Over the years, I've heard homeschool moms talk about doing so many activities that they can't find time to do school. This year, for the first time, I totally get it. This will officially be known as the Year of the Extracurricular. I'm going to be in the car as much as I'm in the kitchen this year, and we've already started talking about needing to make some decisions next year. In addition, the youngest three and I will be attending a co-op twice a month, where they'll have two classes each.
I also need to mention that while writing this I read my curriculum post from last year and had a good chuckle. So many things on that list got changed or ignored completely. I expect the same this year: in fact, I'm trusting that as we go along, God will make it clear which things aren't all that important and can slide off the plan without a backward glance! But I'm not one to start the year without a plan, and so without further ado:
Levi: 10th grade
Math: AoPS calculus BC, plus a contest math prep class this fall
Science: college chemistry at the local high school first semester, microeconomics online second semester
History: American history (1877 to present), with Land of Hope as a spine, plus various other online resources
Literature: a combination of Excellence in Literature American Lit and Apologia American Lit (again, 1877-present), plus I'm having him track his own fun reading on Goodreads
Language Arts: IEW's Advanced U.S. History-Based Writing (again, continued from last year)
Foreign Language: German 3 online (Mizzou Academy)
Bible: Ligonier's Dust to Glory (streaming videos + Bible study)
Extras: piano, youth group, karate (including one evening a week working at the karate studio), Math League at the high school, hopefully some volunteering at a nursing home, driver's ed
Owen: 8th grade
Math: finishing up AoPS introduction to algebra will probably take until Christmas, so I'm leaning towards number theory or counting and probability (which are shorter courses) so that he can start geometry in line with the school year next fall
Science: chemistry, using an old edition of Real Science-4-Kids and Ellen McHenry's The Elements
History: We are continuing our mesh of Mystery of History and Notgrass America the Beautiful -- basically, covering world history from Reconstruction through the present, but taking extra time on topics/events specific to American history. We all hate the Notgrass textbook, it's so boring, but there are aspects of the whole curriculum that I like well enough that we're going to finish it. But I won't use it again.
Literature: books from history topics, using this Reading Journal and/or literature guides I've collected digitally over the years
Language Arts: IEW Modern History-Based Writing Lessons, maybe a review of typing skills
Foreign Language: probably none, though he says he might occasionally revisit the Biblical Hebrew he's been working through slowly for a few years.
Bible: Dust to Glory with Levi
Extras: art, youth group, robotics at the local middle school
Silas: 7th grade
Math: Saxon algebra 1 (the newest edition that keeps geometry separate)
Science: with Owen
History: with Owen
Literature: books from history topics, using this Reading Journal and/or literature guides I've collected digitally over the years
Language Arts: a simple grammar review book, Writing with Skill 1, Caesar's English vocabulary, probably either a cursive and/or typing review
Foreign Language: Italian on Rosetta Stone
Bible: a set of Bible studies on managing emotions from Not Consumed
Extras: violin, karate, Central MN Youth Orchestra, youth group
Toby: 5th grade
Math: finishing Math Mammoth 4 and moving into 5
Science: with Owen and Silas
History: with Owen and Silas
Literature: books from history topics, using this Reading Journal and/or literature guides I've collected digitally over the years
Language Arts: Night Zookeeper probably through Christmas, then Paragraph Writing for Kids. I have a Daily Grammar book for him, but he's so very motivated by the gaming aspect of Night Zookeeper that I'll probably just let him do that for a few months. He needs the motivation and I need the break. He also has a vocabulary book and will continue typing lessons.
Foreign Langage: Latina Christiana 2
Bible: Not Consumed studies with Silas
Extras: art, karate, co-op, and probably (still working out details) joining beginner band at the local intermediate school, playing the baritone!
Calvin: 2nd grade
Math: finishing Math Mammoth 2 and moving into 3
Science: Real Science-4-Kids has a "pre-level 1" of their chemistry course, which my mom is going to do with him on his "Grandma School" day once a week
History: He listens in to the big kids' lessons most of the time.
Language Arts: First Language Lessons 2, Writing with Ease 2, vocabulary, Draw Write Now book 3, Spelling Power, books to correspond with history topics and some easy book report assignments. (Don't let the lengthy list fool you; he won't do everything every day.)
Bible: Exploring the Bible
Extras: cello, karate, art, co-op
Tessa: kindergarden
Math: Mathematical Reasoning A
Science: with Calvin as desired
History: Bede's History of Me (with my mom at Grandma School)
Grandma School, for all other kindergarden-ish things (Thank God for Grandma, who loves to plan and teach activities of all sorts!)
Extras: viola, karate, art, co-op
We've changed up our morning Bible time a bit, doing a rotation of subjects instead of the same thing every day. Each week we cover a specific character trait (and sometimes have individual activities or Bible studies related to the trait), learn a hymn, pray for an unreached people group (using an app from the Joshua Project), and discuss a current event topic (using the weekly e-mail for kids, Decaf, from the news source The Pour Over). Calvin and Tessa will be at my parents' house through lunch once a week, so I'm hoping to use that time to introduce the older four to World Watch news. Other days during lunch, we read aloud, usually something related to our history time period.
When I had four kids under five years old, people (mostly strangers) pointed out constantly that my hands were full. I usually responded cheerfully, "full of good things!" My hands aren't so full these days, but my days certainly are, and I maintain the refrain: full of good things, indeed.
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