How We Homeschool: The Big Picture

I guess I'm a "Classical Homeschooler" but, y'all know how I feel about labels. We use The Well-Trained Mind as our spine (Though I don't have new newest edition :/ ). We study History in order and do Science in a 4 year cycle. The kids learn How to write before they learn What to write. Anya is starting Latin this year and I don't think Math needs to be colorful or related to God. Oh, and my kids are learning Typing in 3rd grade ALONG with Cursive rather than instead of it. However I put a big emphasis on practical skills like Cooking, Cleaning, Art, Sewing, Weaving, Music, House and Car Repairs, and a big one in our house Practical Medical Knowledge.

This year we are going to try something called Sabbath Schooling. The quote that really resonated with me was:
"Despite what our modern culture insists, rest is not a luxury; it is a necessity. If we do not rest, we soon won't be able to work--at least not very well. However hard we might try, we cannot push ourselves to unlimited productivity. Ignoring our need for regular periods of rest leads to burn-out."
Basically it's a loose 6 weeks on 1 week off schedule adjusted for holidays and other events. We are starting our school year July 1st. Here in Florida it doesn't make sense to have a long summer holiday because it's just to hot to go outside. We will get our 90 days in way before December (and Anya's Transplant Evaluation) plus have room for sick days, lazy days, and spontaneous field trips.

This year our formal studies include:
For Anya; Phonics, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, Literature, Handwriting, Math, Early Modern History, Chemistry, Human Growth & Development, Latin, Gutar, and Practical Art
For Trinity: Phonics, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, Literature, Handwriting, Math, Ancient History, Life Sciences, Piano (maybe), and Practical Art
For Vincent: Vincent will be attending an all day public school program for children with speech and other developmental delays. (Trinity attended the same program in the same class with the same teacher and it was WONDERFUL.) I did get him a couple workbook type things to do with him when he's home with us. He has Phonics, Math, and Handwriting.

Up next: The Medium picture,

School Year in Review

This is a verbatim copy of what I wrote up for our portfolio for the year.

This was not a great year. We are still out of balance from Steven's death. I don't think it will ever really get much better than it is now but, that's okay. It's our new normal. I addition we added Charlie into our family, my mother was diagnosed and with cancer, and we had several moves to contend with. While all 3 children have defiantly made progress they where hampered by our life circumstances.

Anya (2nd grade) continues to progress slowly but steadily on her reading. She is still behind but I have no doubt that she will catch up in due time. Anya continues to grasp new concepts in math, science, and social studies quickly.

Trinity (Kindergarten) is a confident beginning reader. Her speech impediment, while improving, is slowing her progress in reading and causing confusion between the 30's and 40's in math. She excels with math functions but struggles with spacial awareness.

Vincent (Preschool) is potty trained!!! He knows the sound of all 26 letters and knows most by sight. He is eager to start "real school" next year.

Some time during the last two weeks I gave up again. My house is a mess compounded by the fact that my Mom is living with up temporally. So our already cramped quarters are over run with an additional person and boxes everywhere.

I need to get all the boxes but away that are mine sorted and but away and get the rest to Moms storage unit. Once that is done I think I'll feel a lot better. No sense sitting here avoiding it any longer.

Maybe just five more minutes...

So much simpler than anything I've planned before.

Morning Group:

• Memory Work (States, Presidents, Capitals, Prime Numbers, ext)
• Read Alouds (Science, History, Literature)

Individual Work

• Work through Starfall
• Continue Saxon Math
• Silent Reading
• Personal Projects

Hopefully I'll add in some khan academy soon but I need to plan that out a bit more. 

Monday, Monday

Always trying something new

Around here, to say things are always changing is understatement. Between health problems and constant unavoidable interruptions I am always looking for ways to make school more independent and mobile. Independent is hard with a PS, K, and a 2nd grader. I'm still working out my plans (I always seem to be planning but nothing has really worked yet). Gotta follow through this time though. I don't have a reason not too. Things haven't settled but they are predicable.

We are gong to be using a lot of Starfall and keeping up with Saxon math. Anya's doing AR with her tutor and any History of Science is going to have to be through read alouds. Daily plan tomorrow, promise.

Six Week Slowdown

This is how Anya used to be about doing school work.She loved it and couldn't wait to dive in. Now, it has become more of a fight.

We have a crazy, hectic six weeks coming up and I thought now would be a good time to slow down and deschool a little bit. We are going to keep going on Math, Handwriting, and Reading but we are going to be a little more relaxed about how and when it gets done. Reading is going to all be from books instead of from The Ordinary Parents Guide for Teaching Reading. We are going to ride bikes, go on walks, paint, and just play.

I'm also going to try a bit of journaling our homeschool "work" on here rather than traditional record keeping.

Homeschool Update Feb 18 - 27

On the 18th I found out my Grandfather had passed. It wasn't a shock, we've been waiting around for it to happen for the last couple of years. I also found out I would be flying out for his funeral on the 21st. Unfortunately for me I got rid of my poor fitting/ugly winter clothes just days before. We had no plans for leaving FL for at least another year so I didn't think I would need them. This meant I had to spend all day Tuesday hitting up Goodwill's and Salvation Army's for long sleeve shirts. Wednesday was packing and laundry and I flew out early Thursday.

I left all 3 kids in Charlie's care for 5 days. I didn't think it would be fair to expect him to cover school as well so the girls got an unscheduled break. While I was gone they did take a nature walk and go fishing several times (I count that as a life skill. Teach a man to fish...and all that).

Today I am exhausted  both mentally and physically  from the trip and travel plus, we have a Cardiologist appointment, 3 hours away, for Anya TOMORROW. So today is packing for the little two to go stay with Big Gar and Grandma Becky and rounding up everything we need for the drive and doctor appointment.

Depending on how the trip goes and how I feel, we might do some light school work Thursday and Friday or we might just leave it alone until Monday and just catch up on our moderately educational TV shows that I had programmed to record the last 2 weeks, snuggle (I missed them BAD), and read.