30. April 2010 by Shannon.

I, like most homeschool moms, like to think ahead.  I think we know full well that school planning is NOT something best left for the morrow… as we know that summer races by and we’ll be left at the end of August with nary a lesson plan ready.  SO.. in light of this planning theme I’m seeing around in my friends’ blogs… I will join in.

2010-2011

Everett (gr. 10/11 - Ev is repeating grade 10 from April 2010-Dec 2010 and then doing grade 11 from Jan 2011-June/July 2011)

Switched on Schoolhouse for grade 10 Math, English, History, Science & Bible. 

Plus the electives: SOS Speech - Essentials of Communication and SOS High School Health

Switched on Schoolhouse for grade 11 Math, English, Science, Bible and using the elective SOS World Geography in place of the American History.

Plus the elective: SOS French 1

Extra Curricular: Cadets, Soccer & Youth Group

McKenzie (gr. 9)

Switched on Schoolhouse for grade 9 Math, English, History, Science and Bible.

Plus the elective SOS Family & Consumer Science and SOS Spanish 1.  McKenzie will also be doing a project of Photography Studies throughout the year.

Extra Curricular: Cadets, Soccer & Youth Group

Greyson (gr. 2)

Bible/Art - Spears Art Studio

Math - Horizons Math

Grammar - First Language Lessons 2

Writing - Writing With Ease 1

Penmanship - Reason for Handwriting T (transitions book)

Phonics - Explode the Code books 3 & 4

Spelling - All About Spelling Level 1 (and continuing on to level 2)

History/Geography - Story of the World, Story of the World Activity book & In the Begining God unit study

Music - Simply Music level 1

Extra Curricular - Cubs, soccer & sunday school

Chaeli (Sr. Kindergarten)

Bible/Art - Spears Art Studio

Math - Horizons Math

Grammar - First Language Lessons 2

Penmanship - Reason for Handwriting 1

Phonics - Explode the Code books 1, 1 1/2, 2 & 2 1/2 (4 books total)

Spelling - All About Spelling Level 1 (and continuing on to level 2)

History/Geography - Story of the World, Story of the World Activity book & In the Begining God unit study

Music - Simply Music level 1

Extra Curricular - Beavers, soccer & sunday school

I think that’s about it!

Blessings!

Posted in Chaeli, Greyson, Kenzi, Everett, General Homeschool | Print | 3 Comments »

8. April 2010 by Shannon.

… has got to be the most challenging thing in the world!  LOL!  In Canada, where it’s so cold for so many months, when those little buds start appearing and the warm breezes start blowing.. well, it’s tough going to keep the kids indoors to do their lessons.  What’s a mom to do?  Well… for one… send ‘em outside!  LOL! 

The other thing you could do (which ties into the sending them outside thing) is to break up your school day a little.  After lunch is the nicest time of the day in the spring, the sun has had a chance to warm the air nicely, and everyone is so busy lookin’ out the window that I think a little break is in order.  So I send them outside… walk the dog, muck in the garden, play on the patio… whatever.  School for a homeschooler doesn’t have to be confined to 9-3.  You can do a half day from 9-noon.. eat lunch out on the patio, then spend a couple hours (till about 3?) enjoying the warm summer sunshine… and come back inside to finish up lessons a little later on.  I mean, with the sun still bright in the sky at 6 and 7pm.. there’s no reason to eat supper early… why not just let lessons finish up, then enjoy a nice late dinner (the smaller of the gang can always have a snack on coming inside to tide them over till dinner).

In the summer, we often flip this.. enjoying the outside weather in the morning and late afternoon when the sun isn’t so overwhelming, and we come inside for lunch and to do our schoolwork.  It just occured to me to apply the same principle to the spring.  I’m hoping to help fend off the “spring fever/burnout” everyone starts feeling at this time of year. 

What do YOU do to celebrate Spring in your homeschool?

Blessings!

Posted in General Homeschool | Print | 2 Comments »