With all the craziness of our summer, I’ve had very little time to get our upcoming school year organized. The good news? This will be our 13th year of homeschooling. (Whoa.) I hardly had to order any books at all. (Praise God for money we didn’t have to spend this year!) Once I could finally block out several hours of time, I buried myself in our school room, unpacked all the books, and found everything I needed for the year. (Along with way too much dust.)
We have been digging deep in World History and the Eastern Hemisphere the past few years, as well as learning about missionaries who have served all over the world. So this year? We’ll be hitting American History pretty hard. I’m super excited. But let me just pause right here to say:
This year, we will have two boys in high school. Two. And Asa, our oldest? He’s going to be a senior. A senior. I don’t know how we got here so quickly. But I do know that it has been one very enjoyable ride. Never let anyone tell you that it’s too difficult to homeschool all the way through high school. (You should see all the resources available now.) These years learning, growing, and memory making with our boys have been invaluable and precious.
So Asa, our high school senior (if I keep saying it, will reality set in?) has worked hard and all but completed all of his high school requirements for graduation. He already began taking some college classes last year. This year he will be taking one more class per semester at our local college and several online classes through a community college. This will get many of his gen-eds out of the way, while saving lots of money, and racking up quite a few college credits. He’ll also be taking Spanish 4 at home with Rosetta Stone software, doing some ACT prep, and continuing to develop his skills with videography and movie creation.
Justus will be a freshman. He’ll be finishing the last few CDs in Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1, then start Algebra 2. He’ll study Physical Science with Apologia and continue with his Spanish lessons (Rosetta Stone rocks). He’ll work through several English/Grammar/Analogies books, do lots of reading, study American History, and do a smattering of electives like music, P.E., and creative arts. He’s going to start taking guitar lessons in the fall, which he is very excited about!
Elias will be a 7th grader. Along with American history studies, he’s doing Pre-Algebra with Teaching Textbooks, Spanish with Rosetta Stone, Wordly Wise, grammar, reading and writing assignments, and a variety of science books from our big stash. He is interested in taking drum lessons – if we can find him a teacher. And some drums.
Malachi will be a 4th grader. He’s really taking off with chapter books now, so his shelf (along with his brothers’ shelves) are full of great reading material that enhances our study of American History. We’ll be going through Grammar Ace with him, as well as having him work through MCP Phonics at his level. He’ll be journal writing, learning cursive with Getty-Dubay, working through a stack of science books, and doing Teaching Textbooks 4 for math. He’s also going to work through my Learn to Cook book so that he can learn more basic cooking skills. We’ve got him all set up to start piano lessons this fall too. He can’t wait!
Sonlight has been our main curriculum of choice through the years – and I continue to use many of the books they recommend. Learning through literature is awesome! Instead of pulling all the books they recommend at every single grade level, I’ve found that it is simple to use their book recommendations and combine grade levels while we study history, geography, and science. This saves my sanity, and gives us wonderful times of learning all together. All the subjects will be revisited through the years anyway, so what the younger kids don’t catch the first time around, they’ll catch it when we study it in later grades. This works great for us.
So there you have it. The books are finally organized, and I can head out of town again knowing school will be ready for us to start when I get back. Two weeks until we kick off our school year! I praise God for this wonderful opportunity to study and learn with my kids.
Teri Selbher says
May I ask what you like about MCP Phonics? I am in the market for a new reading curriculum for our soon to be 1st grader. Thanks!
Laura says
It’s bright and colorful, and straight forward and simple. The pages are not cluttered, which I really appreciate. None of my boys really enjoy workbooks, but they have all done fine with these. I also really like Explode the Code books for that age level.
Tehila - Women Abiding says
Thankful for all the Lord is teaching me about the right way to treat my husband!
http://www.womenabiding.com/how-to-get-your-husband-off-the-corner-of-the-roof/
Sandra @ Sandra's Ark says
I am thankful that God will answer our prayers and we can hear from Him.
http://www.sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/name-meanings-dose-of-encouragement-29.html
Maureen says
My son and his classmates read a number of books this last year (in 5th grade) that they loved. There were two series…”I Survived” and “Who Was”. “I Survived Gettysburg” was one of the titles and this series is about a child around 11 years old and their experience living through that event in history. “Who Was Abraham Lincoln?” is another example. I think the books were around 100 pages each, were interesting, and quick reads for my son.
Laura says
Thanks – I’ll look into those!
Ashley says
So greatful for what LORD Jesus Christ has blessed our family with!!! It’s amazing!
Andrea H. says
I am so thankful for my family. I was sitting at the dinner table last night with my 3 children. They were all laughing and enjoying each other. They are all good friends on top of being siblings.
Our oldest son graduated from high school this past June. He is getting ready to leave for Singapore to spend a month with my brother and his family. I can’t believe he is that old already. So thankful to the Lord for opening our eyes to homeschooling when he was 10. Our younger children have never been in public school.
The time goes by so quickly and I’m so thankful to have spent all that time with them that we would otherwise not have had.
Lorie says
I’m on the opposite end of homeschooling. We are just beginning our journey. My oldest son (5), will be doing K4 kindergarten from Confessions of a Homeschooler this year as well as other materials I have found cheap, online or included in bundles I have the bought the last few years. My other kids are 4 and 18 months, we we are just playing with blocks, reading aloud, coloring and doing other various things to keep them busy.
I am currently very grateful for the weather as it is BEAUTIFUL in my neck of the woods!
Lana says
This is not a negative comment to those who are homeschooling currently BUT every year when I see blog posts about gearing up to start school for the year I am thankful that I am finished after 23 years. I retired 5 years ago. We ran the race and did all of it! All 5 went to college and are gainfully employed except out pastor’s wife daughter who is a stay at home mom.
Erin says
Has Asa done any CLEP testing? Our daughter just clepped right out of biology after taking Apologia Biology and our community college made some phone calls and will accept anything she cleps. For $95 she got 6 credits.
I’m thankful for God placing resourceful people in my life that bring things to my attention and help us through this journey.
And I LOVE getting out the books; I actually never put them away so I guess I don’t get them out. Todd Wilson(Family Man Ministries) has been blogging about NOT doing homeschool during the summer and I thought he had some good points. Enjoy the ants–don’t turn it into a lesson but for us it’s a way of life. This last year I was more diligent to do nature notebooking and now my kids see and notice and point out nature everywhere including the amusement park yesterday! And just like Todd said I listened and don’t point out the thoraxes :)
Laura says
No, but I do need to look into it more. Glad that worked so well for your daughter!
Susan Parker says
Laura,
I am so glad you wrote about Rosetta Stone Spanish and Teaching Textbooks. Last year was my first year homeschooling and I had all this stuff “planned perfectly” in my head. But that bubble bursted pretty quick. My daughter should “technically” have started 7th grade. I had her in public school and finished her elementary years (pre-k through 6th), but after watching her struggle year after year, and then all the Common Core push and felt as if the teachers just didn’t want a retention on their records, I was very upset and concerned. The more the words homeschool sat withi my gut, the more I tried to refuse it, talking myself out of it and coming up with any and every excuse. But the one thing I couldn’t shake was the conviction from God and His words to me “When did I ever tell you your kids was someone else’s responsibility”. – That struck a nerve with me. Even after that, struggling with God now, I STILL DID NOT WANT TO HOMESCHOOL!! NO WAY -NO HOW!
Well, God won. Hence the beginning why I had this planned perfectly in my head, because God was telling me to do it. Needless to say, it was so less than perfect. Somewhere around November/December I just decided to take a more laid back approach. In doing so, my daughter did not resort in tears like she did at the beginning of homeschooling and those public school years.
My daughter had an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) due to medical reasons, but missed so much of school every year. Anywhere between 60- 90 days depending on her illness. My other two daughters had the same metabolic disorder and graduated public school (all have IEP). But I was tired of arguing with the school department, tired of seeing my youngest, the baby of the family, come home in tears, so homeschooling saved al that.
So we are now starting our 2nd year and it won’t be as laid back, but it also won’t come with tears and material I don’t agree with. I now recommend homeschooling to everyone I talk to, especially if their child is struggling. We as mothers know our child the best. We know their weaknesses and strengths, likes, dislikes and know how to balance that.
So with all that being said, I would like to know if you feel Rosetta Stone and Teaching Textbooks lets you learn at your own pace, but also has enough material and resources to help along if you become stuck in an area. I always like hearing your input as well as others.
Thank you Laura for all the topics you discuss with us. They help me at different times of my life.
Susan Parker
Laura says
Thanks for sharing all this about your journey. Sounds like this is really a good move for your family. You can do Rosetta Stone and Teaching Textbooks at any pace you wish. Three of our boys started working through Rosetta Stone the same year, but because they are at different grade levels, they are all in different places now with the software. It is very flexible, yet thorough!
Teaching Textbooks have been a math life saver. It has been wonderful, especially for the upper grades. Typically our boys do one full lesson each day. But for some, breaking the lessons into 2 or 3 days works much better, and the software allows for that pace.
Marsha Zub says
I am thankful that I don’t start school with my kids until September!! I still haven’t put away their work from the last few days of school in June. So I’m looking forward to sorting out all my materials and planning their next year. My oldest is the same age as your youngest, so we have a long journey ahead of us still, but I can`t imagine not being able to spend this quality time with my children.
Laura says
Starting in September works well for many! Our family has enjoyed an August-April schedule for several years and love it. Perhaps the most fun is the reward of going swimming after we finish our school work during the first few weeks. :)
Kelly says
We do school year round so our year began the 1st of July. This has worked so well for us for the past 3 years. We are beginning our fourth year and are using a Catholic curriculum. I have one daughter and she is in 7th this year – the subjects are so much more interesting but I have noticed a big leap up in the material from 6th grade! I love reading your blog and thank you for all the amazing tips and tricks.
Kelly says
I forgot to add how grateful I am for this wonderful adventure homeschooling my amazing daughter. It has been a journey that has taught both of us so much! I never thought we could do it because of personality conflicts (she is very like me and we clash sometimes especially as she approaches puberty) but it has actually brought us so much closer.
Andrea Smith says
I’m so excited! I start homeschooling Clara in Kindergarten this fall! Alaska has several “schools” that allow you to enroll and home school with some loose oversight and support from a teacher and use the public education allotment for materials, books, and classes. It truly is a blessing. My parents and I are enrolled in a very Christian friendly program where all the teachers and support staff are believers and try to support Christians in every way possible without actually using the money for Faith based materials. For example, I can order the package from Sonlight, and the books that are considered overtly religious (ones about missionaries and such) *I* pay for, and the rest the school allotment can cover. It is a huge blessing. I am going to orientations, planning our school year, and getting materials organized right now. Clara is excited too. I know that since she is a kindergarten, we will be keeping things VERY relaxed, but I think our life can be infused with a bit more structure and be improved by it. And she is very eager to learn EVERYTHING. She turns every number into a math problem. Anyway. I know it’s going to be a long journey and it isn’t always going to be sunshine and rainbows, but I’ve always seen their education as an extension of parenting (since my parents home schooled me). But its so fun when its fresh and new. :)
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says
I am so thankful for the summer fun, but also thankful that we have another year of homeschooling to look forward to. I also will have two in high school this year. I don’t know how that happened so fast, but it has been such a blessing learning alongside my children. What a privilege, a responsibility, and a blessing homeschooling is! We use Teaching Textbooks, Apologia Science, and many of the readers suggested by Sonlight.
Janelle @ The Smudge Curve says
Thankful for God’s promises and how He carries us through difficult times: http://www.thesmudgecurve.com/2014/07/the-darker-side-of-miscarriage-guest.html
Laurie says
Hi Laura, I noticed you mentioned something about drums. My husband just bought our family a used electric drum set – Yamaha DTX15 (or something like that). He found it on Kijiji (like Craigs list) for a great price! It is perfect for at home learning. The great thing about this set is it acts much like a real drum kit, but, you can adjust the volume:) even plug in a head set which makes it quieter for everyone else in the house. It is also small enough to transport in a regular van. There are lots of YouTube videos that help with teaching, and demos on this particular set.
Thanks so much for your ministry through this blog! Sincerely, Laurie J.
ms.p says
With lots of prayers and thinking(2yrs) I decided to pull my daughter from public school to online. Its going to be lots of work for me but it will be worth it. My daughter just excited about having books for her classes. She will be entering 8th grade. Also, praying about leaving my job I only work everyother weekend. Still praying and thinking on that one.
Chris says
How did you decide what books to read for sonlight?
Laura says
I pulled out all the books we’ve purchased and used through the years and picked out all I felt would work best for our boys this year. There were a few American History recommendations that I remember not liking, so I put those away. I kept out my favorites, and the ones I felt would be most helpful for full learning at our boys’ ages and grade levels. There’s no way we could ever get through everything Sonlight suggests at each grade level. But by picking and choosing (because they really do recommend wonderful books), we’ll have more than enough to cover many years of history. Can’t wait!
Chris says
Would you mind sharing your choices for 4rth and 7th grade?