Some Things Old, Some Things New

Yes!  It's my favorite time of the school year - the time when I'm excited about all the things we are going to do; the time after I've spent weeks looking for what I think is just right, and then more weeks finding the best deals on them.  This year I even committed to parting with some estranged curriculum pieces and earned some curriculum spending money to boot.  
While I still have a couple of weeks before we ease into the new school year, and I haven't accumulated all of my goodies yet, I have the plan.  
Some oldies but goodies:
MATH - This is the first year that both kids are continuing the same math program.  
The first is Math on the Level for E (11).  This is the most teacher-intensive subject and curriculum, but I am a huge supporter of MOTL for my daughter.  It does not assign grade levels to any concept which removes a big hurdle for my "relaxed" math learner, especially when her younger brother is a more "hyper" learner.  
The second is Horizons for Z (9).   This workbook-based program couldn't be more opposite MOTL, but it has worked for Z. 
SCIENCE- Ugh.  

Unlike math, I have not found just the right science for all of us.  This year, we're all going to use A History of Science.  I had bought this last year but couldn't make it fit.  This year, it is one of the first subjects I have planned out through the first nine weeks. These lessons tie in very well with our history focus on the ancient world.
And now for all the new things: 
HISTORY- This summer I reconsidered Mystery of History which starts with Ancient History as our current My Father's World curriculum. I had thought MOH would just supplement our MFW studies, but I think it will be a total replacement.  To top it off, I scored a good deal on a used copy at homeschoolclassifieds.com.  
LANGUAGE ARTS- 

We're going to use Easy Grammar for our first year of formal grammar.  I like the way it starts with learning to identify prepositional phrases in order to identify the basic parts of the sentence.  

BIBLE- I thought that we would not have a structured bible subject this year, but my daughter actually asked to do Bible Truths (from BJU Press) again this year.  Far be it from me to say no to that kind of request!  Plus, again, good deals on used copies at homeschoolclassifieds!  
SPELLING- I am very excited to try a new spelling program for E (11).  After noticing that my avid reader still had trouble with spelling, I searched and found IEW's Phonetic Zoo.  I like that it is especially designed for auditory learners.   Bingo!  Z (9), my more visual learner, has been doing just fine with  Spelling Wisdom from Simply Charlotte Mason.  

ART & MUSIC- 
This is another one I'm very excited to add to our days this year.  It's the Ancient Art and the Orchestra study from Harmony Fine Arts.  We already enjoy her nature studies, and this unit ties into our ancient history focus, so this is bound to be a good fit for us.  Bonus: I scored a used copy of the orchestra book for $4.99 total on ebay!  

So many things to do - I almost can't wait!

 

Summer's Downhill

We are no year-round school fans in this family.  It is not that we do no school at all; we just do very little, although it's all too much if you ask the kids. 
How has it been going?  How are we filling our days?  When will we get back to a full schedule?
1.  I think the kids have been doing a good job of accepting their summer assignments; not great, but good.  For instance, I took some time to find a variety of book titles for them to read this summer - different types of books than they tend to choose.  I also found some book logs and report forms for them to fill out as they go. 

While they have been reading something almost every day, it hasn't been the variety of genres I had in mind.  And those logs and reports?  They have fallen to the wayside. 
On the other hand, E finished her language arts book and started on her poetry book which we never managed to fit into our routine during the regular year.  She is almost done with her cursive book, too.  

AND, she is on her last Life of Fred (Honey) book for the summer.  These are huge accomplishments. 
Not surprisingly, Z is moving a little more slowly academically.  However, he has made a friend in the neighborhood which is a huge answer to prayers.  He also still has gymnastics three times a week, Taekwondo twice a week, went to one flag football camp in June and will go to another in July.  So, he is moving a lot physically.  

2.  Since we are living in a sort of limbo in Alabama right now while we wait to see where Dad will get a job, we have been staying home more this summer than ever.  I had intended to use this time to clean up and pack up, but so far I've managed to clean out a kitchen drawer.  

My beautiful, newly organized kitchen drawer!

The kids have been relaxing, playing with friends, and yes, playing more video and computer games.  I have to add that we have all been enjoying our more active yard this summer.  This year we have had cardinals, doves, bluebirds, other song birds, and even humming birds!  We love to watch them through our kitchen windows.  

3.  School Plans!  I have had fun choosing some new materials for our coming school year as well as selling some old ones and finding deals on new old ones.  My next post will be filled with the new things we'll be trying this year.
We should be good and ready to get back into our school routine by the first week in August, even though September seems like a more appropriate first month of school.  We'll ease into things to try to avoid the effects of education shock on the kids.  First, we have a few more summer intentions to fulfill: a trip to the beach; more swimming; cleaning up and packing; and playing with friends. 

Get Mooing

It's coming.  July 12, 2013 is Cow Appreciation Day.  In honor of cows, Chick-Fil-A is having its annual dress-like-a-cow event.  You dress up and go out in public to Chick-Fil-A, and Chick-Fil-A will give you either a free entree or a whole free meal depending on how much you dress up.
We did it last year and plan to participate again this year.  

Cow  Appreciation Day 2012

And Z was a Chick-Fil-A cow for Halloween this year!  Unfortunately, we removed all the spots from the white sweats, though it is too hot to wear a white sweatsuit costume anyway.  

Halloween 2012

This week I thought we'd go a little bit further and learn something about cows by visiting the local Mooseum. 

 It's not much, but here's what we found:
1.  Cows have a 4-part stomach, not really 4 stomachs;
2.  Cows probably immigrated to the New World with Spanish explorers in the early 1500's.  
3.  The average weight of a cow is 900 pounds.  That is about 150 Es.  

One E

4.  Cow-related words -- calf, bull, cow, cattle, herd, heifer
5.  Cow parts may be used in crayons, soap, leather, and jello!  
6.  Cattle was, and still is, a huge industry for the southern states during the Civil War which made them a major target of destruction during that war!  

Now, get ready for some chicken!  Happy Cow Appreciation Day.