Homeschool Curriculum Choices

I've finally picked out our home school curriculum for this up coming year.  I've made some changes from what I originally thought I was going to do but I am excited about starting a new year.  I'll finish up Kindergarten with Ev in May and then we'll have maybe two weeks and then we will start up again.  I had thought I was going to give myself and the kids a full month for a break in between our school years but then I realized that the kids really don't know any different and it would almost be easier if we just kept going rather than spend time out of routine to then go back into a routine.  My desire is to finish Ev and Elijah's full year of 1st and K before we go back to America for a few months, in about a year from now.  I'll do stuff with them in America but I would rather not drag all of our supplies/books back to America when we have limited space in our bags to come back!

Last year for Kinder I created my own phonics/language arts/reading program.  I threw in some Abeka resources with that which have been helpful for Ev.  I did Abeka Math with Ev and then had created my own Social Studies/Science study but haven't been able to get to them very much.  We also did a free Bible curriculum that I found on the web. 

So this year for Elijah's Kindergarten year I will continue to use my phonics program.  He'll do Abeka Math and we will start using Grapevine Bible Curriculum.  I'm really excited about this program for a  couple of reasons.  The levels are multi age.  The one I picked to start with is for 5-7 year olds, which as I start teaching my two oldest I am going to do Bible time together and since they both fall in the age range it will be so nice.   

For Ev this year she will also be starting the Grapevine Curriculum.  We are switching to MathUSee  and she will start All About Spelling program.  What I've read about this is great and it is not only a spelling program but phonics is adding in too.  I'll continue to do my phonics program with her and her Science/Social Studies is a thematic unit throughout the year that I did when I taught First grade.  I originally starting teaching this in Kansas and then when I moved to Texas they let me adapt it to the Texas curriculum standards.  The best thing is that I've taught this for 6 years and can remember projects and things we did, along with the fact that I have lots of teacher resource books, books and other resources for it.  I'll use the handwriting and writing programs I did when I taught in Texas.

In addition to my new curriculum for the year I've decided I am going to use the workbox organization system created by Sue Patrick.  If you don't know what it is you should check out her website or search Pinterest for workboxes and it will come up with tons of ideas or ways others have implemented the system.  I have been wondering how I am going to make teaching two levels work and I think this system will help our day flow.  From what I've heard it has really helped other moms homeschooling multiple grades.  I've even figured out how to write lesson plans for all of my kids (with Ian I will be doing pre-school activities) on one week of plans.  Yeah for not having to have 3 separate lesson plans for each of my kids!  I'm going to use magazine files for my kid's boxes.  With the Ikea bookshelves we own I can fit 6 magazine files on one shelf.  My two older kids will each have a shelf and Ian will have his set up differently.  Todd is going to buy me some Ikea white magazine files next week when he goes to Ikea for me.  I'll post pictures when we get them set up. 

Now we'll wait for our new curriculum to be sent to us and I'll finish up getting things ready for First grade.  After all the time it took me to plan, create and print out things for Kinder I now get to use to again for Elijah and then the year after that with Ian. 

Resurrection 2013

No new fancy clothes, no family  Easter picture, no Easter basket, toys or candy - just Jesus.  We've been teaching the kids the story leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection over the past days.  Simplicity is so nice it helps keep our minds focused on the real thing we are celebrating.  We been sharing the stories with the kids and finding age appropriate video clips to have them watch after.  It is exciting to see them watch it, to see their emotions as the story leading to Jesus' death  and resurrection played out and to hear them express what they feel and think about Jesus. 

I want my kids to cherish in their hearts that the Savior of the world died like he did for all peoples so that we can be able to live with Him.  My desire is for them to know their Risen Savior and to follow Him all of their days. 

Thank you Jesus may we not forget what you have done.
 

Pictures Part 3

 

Ev and I went to a homeschool conference while the boys stayed at the beach house.  Ev and I enjoyed a week of just the two of us.

More Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catching Up and Part 1 of Vacation Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were gone for a little under a month.  We enjoyed our time down south in the warm weather and sunshine.  We were able to do a lot of fun things that we only get to do once a year as well as enjoyed lots of Western food.  Here are some of the pictures from the first weeks of our trip. 

 

 

 

Evangelia's Baptism

For a little while now Ev has been learning more about who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him.  She has decided that she wants to follow Him and make Him the most important thing in her life.  We decided to wait until we were in Thailand at the house we are staying at to baptize her there with some family with us.  We are very excited for her decision.

Life

It has almost been a month since I posted last.  I could give a lot of excuses but it all really comes down to the fact that my day consist of home school in the morning, break for a quick lunch, then class for me for another couple of hours, then onto getting prepared for dinner, trying to work out, doing other things that I need to around the house, then dinner and cleanup, a little down time then the kid's bedtime.  I have been staying up too late trying to get more things done or watching TV with Todd.  I've always liked the time when the kids go to bed because I feel it is my only "me" time.   I haven't been able to study outside of class like I should be doing so I am glad to take a break from class for a month.  I've started looking ahead to next year when Ev will be in first grade and Elijah will be in Kinder and with Ian I am hoping to do some Preschool with him.  School for me is still in the schedule yet as I look to next year I don't know if it is really going to a possibility or not. 

Homeschooling this year has been different than I expected.  I knew going into it that it is very different from the classroom.  Home schooling is great that you can be more flexible but I have found that it seems that things always come up in our day and since we are at home we get interrupted more than I would like.   I have to really fight to protect our morning.  I have always loved that our kids sleep in late but as it is darker outside in the morning my kids don't want to get up.  I was finding in December that they were not getting up until after 9am.  I was feeling overwhelmed because by the time they ate their breakfast and really woke up it was closer to 10 and well I didn't have much time before my teacher came.  I began saying to them, "if you don't get to class on time then Mommy doesn't get to class on time."  For a few weeks my teacher was coming to me a half an hour early meaning she was showing up at noon. Teaching your own kids has its advantages and disadvantages.  Currently one child struggles with a few things while really being eager to learn.  Another child's learning style is so different to mine that it is challenging for me to understand whether this one is listening or messing around.  And then my other child wants to have a power struggle and not do anything for me.  It is hard being mom and teacher.  I am thankful that the kids have extracurricular activities.  My older two have Chinese class twice a week for a couple of hours and then Art class on a different day for a couple of hours.  They love their teachers and really thrive with them not only in a second language but it is good for them to have some one else teaching them. 

We are going to be taking a break in February when we travel out of the country for vacation.  I still have things planed for Ev to do but it won't be our normal routine.
I am looking forward to going to a home school conference that only Ev and I will be going to in February.  I have been feeling overwhelmed so hopefully I will be able to ask some questions and talk to other moms. 

I guess I am really ready for a break.  We'll rent a house with a pool and enjoy the warm weather for a couple of weeks, then Ev and I will go to another city for the conference and then meet up with the boys in another city where we will hang out with some friends of ours for a few more days.