Children possess an unestimated sensibility to whatever is deep or high, in imagination or feeling, so long as it is simple likewise. It is only the artificial and the complex that bewilders them.
Hawthorne
This reminds me on Christ's teaching us to become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18)
This quote is the theme for what I'm purchasing for this next school year. I can very easily get carried away with buying 5 programs that all serve the same purpose. I just like reading and looking at all of the different options out there. I am settled on the methods and lists available on the following websites:
http://www.amblesideonline.org/
www.yesterdaysclassics.com
www.simplycharlottemason.com
www.tapestryofgrace.com
I have been looking at these websites for 2 years, now it's all making sense to me and I can see how it works, because we've been doing it this year.
How fabulous is it that these people donate their time and energy to make my homeschooling run smoothly!
I love the Hawthorne quote because it is so obvious and so true.
Kids are truly a gift.
Speaking of websites, has anyone seen or used Rocket Phonics?
www.rocketphonics.com
I am on the hunt for a gently used set on ebay.....
It sounds awesome, and if John Taylor Gatto recommends it, it's got to work.
Gibson is halfway through Teaching Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.
I have used Hooked on Phonics and Saxon Phonics with B (not a fan) and Explode the Code with E (too many errors!)
I have Hooked on Phonics in my closet, so if I can't find it used for $50 or less, I'm just going to use HOP and Explode the Code.
I know they work, at least~
I'm open to any phonics suggestions, if you have any.......
So, our list contains:
Braden 6th grade and Ethan 4th grade
Easy Grammar, B and E
Saxon Math, B and E
Sonlight 6/ Ambleside readings for history, geography and writing, B and E OR
Tapestry of Grace 2
Wordly Wise, B and E
A Reason for Handwriting, B and E
Apologia Flying Creatures and Swimming Creatures, mixed with Considering God's Creation and a unit study on the body for science
Henty books on cd
Italian Instant Immersion for foreign language
Loading up at the library for extra reading.....
Gibson-K
Horizon Math K for Gib
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Rocket Phonics OR HOP and Explode the Code
Handwriting practice
Library or home books for science and history.......
I'm 90% convinced that we are going to have a 4 weeks on 1 week off schedule this year. We're taking June off and then we'll start up in July. We'll have a few extra weeks to take off as we want to. Sounds pretty relaxed, which is exactly what I'm going for. And it allows us to travel when everyone else is in school and work.
Have a great day~
Dawanna
Thursday, May 29, 2008
reminiscing the schoolyear.....
I have been reading every blog, catalog and anything homeschool-oriented that I can find.
I LOVE buying new curriculum, seeing new books, filling up my bookshelves with new treasures for us to use. We use a mixture of Charlotte Mason ideology, which meshes quite well with Educating the Wholehearted Child. That book changed how I look at my homeschool day and validated why we were doing a lot of other things. I have to say, that this past year was a fantastic year! The boys learned about so many amazing things. I love seeing them excited about learning. In January, my 10yo E declared that he loves reading. Music to my ears, I must say.......He also now thinks math is easy, as he progresses into Saxon 54. My 11yo B picked up violin lessons and I am blown away at how naturally he has progressed. He's a natural at it. He would read all day and is a whiz at anything that involves numbers. He is finishing up Saxon 65. I am extremely grateful for the folks at DIVE who make the Saxon corresponding dvd-roms. I have never been so happy to spend $50 in all my life!
We were able to take all kind of educational and fun trips this past school year.
We stayed at Big Cedar Lodge and the boys got to enter the pine car derby.
That may have been the highlight of the year~
We visited Dogwood Canyon in Branson, B caught two rainbow trout his first time to trout fish. We went to the Memphis Zoo, which trailed into an interest in Chief Seattle and in chinese exploration and culture.
We went to Nashville and visited the Parthenon. Okay, we studied ancient history last year, not this year. We went on the tour, B and E asked the most intelligent questions! They were relating Latin words to the greek names of the gods. They knew all about Athena (which was scary to ALL four of us), what different animal and symbols represented. The tour guide was blown away by how much they knew about the culture. She asked if we had been studying up on it, and couldn't believe that they had retained most of it for over a year. I was inspired and encouraged that what we are doing is working well.
Who doesn't need that?!
And maybe all of our favorite time was spending the day in the backyard; reading in the hammock, doing math on the deck, listening to the birds sing us a sonnet, using our guides to identify lizards or birds and breathing in the fresh air.
All in all, if has been a very blessed year.
I am so thankful to be able to stay home and be a part of their educational journey.
God is very good all the time~
Dawanna
I LOVE buying new curriculum, seeing new books, filling up my bookshelves with new treasures for us to use. We use a mixture of Charlotte Mason ideology, which meshes quite well with Educating the Wholehearted Child. That book changed how I look at my homeschool day and validated why we were doing a lot of other things. I have to say, that this past year was a fantastic year! The boys learned about so many amazing things. I love seeing them excited about learning. In January, my 10yo E declared that he loves reading. Music to my ears, I must say.......He also now thinks math is easy, as he progresses into Saxon 54. My 11yo B picked up violin lessons and I am blown away at how naturally he has progressed. He's a natural at it. He would read all day and is a whiz at anything that involves numbers. He is finishing up Saxon 65. I am extremely grateful for the folks at DIVE who make the Saxon corresponding dvd-roms. I have never been so happy to spend $50 in all my life!
We were able to take all kind of educational and fun trips this past school year.
We stayed at Big Cedar Lodge and the boys got to enter the pine car derby.
That may have been the highlight of the year~
We visited Dogwood Canyon in Branson, B caught two rainbow trout his first time to trout fish. We went to the Memphis Zoo, which trailed into an interest in Chief Seattle and in chinese exploration and culture.
We went to Nashville and visited the Parthenon. Okay, we studied ancient history last year, not this year. We went on the tour, B and E asked the most intelligent questions! They were relating Latin words to the greek names of the gods. They knew all about Athena (which was scary to ALL four of us), what different animal and symbols represented. The tour guide was blown away by how much they knew about the culture. She asked if we had been studying up on it, and couldn't believe that they had retained most of it for over a year. I was inspired and encouraged that what we are doing is working well.
Who doesn't need that?!
And maybe all of our favorite time was spending the day in the backyard; reading in the hammock, doing math on the deck, listening to the birds sing us a sonnet, using our guides to identify lizards or birds and breathing in the fresh air.
All in all, if has been a very blessed year.
I am so thankful to be able to stay home and be a part of their educational journey.
God is very good all the time~
Dawanna
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Missing my big boys.....
My two oldest guys(11,9) are spending two weeks at Papa and Gogi's house. They were so excited to go, and I must admit that I was REALLY looking forward to them going! Plus, having a reason to break for the summer from schoolwork.....
I miss them a lot today. The house is so quiet without them here. I liked it for a few day, probably because it is never quiet here! Now, it's getting kind of odd. And they are so fun!
They are having a blast, though. Swimming, playing in the dirt, eating like kings, and playing my sister's nintendo 64. They may not want to come home! LOL
Of course, Gib(4) didn't want to be away from me for more than 5 minutes, so he came home with me and we have had such a good time together. I don't get to listen to him converse without interruptions, corrections and distractions. He is so funny and charming! I am amazed by the big words he uses for a 4 year old. And I think I've had 3k+ hugs and kisses in the last 5 days. He is constantly grabbing my face, kissing me and saying "Mommy, I just love you" or "you're such a good mommy". It's precious!!!!!
Did I mention that we got to "bond" over a flat tire, my FIRST flat tire, on the way home last week?
Of course, it happened 15 miles form my parents house, in the middle of nowhere, with no cell phone coverage! I was trying to figure out how to change the flat by looking at the pictures in the manual, when these very nice!!! men who worked for the OK Dept of Trans stopped and took care of it for me. I have never been so happy as when they pulled over and asked if I needed some help! Finding a new tire took hours of phone calls, since our Subaru has some bizarre sized tires, which are backordered and no one else makes. So, we ended up spending an extra night at my parents, before coming home. We had a great time, though. And Gib thinks it's awesome that we had a flat tire and some guys stopped to put the other one on!
I miss them a lot today. The house is so quiet without them here. I liked it for a few day, probably because it is never quiet here! Now, it's getting kind of odd. And they are so fun!
They are having a blast, though. Swimming, playing in the dirt, eating like kings, and playing my sister's nintendo 64. They may not want to come home! LOL
Of course, Gib(4) didn't want to be away from me for more than 5 minutes, so he came home with me and we have had such a good time together. I don't get to listen to him converse without interruptions, corrections and distractions. He is so funny and charming! I am amazed by the big words he uses for a 4 year old. And I think I've had 3k+ hugs and kisses in the last 5 days. He is constantly grabbing my face, kissing me and saying "Mommy, I just love you" or "you're such a good mommy". It's precious!!!!!
Did I mention that we got to "bond" over a flat tire, my FIRST flat tire, on the way home last week?
Of course, it happened 15 miles form my parents house, in the middle of nowhere, with no cell phone coverage! I was trying to figure out how to change the flat by looking at the pictures in the manual, when these very nice!!! men who worked for the OK Dept of Trans stopped and took care of it for me. I have never been so happy as when they pulled over and asked if I needed some help! Finding a new tire took hours of phone calls, since our Subaru has some bizarre sized tires, which are backordered and no one else makes. So, we ended up spending an extra night at my parents, before coming home. We had a great time, though. And Gib thinks it's awesome that we had a flat tire and some guys stopped to put the other one on!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Adventures at Home
Okay, I've finally got the blogging bug.
If I would have realized how simple it is to get started, I would have done this years ago.
I hope to post on:
what the boys are learning and how they are liking it
field trips we take
some of their best work
all with, with photos, of course~
Bear with me as I figure this stuff out.....
Dawanna
If I would have realized how simple it is to get started, I would have done this years ago.
I hope to post on:
what the boys are learning and how they are liking it
field trips we take
some of their best work
all with, with photos, of course~
Bear with me as I figure this stuff out.....
Dawanna
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