Humbled

Rick took his turn as teacher today while I taught a couple classes at the Y. I didn't leave him lesson plans, but I did tell him to work on the next lessons in math and introduce cell structure. When I got home, Rick had made a model of a cell with items from around the house. Plus, he got out my cheap little microscope from Walgreens and had the kids looking at slides. The kids now know more about cell structure than I do!

Curriculum

Some people have asked us what methods we're relying on to homeschool. The best answer I can give is that we use an eclectic approach to teaching the kids. I need more structure than the unschoolers, but I don't care for the rigidity of classical education. I'm taking a little bit from here, there, and everywhere. Here's a breakdown of what we're using currently:

Saxon for Math
Spivey and The Most Creative Writing Lessons Ever for Writing
Spalding for Speech, Spelling, Writing, and Reading
The Story of the World for Social Studies

Of course, we supplement heavily from the hundreds of books we already have. Plus we use the Internet, libraries, community resources, etc.

Spelling Champs

I'm happy to report that the kids are back on track with their spelling. Last week I gave them a Morrison-McCall diagnostic test to see where I should start them on the Ayer's list. Ironically, they both got the same score. The test indicated that they were both at the 6th grade level so I decided to start them on the same spelling list to make things easier on all of us. Since we were on a field trip Friday, we had to postpone their first test until today (Saturday). They both scored 100%.

First Day

We’re too cool for school – Glenwood School that is! Today we opened The Saunders Academy (as named by our children). We accomplished a great deal, despite the fact that I had to work in the morning. Here is a breakdown of our day:

6:30 – Shelby and I went “dogging”.

7:30 – We returned, woke the kids, and had a shower (Shelby too).

8:45 – The kids and I drove to the Y (they read their respective books while waiting for my class to start).

9:30 – We all taught Discover and Learn. Jake and Emma were a huge hit with the little ones.

12:00 – We arrived home for lunch, unloaded the dishwasher, and started the laundry.

12:30 – We practiced and discussed the First Article of Faith (after a prayer of course).

12:45 – We reviewed Spelling rules and entered 20 new words into our Spelling notebooks.

1:30 – Adverbs lesson

1:50 – Vocabulary Building

2:15 – Math (Emma worked on multiplication and Jake worked with prime numbers).

2:45 – Jake’s piano lesson, Emma at the computer for math games

3:15 – Social Studies (Ohio history, President William Henry Harrison)

3:45 – Emma’s piano lesson, Jake created playing cards for our Ohio history game

4:15 – Poetry Reading and review of the day

5:00 – Swim Lessons

*Tomorrow we’ll include science, writing, and cooking!

Getting Organized

Today was one of the last I’ll be able to call my own for a while, so I treated myself to a little shopping spree. After teaching my little Explorers, I drove up to Savers in Toledo for a book hunt. Boy did I score some deals! I found some great old textbooks for enhancing our studies. I also bought some step-by-step drawing books and several young adult paperbacks (many of them Newberry winners).

Last night we made our weekly trip to Costco and bought some heavy duty shelving, a dry erase board, and composition books. Rick got right to work putting things together, so now our classroom is about ready. All we need now is the stamp of approval from the Rossford Superintendent…

Validation

Emma brought home her new spelling list today. She has 12 required words plus 2 additional *challenge words:

1. pond
2. luck
3. drop
4. lot
5. rub
6. does
7. drum
8. sock
9. hunt
10. crop
11. shut
12. won

*dodge
*dusk

These are first grade words. I know this because I taught both first and second grade. Emma is in the 3rd grade!!! How is she to progress as a speller, reader, and writer with words like these?

It gets better. Here's a sample of Jake's 5th grade list:

-mood
-dew
-boast
-rule

Not one of his 15 words has more than 1 syllable. Is this acceptable?

I'm feeling more confident about our decision to homeschool all the time.

Motivation

I know that my children deserve more intellectual enrichment than they’re currently getting.

I want my children to enjoy learning more.

I believe that homeschooling will bring our family closer together.

I want to continue the effective teaching methods they were getting in Arizona (i.e. Spalding).

My children need more safeguarding today than I did as a child.

I don’t want my children to spend most of their time with those whose values are vastly different than ours.

The children and I both need to set aside more time for spiritual learning and development.

I understand my children and their needs better than any other teacher.

I think I can help my children progress faster in their studies through one-on-one help.

Homeschooling is more flexible than the public school schedule.

Jacob and Emma are more excited about learning at home than at their new school.

Values

Breadth of knowledge
Integrity
Optimism
Security
Peace
Family Unity
Charity
Success
Logic
Compassion
Selflessness
Restraint
Respect

Dreams

I want to raise my children to be hard working, intelligent, and compassionate adults.

I want to help other children in need.

I want to broaden my understanding of the scriptures.

I want to leave something tangible behind that reflects who I am (music, a story, artwork, or something).

I want to travel extensively with my family.

I want to participate in a triathlon.

I want to learn how to sew from a pattern.

I want to be debt-free.

I want to sing in a choir again.

I want to learn how to play the guitar.

Goals

•Create a smooth-running home school schedule
•Declutter
•Read more of the classics
•Visit church history sites with my family
•Maintain a home school blog with the kids’ help
•Update my photo albums
•Keep in touch with family and friends
•Go on some sort of field trip every week
•Watch less TV (that goes for everyone)
•Get to the temple once a month
•Plan (and execute) a big vacation back east somewhere
•Teach the kids more about household responsibilities
•Cook more (instead of eating out)
•Exercise or be active with my kids Monday through Saturday