time Kayti did, though I don't know why. Dylan is still in school so it wouldn't have been like she was the only one...go figure. But she made huge progress in her math this year and more importantly, she became an independent worker! Very few times did I need to remind her or nag her to do her work. She simply got the planbook and got going on her own and that is more amazing than anything else!
Though this next year will present a new bunch of challenges and obstacles, it will also have its opportunities and rewards and for that we are very excited. Because next year will be so busy, we will need to be very structured and I'm not wasting anytime getting a plan hammered down. I'm already researching and looking into what components I want to put into our curriculum and how I want to organize our daily schedule given that I will also be managing a classroom of 12 4 year olds!
We already know that Kayti will be taking only three classes from CORE next year--on Tuesday afternoon. She will be enrolled in Greek & Roman History, Latin and Greek Roots, and Pre-Algebra. I am teaching her Science and English as well as Bible and possibly a foreign language (we haven't decided on one yet).
I am still looking for a good science curriculum for both girls. I have several in mind to consider. One in particular I REALLY like but it's expensive--$180 per child. However, it does come with all the lab supplies and that's a huge plus. I want it to be Bible based but (and forgive me, I know I won't word this correctly) not too over the top. In other words, I want my children to come to the conclusion of creationism on their own after research and considering other theories. I don't just want it shoved down their throats if you know what I mean.
I am writing my own English curriculum based on a separate reading list for each of them. Kayti's reading list is: The Diary of Anne Frank, Conversations with Pioneer Women, Great Expectations, Tom Sawyer and Tales from Shakespeare. I haven't decided on the order yet. Brooke's reading list is: Yankee Girl, Heidi, That Girl Lucy Moon and two more that are to be selected. But I already have spelling/vocabulary and discussion questions based on those three and I'm putting together other activities to enhance their reading/writing/grammar/punctuation. I am also planning to supplement this with some workbook work but I am not going to be strict in making them do every page of it.
Picking a math curriculum for Brooke is probably going to be my biggest challenge as that is her weakest subject. I have several things I'm reviewing and plenty of time to make a decision. But I will probably end up picking and pecking from a lot of different sources (hey, that's what makes me an "ecclectic" homeschooler, right? lol)
One thing we did fail at this year was Bible study. We attempted Community Bible study once again but it simply does not fit our lifestyle. I really liked the idea that we were all studying the same thing/concept and the corporate prayer time with other adult women is something I am going to miss. I need to look into starting my own prayer group, I guess. But for whatever reason, it just didn't work and it won't next year either because of our schedule.
One thing I want to do first is to reestablish quiet time in our home and family bible time. We used to do this and we've gotten out of the habit of it. I've been looking at some wonderful resources I learned about by reading about the Duggar family (whom I LOVE!!!!) and also some books that help parents teach children how to study the bible for themselves. I also want us to do some theme studies, particularly about modesty and girlhood, some word studies and we are going to explore other religions as well (not for us to convert to but as a missions education to learn what others believe).
Getting back to the foreign language thing, Kayti will begin Spanish in 9th grade so I don't want to do that. And I'm not sure about French or German either. I would really like to do something out of the ordinary like Hindi or Arabic. But we'll see...
And of course, like many of my "heroes", these are just goals. There are goals and then there is reality!
Blessings,
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