2010-2011 home education juggleSo here we are, another year to plan. I feel like I've been doing this FOR-EV-ER. And I have but that's not a bad thing. I love homeschooling,as do the kids. Hubby mostly loves it except for the fact that it keeps me from working full time outside the home. But mostly he loves it when he sees what freedom this gives our family, or sees unfortunate news stories about things to do with schools. Not that I am against schools, not at all. Just for our family home educating was the best fit. I didn't always feel that way, I used to think homeschooling was illegal, insane or perhaps just for hippies. I probably never would have considered homeschooling at all if not for:
1. Someone I hardly knew asked me if we were going to homeschool when my oldest was an infant. It was not even on my radar for my own children before that.
2. That oldest child had special needs and differences that made school a very.poor.orpossiblyimpossible. choice. As witnessed by child's behavior when we tried babysitters, Sunday School and checking out preschools.
3. There was a book and a sample magazine in our tiny, rural, local library just when we were trying to figure out how to get said oldest to accept the fact of preschool or kindergarten.
Soooo that was 11 years ago. In the intervening years we had many idyllic months and years of little kids learning together. Gosh that was fun! We also had some trying times, not many I have to say. We read books and played and did the montessori at home type thing for a good 6 years or so. In the middle we did a lot of the unit study type thing and all kids 'round the table doing experiments and lapbooks thing. I have so many awesome memories and think the kids do too. Then we started to hit the older years 2-3ish years ago, for the older kids. We tried co-ops and classes, computer learning and workbooks. Some things were ok but I felt we got out of sync with our goals and ideals. It was a hectic year or two. This past year we re-gained control of how our homeschool works best with specialty classes, not too much out of the house time and carefully selected activities.
Now we are mainly big kids. Big kids with their own ideas about their education. It's a good thing. A confusing, complicated thing but a good thing. I am looking at two boys, Trevor and Colin, asking for very specific learning materials. I am also looking at Hayley and Tristan asking for more outside classes. I have searched and found things which will meet these needs. Now to juggle it all into a year of education that will work well for all. Four children, 4 different sets of wants and needs. One mother who wants to keep everyone connected while letting them follow their own paths.
I will blog it month by month and hopefully a plan will form. I will seeeee (and if this E key doesn't stop falling off my laptop I will scream) what needs to stay, what needs to go, what needs to change, what needs to be added and how to juggle it all into a workable year.
Summer, going well. Outdoor time, lots- check, Relaxation-check. Still to come, Mad Science Show about water, swim lessons, scout camp for younger 2, Comic Art class for Hayley/Tristan, Science Museum, Air Show for all and Air show scout camping for younger 2. Plus hopefully much more relaxation and outdoor time. That takes us through end of August.
This is in no way all encompassing and will change but a guide to work with. This should help me see where we plan to go and hopefully inspire what to find, purchase, add, take away or supplement to make it happen. The kids for the most part want to be out and on the go more next year and I think we can do it.
September
Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley
Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley
Math Games- weekly-Tristan
Recorder-weekly-Tristan
Science class w/homeschool group- Animals-Herbivores, Carnivores.....
History class w/homeschool group- Ancient Egypt
Science trip w/homeschool group- nature center class includes Animal CSI
History program w/homeschool group- Pharoahs and Pyramids
At home:
Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.
Trevor-science-astronomy daily (tie in with all the family ancient astronomy?Movie, books?)
Trevor-language learning-independently
Trevor-government and Grammar books
Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus
Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader
Tristan-phonics and LA? materials still undecided.
All together-La Clase Divertida level 2 (15 lessons)
Ancient times read alouds
Animal study
Dinosaur Lapbook
OCTOBER
Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley
Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley
Math Games- weekly-Tristan
Recorder-weekly-Tristan
Boy Scouts-weekly-Tristan and Colin
Science class w/homeschool group- how weather affects animals
Art class w/homeschool group-clay
Science program w/homeschool group wildlife encounters
History/Science program w/homeschool group Galileo
At home:
Math daily, all kids, some using math u see, some using Teaching textbooks.
Health-all
Trevor-science-astronomy daily (tie in with all the family Galileo study?Movies, books for all)
Trevor-language learning-independently
Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus
Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader
Tristan-phonics and LA
All together-La Clase Divertida level 2
Galileo study read alouds,movie, unit
Weather study
November
Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley
Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley
Math Games- weekly-Tristan
Recorder-weekly-Tristan
Boy Scouts-weekly-Tristan and Colin
Trip w/homeschool group Strawberry Banke- History of Thanksgiving program, Early American history
CCA show Thunder Drums of China
At home:
Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.
Health-all
Trevor-science-astronomy daily (tie in with all the family Explorers use of Astronomy for navigation, astronomy in early american times native Americans etc. )
Trevor-language learning-independently
Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work
Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader
Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics
All together-La Clase Divertida level 2
early USA history lapbook
China or drumming study?
December
Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley
Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley
Math Games- weekly-Tristan
Recorder-weekly-Tristan
Boy Scouts-weekly
Very early in December CCA show We The People
Science class w/homeschool group- Rocks and Minerals
Science class w/homeschool group- Predators in the Wild (sharks, grizzlies, hawks)
Christmas party/w homeschool group
Swag making w/homeschool group
At home:
Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.
Trevor-science-astronomy daily
Trevor-language learning-independently
Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work
Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader
Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics
All together La Clase Divertida 2
Civics and Government Study (first week of Dec.)
Rocks and Minerals Study (second week of Dec.)
No classes, No homeschool work week of 20th & 27th. Enjoy Christmas.
January (me working at ski area?)
Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley
Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley
Math Games- weekly-Tristan
Recorder-weekly-Tristan
Boy Scouts- weekly
Ski Lessons?
French language Learning- Tristan/Hayley and any interested
CCA show Doctor Kaboom (science, mad scientist ,experiments)
Science Class w/homeschool group Light
Art or cooking class w/homeschool group
Math-everyone, daily
Health-all
Trevor-science-astronomy daily
Trevor-language learning-independently
Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work
Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader
Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics
If me working; extra independent work for kids, movies, readers about light, winter or themes of interest.
February
Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley
Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley
Recorder-weekly-Tristan
math games has ended. May be new classes for Tristan or others at this point
Boy Scouts-weekly
At home:
Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.
Trevor-science-astronomy daily
Trevor-language learning-independently
Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work
Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader
Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics
French language Hayley/Tristan (others?)
Me-still likely working at ski area
Science w/homeschool group- Thunderstorms/electricity
Art or Cooking class w/homeschool group
March
Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley
Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley
Recorder-weekly-Tristan
math games has ended. May be new classes for Tristan or others at this point
Boy Scouts-weekly
At home:
Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.
Trevor-science-astronomy daily
Trevor-language learning-independently
Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work
Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader
Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics
French- all interested
Science w/homeschool group Ecosystems
Art or cooking w/homeschool group
Trip w/homeschool group-maple sugaring history of...interactive
event w/homeschool group- International day
CCA show-Cirque mechanics BOOM TOWN (acrobatics, old wild west)
all together USA study or lapbook of Moving west or Gold Rush
April
Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley
Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley
Recorder-weekly-Tristan
math games has ended. May be new classes for Tristan or others at this point
At home:
Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.
Trevor-science-astronomy daily
Trevor-language learning-independently
Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work
Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader
Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics
French- all interested
Boy Scouts-weekly
Science class w/homeschool group Renewable and Non renewable resources
Art w/homeschool group
CCA Show ZooZoo
Show w/homeschool group Bold Knights and Ladies Faire
Trip w/homeschool group Higgins Armory
all together
Armor, Medieval Times study,lapbook? Movies, readers
May
Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley
Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley
Recorder-weekly-Tristan
math games has ended. May be new classes for Tristan or others at this point
Boy Scouts-weekly
At home:
Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.
Trevor-science-astronomy daily
Trevor-language learning-independently
Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work
Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader
Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics
French- all interested
Trip w/homeschool group Seacoast science, Aquarium maintenance and Salt Marsh Ecology
All together at home
Reptiles and Amphibians Study
Oceans
June
Things slowly end through early- mid June and then we collapse.
3 comments:
Wow! Look at your plans! You are going to have a wonderful year. I'm still sorting through some things but I think I have most figured out. Now to just buy the last few pieces so I can plan out weeks. I think we're going to do SL Core 530 (British Lit - C is obsessed and begging), modern history with Diana Waring materials, Latin, Alg I/II (need to finish I and then we'll move on), Apologia Physical Science, Summit Ministries Lightbearers world view program, some sort of creative writing independently, some sort of "culinary arts" has been requested, and then co-op classes (Logic and photography in fall, and drawing and art/music history in spring.) We'll try it for a while and see what changes we make.
I'm so impressed that you have the whole year planned out like this. I am really struggling this year to get anything planned - let alone an entire year for multiple kids! ;-) Great job!
Great Dr. Suess pic, perfect for the juggling, lol!
Best things dh and I ever did, in order:
1. accept Jesus.
2. homeschool.
:)
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