Agendas and Plans

Our agenda and plans for the 2008-2009 school year have been written in cornmeal on a cookie sheet for the past two months. I say this because while I am more secure now than I've ever been in the short years I've homeschooled, anything is subject to change.

What we're using (If you'd like more information about these products, please take a gander at the sidebar and click on the curriculum you'd like to see. It should take you straight to the website :D):

Geography/Social Studies: After a hiatus, we are back to using My Father's World. I love the activities that keep the student's interest. I am eclectic at heart and would LOVE to wing it without a curriculum, but I can get distracted pretty easily. So, this is a good fit for my son and I.

Math: This is our second year using MathUSee. We're currently in Beta. It has been reaffirmed in the past couple months that this is just right for us. I love the way that things are presented in a visual manner and the concepts are explained. I've learned quite a bit, myself. LOL.

Spelling: We are using another multisensory method for spelling. We are in Level One of All About Spelling. C asked me this morning if we could do spelling first! The student learns to spell using phonograms. Too, instead of writing the words, the student works with letter tiles. This takes much of the struggle out of the subject in itself, as C is a reluctant writer. We really like it.

Penmanship: C's handwriting last year was atrocious. It left so much to be desired. I really think I rushed him through penmanship in first grade. So, we opted to go to Handwriting Without Tears, another multisensory approach. The way the formation of the letters is explained (i.e. with lower case "e" the student hits the ball and runs the bases to form the letter) is novel and fun. It reflects in his handwriting.

Science: We did not get to finishing our Noeo Science from last year, so we're continuing to use it this year. I'm also learning the importance of children being outdoors and exploring and learning by being surrounded by nature. So, we are continuing with Biology I. We like the colorful books and experiments Noeo provides.

Bible: The most important. We are using both My Father's World's guide to teach Bible as well as Bible Study Guide for all ages. Very basic things like teaching your child to look up a chapter and verse would have escaped me, really. For some reason I sould not think to sit down and teach it. MFW teaches this. As for Bible Study Guide, it's interactive and interesting. Also, the child learns about Biblical Character and how it relates to the Bible Reading. This is another of our favorites this year.

A Bible verse that continues to pop up this year is 1 Corinthians 2:9

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”[a]

I am blessed because we are a military family. Sometime in the next year we will leave Colorado and the homeschooling support group and friends that we've grown so close to in the past 2.5 years. I am reassured that God has great plans for us wherever He sends us. Too, this verse is a blessing because eight years ago prior to having my son, it would have been difficult to see myself in the shoes I'm in now. I figured I would be out in the career world while my son was in public school. My mind would have never imagined that God had this in store for me and my family. We are amazingly blessed to be homeschooling and sharing this time with our children. Everyday He shows me the bounties of reward from being obedient to Him by homeschooling. Thank you, Lord.