I've been meaning to catch up on the home schooling front with the intention of updating the blog monthly on this topic. We'll see how it goes.
We have more than a month of home schooling under our belts. We decided to join the Classical Conversation (CC) group in our area. It covers history, grammar, Latin, geography, science, fine arts, Bible memory work, and some math. We use the Math-U-See Primer for main our 'rithmetic curriculum, and we're still using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons (read Lessons, not Days, because I'm not that on top of it). I also supplement with BOB books, and I'm trying to incorporate some sight word work. Eleanor also takes piano lessons, and I consider that part of her musical education (for now).
Our home school days look something like this:
- Monday - We spend the morning at CC, read alouds in the afternoon, piano
- Tuesday - Review CC memory work, 1 math lesson, 1 reading lesson, handwriting practice, piano
- Wednesday - Review CC memory work, prep for CC presentation, reinforce Tuesday math, read aloud
- Thursday - Review CC memory work, practice presentation, 1 math lesson, 1 reading lesson, handwriting practice
- Friday - Friday FUN day. We try to wrap up anything we didn't get done during the week and we try to take some sort of field trip or do a family activity when Jon gets home.
- Weekend - Piano and Presentation
Tuesday thru Thursday, if everything goes well, school takes us 2-3 hours. Right now we have another obligation that changes our school week quite a bit. In the next month, I'm hoping things will be more consistent. If something doesn't get finished during the day, Jon or I will work with Eleanor after dinner. On more than one occasion, we've had to completely re-arrange the schedule when something comes up or babies decide to scream all day. It happens. We adjust.
How do I like it? I LOVE it. I feel like I'm doing a good job keeping her on task, and I feel like she's learning a lot. I'm blow away by CC and Eleanor's new-found knowledge. Admittedly, I'm not at a place where I can do a lot of cutsie/Pinteresty things with her, but she doesn't seem to mind. I did check out a slew of books about apples and Johnny Appleseed for September, and we visited an apple orchard with some friends. That's something!
For my Catholic friends reading, Happy Michaelmas (yesterday)! I hope you got in some 'angel'ic celebrations!
There is so much more I want to do with my smart girls, and there is really NEAT curriculum to peruse. Even if you don't home school, there are GREAT resources available to supplement with. Grandparents, if you're reading this, I have the Christmas lists all made out! Just ask :)
