Saturday, April 24, 2010

2010-2011 Curriculum

I went to the Midwest Homeschool Convention (awesome by the way) in April with three wonderful friends.  I purchased all of my curriculum for next year.  It feels really good to know that everything is sitting in the school room just waiting to be explored.

Lulu and Monkey will be doing Exploring Countries and Cultures from My Father's World.  I am very excited to be making this switch.  I love Charlotte Mason's philosophies and unit studies to teach every level together.  I just struggle with finding the time to put it all together myself.  MFW will do this for me.  Bible, Geography, Science, Art, and Music are all taken care of with Exploring Countries and Cultures.   For English we are moving to Rod and Staff.  Lulu will be doing Following the Plan.  Monkey will be doing Beginning Wisely.  Lulu will do Saxon 6/5 for math.  Monkey will switch to Saxon and do Saxon 5/4.  Another new choice for us next year will be All About Spelling.  I've heard so many great things about this program over the past several months.  I started reading up on it.  I looked over everything at the convention and bought the first two levels.  We are going to start this program in a few weeks.  I hope to get my struggling speller on track over the summer.

Lil will be in Kindergarten next year.  She will be doing My Father's World from A to Z.  This is a complete package for kindergarten.  I may add RightStart Mathematics and All About Spelling to her schedule after we get into the year. 

I also am excited to introduce Workboxes next year.  The organization of our day is a constant struggle.  I really hope this system gives our day a boost as it seems to have done for so many other families.  I know that I will not implement the system exactly the way Sue Patrick suggests.  I just don't have the space.  Once I have all the details fixed I will blog about how we plan to implement the boxes in our day.



EXPO 2010

Tonight was our annual EXPO at co-op.  There are several categories in which the students can enter to compete in their age group.  Lulu entered photography, spelling bee, crochet, and Legos.  Monkey entered photography, casseroles, sewing, and painting.  Lil entered photography, printing, and Legos.  The girls did a great job working on their projects.  


Lulu built a farmhouse with Legos.  She had a trundle bed under the big bed.  Her horses had their own barn.


Lulu took this picture at the zoo.  I would love to have it blown up.  It's beautiful.


Monkey did a great job on her painting.  She found a picture from a book of scenes at Red River Gorge.  


Monkey also took her picture at the zoo.  We happened to be in the reptile house during feeding time.  We were able to watch this snake begin to eat the rat.  Rather gross, but rather intriguing.  Her picture was a hit tonight...especially with the boys.



Lil used potatoes to do her printing.  I cut the shapes out for her and she went to town.  I have to admit she gets her systematic side from me.  I probably would have done everything in rows when I was 5 too.



One of Lil's most favorite things is Monster Jam.  She has gotten to go on two dates with her Daddy to see them live.  She was building a garden with her Legos for EXPO.  The older girls and I were in the school room doing our work.  She came into the room to ask for help finding a special Lego piece.  When I went into the living room her garden was gone and she was building trucks.  Too funny!  


Lil took a picture of Daddy's bass guitar for her photography entry.  Last year her picture was of a monster truck.

I am very proud of the hard work the girls put into their projects.  They had a blast.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Homemaker in Training

James had a jacket that needed some mending.  He asked Monkey if she thought she could take care of that for him.  Her face beamed as she went and got my sewing basket.  She was proud to be able to help her Daddy.  

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

My New Home

I finally decided to make the switch.  I am in the process of moving my blog material over from Homeschool Blogger.  The past several months I have neglected my blog all together.  I hope to start updating on a regular basis again.  Here is the link to my old blog until I can get all my posts moved: In The Potter's Hand.