SCHOOLING

Well, I promised this post. It took me so long because the past week I have had some really bad headaches and fatigue so I was hardly on the computer. But, here it is!

OK,
My oldest two start the day out alternately with a half hour of piano lessons. Their grandmother is helping with this when she is available.

While one is doing piano the other is reading with my 8 year old. They read the Proverb of the day and then finish the half hour with whatever book of the bible they are in.

After piano they each refer to their binder where I have their schedule listed for that day. I am trying to teach them independent study habits so the agreement is that they can choose how to finish their daily list. There is just one stipulation: All schoolwork is done before any play time or computer time. My oldest two also have to make sure they are not working on math at the same time and that math/ grammar is scheduled when mommy is free to help because mommy's brain can not be in two places at once. :)

This has been working out beautifully since they like having some control and I have already noticed them working together without my intervention. (i.e. planning certain things like free reading together.)

Daughter(12) 5th Grade:(daily)
Piano 30 min.
Bible 30 min.
Copywork (Rod & Staff)
Math (Saxon- Homeschool 6/5)
Memorize Multiplication
Poem a Day (currently A Child's Garden of Verses)
Free Read 30 min. (book of their choice)
Typing Lessons 15 min.

Son(10) 4th Grade:(daily)
Piano 30 min.
Bible 30 min.
Copywork (Rod & Staff)
Math (Rod & Staff 4)
Memorize Multiplication
Poem a Day (same)
Free Read 30 in. (same)
Typing Lessons 15 min.

Oldest two do 3 days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri) of Grammar. We are using 1st Language Lessons Level 3.

Son(8) 1st Grade:(daily)
Copywork (Rod & Staff)
Bible 30 min.
Math (Rod & Staff)
Free Read 30 min.
Poem a Day (same)
Typing Lessons 15 min.
Memorize Multiplication
1st Language Lessons Level 1/2
Bible Nurture Reader & Workbooks (Rod & Staff)

We are working the Ambleside Online schedule Year 1 for Geography, Literature and History (Natural, World, & Church). They read a chapter from these on an alternating basis from week to week. The books they are currently reading from are:
An Island Story (World History)
Trial and Triumph (Church History)
Fifty Famous Stories (History)
Paddle to the Sea (Geography)
The Burgess Bird Book (Natural History)
James Herriot's Treasury for Children (Natural History)
Aesop for Children (Literature)
Just So Stories (Literature)
Parables from Nature (Literature)

The oldest two write me a written narration on what they have read. The 8 year old only does some of these books. He alternates with A Children's Book of Virtues. He does oral narration and I dictate what he tells me.
The point of the narrations is to make sure that they are understanding what they read and are not just reading words.

This probably sounds like alot but it really isn't. Not all of the books are done every week. They only wind up with about one chapter of one book per day (5 days a week). And all of these books are written for younger levels so it is not hard reading. I actually am enjoying reading some of them. :)

We do our work 5 days a week. Our "school" day usually begins around 9:30 after breakfast/chores and we usually finish up by 1pm. There are days it can be 2 or 3 pm if the kids are in a dawdling mood or there are alot of interruptions.

As for the 3 year old, I recite is numbers and the alphabet with him daily and we read from a book called Teach them to Your Children available thru Vision Forum. Beyond that I don't push anything. He is enjoying an online reading program I have used with my 8 year old called Click n Read Phonics. He actually asks to do this and we do it whenever he wants. Other than that we just do alot of reading together.

Well, this has been long. As you can see that is why it has taken me awhile to post this. If I missed anything or you have any questions please ask!

Till Later! :)

WIERD

Well, as of this post I have noticed that when I come to the home page of my blog it does not show any posts. I don't have the faintest idea why.

Good news is that all of the post links on the side seem to be working, so if you are looking for a specific post it might be there.

I have been SUPER busy of late but I am planning on getting that post up on my schooling as soon as possible.

TILL LATER!! :)

(PS) Looks like they seem to be back temporarily at least.

BABY NEWS & OTHER

Well, here it is. (Don't you just love these pics.) In case you can't tell- Head is to the right and it is facing down. I am right on date. This was 16 weeks and two days. I go back March 5th for a more detailed sonogram.
No, we don't KNOW whether it is a he or she. But I am suspicious. It kept its legs firmly crossed despite some urging, and no matter how hard they looked nothing evident showed. The only time that has happened before was with my daughter. :)
We'll see. My daughter is hoping.

I have been soooo busy tweaking our new schedule and implementing it into place. I am almost ready to post about it.

Well, I hope to be posting again soon!
Till Later!! :)

STILL HERE!!!! :)

Sorry I have been out of the loop awhile. I have been doing some serious reorganizing. The space we have here is so small and the way things were it just was not functionable. Also, I am revamping the kids schooling. They are ready to move on to a new grade level and that is always a big project for me. Trying to decide how to go about it with 3 different grade levels, what I want to combine and where, who is doing what and when.
I really enjoy it in all honesty. I am a person who loves the complexity of things, but I usually find myself completely absorbed during the process.
So, forgive me if I am a little distracted for a bit, I will explain it all when I get done.

Till Later! :)

SOMETHING FUN

Hey,
Go over and check out this cooking site I found today called Dishing with Debbie . It looks like fun and it has some really tasty looking recipes.

http://www.dishingwithdebbie.com/

Till Later! :)

WE HAVE A HEARTBEAT!!!!!!

I had my first prnatal appointment today. All the tests came out perfect except my blood sugar test was a little high. So, I have to go back in next Thursday for a more extensive glucose test- 3 hours :(. But, the nurse practitioner said she thought everything was fine. Joy of joys, the nurse practitioner told me before she hooked up the doppler that we might not hear the heartbeat yet- and she did! She said it was nice and strong. I could have done a dance right there if I hadn't been wearing those stupid paper things. :p

My bestest friend Jesnicole asked me what curricula I am using.
Well, I am definitely a cross of the Charlotte Mason and Classical styles. I love the Ambleside Online site but do not incorporate all of it. I use Rod & Staff for math and First Language Lessons For the Well Trained Mind for grammer. Beyond that there is no real curricula I use. My kids read tons for history, science and their overall reading comprehension. (The library LOVES me!) And currently my kids are using George Washington's Rules of Civility for copywork/handwriting.
I do plan on trying out Saxon Math for my daughter who will be 5th grade.
And, most importantly, I use our everyday life to take advantage of learning lessons- when we grocery shop (comparison pricing), cooking (math), library (learning fiction, nonfiction, parts of a book), birthdays and special dates teach the calendar-days, weeks, months (talk about how fast they can learn a calendar-wait until they want to know how soon until their birthday,LOL).

If anyone has a more specific question I missed please ask!

Till Later!! :)

UGH!

I have seriously been trying to think of something to post about and my brain has been pulling a complete dud on me. Hang in there I am sure it will come. (Feel the force young Jedi, feel the force!)
Till Later! :)