This week we start our second full week of homeschool for 2013/14. Big Sister is in 2nd grade, Bubba is in Kindergarten, and Bean is doing some pre-pre-school (mostly because she wanted her own desk!).
We stepped away from an all-inclusive curriculum for 2nd grade and have been happy with our choices so far. We enjoyed My Father's World for 1st grade last year, but really wanted to explore literature-based options for our avid reader. We landed on TruthQuest History American History for Young Students I, Learning Language Arts Through Literature, Life of Fred Math, Exploring Creation with Zoology I from Apologia, and I Can Do All Things art. We will supplement with some math app work on the iPad, some Explode the Code online, and Wordly Wise online for variety.
Bubba is breaking onto the homeschool scene with My Father's World's God's Creation from A to Z kindergarten curriculum possibly with Professor B's math mixed in. I hadn't planned to start Bean on any real curriculum, but rather send her to Parents Day Out since we love the school Jack went to so much. However, she took one look at the big kids' work space and asked where her desk was (and proceeded to keep asking about it for the next couple of weeks). I also started really planning our year and realized how disruptive it would be to get everyone out the door two days a week to get her to PDO, come home and try to get as much work done as possible only to have to turn around a couple hours later and go pick her up again, come home and finish school.
I found an awesome, creative Letter of the Week preschool curriculum by a sweet homeschooling mama at confessionsofahomeschooler.com. Of course, buying the digital files of a curriculum (especially a an activity and graphic heavy one like preschool) means that I spent A LOT of quality time with my printer, scissors/paper trimmer, and laminator. I actually briefly lost feeling in the tips of two fingers as a result of all the scissor time! The great thing is that I can use the curriculum, with a few modifications, for the next couple of years for Bean.
I decided to start our day as a group with calendar time. Each kiddo has a binder with printables from Confessions of a Homeschooler and Homeschool Creations. We talk about the season, month, day, date, weather, temperature, time, and the associated numbers and number words. I think it gives us a good starting point for our school day - whatever time that may be!
I am sure we will tweak things throughout the year, but have been pretty happy with how things have started. That isn't to say it hasn't been an adjustment going from one student to three-ish. The first day I was questioning my sanity and wondering how I was going to actually accomplish anything with one (or three) kiddos calling my name constantly for some sort of assistance!
We survived the first day and celebrated with a yummy treat at Orange Leaf and a viewing of the new Disney movie Planes. I am so blessed to have a partner in crime who believes in me and shares my passion for home education!
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