Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Homeschool Memoirs: Homeschool Agendas


This week’s theme is about sharing your 2008-09 homeschool agendas and plans. You’ve been preparing your plans for sometime and you’re ready to go. Or you’re still in the planning-stage and need some inspiration or tips on what to use. Because many use different curriculum and methods there is always something new to be gleaned from other homeschoolers. It’s always fun and interesting to see what other’s are using and the WWWWH as Robin Sampson suggests. So this week I hope you will share what you’re doing this year for your homeschool agenda. Share the different curriculum you’re using. You can also include what age/grade you’re using it for, how long you’ve been using it, and why you like it.
Please share a Bible verse that has encouraged you or inspired you during this planning-process, and how.


Hmm our Agenda. I guess we are more of a relaxed homeschool family. While I do have curriculum for the boys and we do follow them it's also easy for us to either drop what we are doing if something else interests and come back to it later or drop it all together or skip things here and there if we are just not interested in it or if it's something we have already been through previously. Here is the Curriculum we have...


1. Bible - we have BJU Following Christ. I use this for both boys. I don't really have Jarod do the written work but we discuss things all together that is in it and what we can learn from it. This way they are both getting benefits from it.


2. Phonic - This is for Jarod not Chord since Chord can read and read well. Jarod is only in first grade so he is still learning to read. We are doing Saxon Phonics 1. I used it with Chord and now I am using it with Jarod. He is really loving to learn to read. He took his first test today in it and he got them all right!!!


3. English - This is For Chord. He does BJU English 3 Writing and Grammar. He is doing well in this.


4. Math - They are both doing Horizons math. Jarod 1 and Chord 3. I am thinking I really need to go through the math book for Chord because he does really well in math. I probably should go a grade higher for him. I just don't want to skip anything that he may not get. See in Third grade they are just getting into learning multiplication and he's already known how to multiply small numbers since first grade. Even before he knew how to carry over and borrow in addition and subtractions. I just don't want to skip over something and then have him confused I guess. For Jarod he's getting much better in this area! He still needs some work but he's finally getting what addition and subtraction is :). We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel :).


5. Reading - I have Chord read books silently and I also have him read some of his Bible (he can choose what he wants to read) out loud and we discuss what it means and what it's talking about (reading comprehension). With Jarod I have him read to me what he can and I help with words he doesn't know yet.


6. Spelling - For Jarod it's in his Phonic so I don't have to worry. For Chord I just have him look up words in his dictionary and learn to spell words that way.


7. Science - God's Design for Life, The Human Body is what I have for both boys. We do this three times a week. It's a lot of fun for the boys. There are some things we can do and other things we read about. It's for 1st-6th graders so it's good for both boys :).


8. History - I had gotten a History curriculum but I didn't like it so we are just getting books from the Library and reading about History. Last year we learned about Ancient Egypt. This year we are learning about Rome. We will probably do like last year and do what follows their interest. Last year too Chord learned about some of our Presidents.


9.Writing - I print some handwriting sheets from http://www.edhelper.com/ and have the practice their writing. Chord is learning to write cursive better (he started it last year) and Jarod is just practicing more of his writing. I so want them both to have better handwriting than me LOL.


10.Music - I just have this for Chord right now because it's learning how to read music. This is cool too since I don't know how to read music either so we are learning together LOL. It's called Theory for Young Musicians (ages 8-12) and it comes with 3 small workbooks to go through.


I had an art program for them but I think it took all the fun out of art and the boys thought so too. I think I will have Harlow teach them more since he is the artist of the family LOL. I am lucky to draw a straight line if anything at all LOL. Harlow draws wonderfully. If only I had as much talent as he does in his pinkie LOL. Oh well I guess that will be his job now LOL.


The Bible verse that keeps me going I guess would be like it says on my blog...


Dt 6:6-9
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, When you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.


For me that means no matter where my children go to school hubby and I are still responsible to teach our children about God, Jesus and what He has done for us!! Reminding me again that we can do nothing without God. :)


Please click on pic above to find out more and how you can participate.

6 comments:

Samantha said...

I enjoyed reading your blog. God bles you!

Anonymous said...

Hope you have a great year! :)

~Lynn

Blessed Beyond a doubt.... said...

Reading books on History is so educational and informational. Your boys will retain more by reading living books rather than a textbook, imop.

Have a blessed year!

http://tonsofsons.wordpress.com/

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet said...

Thank you for sharing your agenda! You definitely have quite a bit of wonderful books and curriculum you are using. :D I'm trying to glean all I can from veteran homeschoolers, as I am a new homeschooler. Have a great day!
Sherry

Quinne said...

Hi Jody :) I enjoyed reading about your plans! Blessings, Q

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you have figured out what works best for your family... That's the way to go! :D