2018-2019 Homeschool Year

We started back on August 13; however, I am just now finding the time to write about our curriculum and schedule for this year. It has been that hectic. With one senior and one sophomore, the workload is heavier -for them and for me- and also increasingly challenging. To add a little more stress  excitement, my senior is also working part-time. Plus, I still have my writing, which sometimes means early mornings and late nights to ensure that I meet deadlines. On a side note, look for exciting news about my writing coming soon. For now, though, let's continue with the homeschool discussion. We typically school five days a week, Monday through Friday, although we've already had to do some school on a couple of Saturdays in order to make up for missing some school time due to issues that arose during the week. Since I have high schoolers, most of their work is done independently. I check over it, and then we go over any corrections that need to be made. Some subjects, such as Literature, History, and the Sciences, are interactive in our home. We discuss ideas and themes, events and people, and do labs together. I'm also available to facilitate in other subjects as needed. I believe in teaching students to learn independently, and I've been fostering that type of environment since we started our homeschool journey in 2006.

I use a mix of different curricula. I choose based on the learning style of each child and also what fits my teaching style; it's important that you take both into consideration. Also, one other piece of advice before I share what we're using this year: be prepared. Plan, plan, plan. I spend around two months each summer planning our homeschool year. I block out around one-two hours 3-4 days a week over that time period and research options, buy materials, familiarize myself with the materials, see how many days/weeks it will take to finish each subject, and then loosely plan the year. That works for me. Find your style and then make planning work for you.

*My Senior's Curriculum
Psychology and You
Forensic Science Fundamentals and Investigations
American Government Balancing Democracy and Rights
Fundamentals of Economics
Math-U-See Pre-Cal & Trig
Memoria Press The Iliad & The Odyssey Set
Art Appreciation
Word: The Poet's Voice

*My Sophomore's Curriculum
First Form Greek
Art Appreciation
Word: The Poet's Voice
Math-U-See Geometry Set
History Odyssey Ancients Level 3
Ancient Literature
High School Chemistry in Your Home
Analytical Grammar

*Don't freak out too much at the prices. I didn't buy all of these new. Some I borrowed from friends and many I found on Paperback Swap and Thrift Books.

If you have any questions, please ask. Also, I'd love to hear about the materials that you're using and about how you plan and schedule your homeschool year. Let me hear from you soon!

A Legacy of Love and Faith

This year I've had to bid farewell to the last of my grandparents - my father's mother and father. While I'm sad to see them go, I know that I will one day see them again in my eternal home in Heaven, where they are already rejoicing together. This knowledge brings me both peace and joy.

My grandparents celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary just a few months before my grandfather passed away this past March. How amazing is that? 75 years of love and faithfulness, which included three children, my grandfather's service in World War II, the path to my grandfather's recovery after his stroke, and the countless misadventures that my granddaddy always managed to have. He was stubborn and quite a handful, but my grandmother loved him deeply, just as he loved her. 

Once my grandfather was gone, my grandmother was lost without him. He was truly the light of her life and her best friend. She thrived on the act of taking care of him. It was how she showed love. She served, whether it be through her delicious cooking or through her prayers for her family. She was a strong woman; saying goodbye to her this week was hard, yet we smile at the precious memories that will sustain us as the years go by.

They leave me with big shoes to fill. A marriage like theirs doesn't come along every day. It doesn't just happen. It takes work. It requires endurance. It needs faith. It calls for sacrifice. My grandparents are examples of all of that. Their faith is a testimony to the love and goodness of God. Throughout their lives - in times of joy and sorrow - they clung faithfully to the Father. I am inspired to walk in faith as they did. My grandfather said many things while he was alive, but two things that I will always remember and strive to live in light of are the following:

"If you want to know how much God has blessed me, just go outside and look at the stars at night. That's how many blessings God has given me."

"I know the reason that I made it back safely from the war. It's because Lucille [my grandmother] was on her knees every day praying for me."

This is their legacy. I have been blessed.

Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas season we've had! The only downside was that our Dec. 25 was very warm and very rainy. Thankfully we're enjoying sunnier and colder weather now. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Here's a look at ours:

Homeschooling and Life: Dec. 1-11, 2015

We are winding down our school work soon in preparation for the holidays. We will have three days of school next week and then we'll take a break until January 5. How long do you take for your holiday break? What are your plans and traditions? We love to watch special Christmas movies. Our favorites are Home Alone, A Christmas Story, It's A Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated version) and The Nativity. We choose an angel off the Angel Tree and buy gifts for a less fortunate child. We also enjoy riding around to look at Christmas lights. We bake gingerbread cookies and build a gingerbread house. This year we even made a gingerbread nativity! We have a basket filled to the brim with Christmas books that we love to read. Also, the children receive candy and a small gift on the feast day of St. Nicholas. We have a special Christmas Eve candlelight dinner after we attend Mass. We let the children open one gift on Christmas Eve; the rest are for Christmas morning! After breakfast on Christmas Day we play board games and lunch consists of a variety of appetizers. For dinner on Christmas night we meet friends at a local Chinese buffet. I love the holiday season! I'm probably more excited than the kids. I'd love to hear about your family's celebrations! Meanwhile, though, we have a little more school to finish before the break: 

Books I use to plan Baby Girl's winter activities. 

Grinch ornament...thanks to the wonderful world of Pinterest!

Gingerbread nativity

Baby Girl during school

Bug is studying layering of earth elements.

Science experiment

Erosion!

Placing sod over the soil

The sod prevents the erosion from being too bad.

Studying cells

Baking cookies

Homeschooling and Life: October and November 2015

We have been enjoying school and preparing for the holidays. It certainly is a busy time of year! I've been thinking about how awesome it really is to be a homeschool parent. I get to teach different levels, from elementary to high school - including special needs. It is so rewarding to be a part of the excitement that my children feel when something finally "clicks." I remind myself of this on the tough days. Want to know more about what our life looks like? Here's a little peak:

Daddy reads to Baby Girl.

Doodles makes a sketch for her biology assignment.

Bug enjoys a book by the pond.

Homeschooling and Life: August 24-28, 2015

We had a pretty good week. Baby Girl is doing better than ever with her school. She is much more willing to let me work with her this year than she has been in the past. Bug is still enjoying most of his school - with the exception of writing paragraphs, papers, lab reports...basically anything involving writing he detests. ;) Doodles is doing well overall with an increased workload, but  she is having some difficulty with Biology. I encouraged her that it will get better. She just needs time to adjust. Here's a peak at our week:

Bug is enjoying the book Hittite Warrior.

And now for some reality, folks! Here I am, trying to juggle Baby Girl and the poetry book, which clearly Bug has no interest in hearing. LOL

I teach a K-2nd grade class at our homeschool co-op. We are currently learning about rainforests and will make dioramas this week.

Doodles used a microscope to look at cheek cells this week.

I am currently reading Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes to Baby Girl.

Homeschooling and Life: April 1-10, 2015

We had a nice Easter and enjoyed some schooling as well. Here's a look at the beginning of April at our house:

Dying Easter eggs

Baby Girl's Easter crafts

Our dyed eggs

Easter Baskets

Baby Girl and I all dressed up for Easter

Baby Girl's read-aloud for this week

Baby Girl's weather calendar

Bug is working on math.