The kids in our county started school last week! Lydia doesn’t start for two more weeks and I’m glad because after the cousins were here from Mexico and (I forgot to tell you about) the family reunion last weekend, I just feel like I’m getting back to normal life here.
I still haven’t even looked at the supply list I need to collect for Lydia’s class. We did get some new shoes for the kids last week and I made Lydia try on all her uniforms from last year (still fit!). But that’s about it!
My main goals for this week are to 1)CLEAN THE PLAYROOM. It’s where we do school and oh, my friends. It’s just scary. 2)PICK OUT CURRICULUM. You know Lydia’s school is a hybrid homeschool so they pick out all her books and curriculum. (Which is one reason I love our school.) But I want to add a little more to our school day because I want Lydia and Asa doing more together and I want to add some fun stuff!
For Asa, I’ll be doing Five in a Row with him. This is really what got me started on my homeschool journey. It’s a simple curriculum that picks a quality, classic picture book and gives lesson starters for math, science, geography, reading and more.
You read the book once every day for five days and then go from there. I did it with Lydia when I was practice-homeschooling and did some of Before Five in a Row
I’ll also lean heavily into Homeschool Creation’s literature-based printables and 1+1+1=1’s alphabet printables, too. Asa loves to write and he loves all the stuff we used from them last year.
After the New Year, I’ll re-evaluate and see if I want to do anything more structured with him. I doubt I will. But you never know. He could surprise me!
For their “together” subjects, I want to do…
1. GEOGRAPHY
The kids are so incredibly into maps and geography. They love knowing about countries, states and cities. I just scored a ton of great USA-themed books from the thrift store –it must have been a teacher or homeschool mom who just dropped off every book she ever bought because 90% of the books there had her name on them. I bought tons!
So, with the Olympics (USA! USA! USA!) and all the elections, I think this is a good time to introduce some United States-themed-lessons to them. For the actual curriculum, I’m going with Road Trip USA from Confessions of a Homeschooler. It’s just a download with crafts, activities, worksheets, etc. But it was designed by a homeschool mama with preschool and early elementary aged kids.
I’m still super new to this and I don’t want to get bogged down, frustrated or choose something too old for my kids. I think this will be easy enough for me (them) and still thorough enough for good learning.
2. BIBLE
I figured picking a Bible curriculum would be easy. But you know, that’s kinda why I started this blog. I wanted to teach my preschooler some Bible verses and couldn’t find anything to do it with!
For this school year, I want to do something more fun than a Sunday School class, more thorough than a Bible storybook and something a little cooler than Bible-homeschool-class.
Of course, I could just make something up like our ABC Crafts, Fruit of the Spirit or activities. But I figured that would come on its’ own anyway. I’d like something that leads us through some good teaching and open my kids up to new stories and ideas they haven’t necessarily been introduced to yet.
And now I’m sure you’re all on the edge of your seats wondering what I’ve chosen, aren’t you? Well, I haven’t chosen yet. I have a date to visit my mom’s office (she’s been a Children’s Pastor for 30+ years) to look through her books. And I think I’ll be mixing some club programs (like Pioneer Clubs) with What’s in the Bible?, The Story and other resources to make one big we-love-the-Bible program. *shrugs* We’ll see what happens! Hopefully it will be fun enough (and good enough) to share with you–regardless of your school choice!
Slightly coupled with our Bible teaching, I have decided on We Choose Virtues. I’ve seen this on tons of other homeschool blogs and love the idea. It’s perfect for public school, church, home or homeschool. I’ll probably do a big review on it after I use it awhile, but basically the kids are taught virtues with simple catchphrases to help them understand and act on them.
I so love the idea of Biblical virtues. You know, that’s what the Fruit of the Spirit are, right? Just character qualities and virtues! They say 80% of a child’s character is is developed by the time they are five. FIVE! So, it is so important to instill these qualities into them now!
The last thing I’m doing is something I’m super excited about: Family Mentoring. (<–I just made that title up this second.) I really want to use our homeschool time to focus on the kids’ talents and abilities. Of course, I don’t really know what their main talent is considering they are 6 and 3. So, I’d love to introduce them to a few non-academic things to try out.
As I was thinking about different ideas, I realized my family is hugely talented! So, I asked my mom to do a 6 week class with Lydia to teach her to sew. My aunt is a brilliant artist, my brother a graphic designer, carpenter and musician. My father-in-law is a pastor, my mother-in-law paints and cooks. My dad is practically a gourmet chef. My sister-in-law is a nurse!
Wouldn’t it be fun if they could spend a few days a month (not for the whole school year, just whatever works for them) learning from their family members? I’m super excited to see how it all works out because it’s a double win–skills learned and family bonds tightened!
Oh, and Lydia is taking ballet while Asa begins tumbling! And my husband has promised to do 2 days of week PE with the kids–so he can teach them CrossFit! Yikes!
Homeschooling or not, when do you start school? What are you looking forward to the most?
Linked to Week 1 of the amazing & huge “Not” Back To School Party at the iHomeschool Network. Click over to see what other homeschool families are using to teach their kids! AND get some freebies from CurrClick while you’re there!
I can picture Asa now learning from his GrandDaddy…or perhaps uncle…on some pretty awesome computer designs! Needing a lunch/play date soon!!! Maybe a little later inthe day than Hello mornings time???
Yes, we need to get together!!
a
We started our homeschool journey with “Before Five in a Row,” so I have happy memories when I think of FIAR! 🙂
Aww! I really like it, too. I wish I had learned that way!
a
I love the family mentoring idea! It sounds like we are doing a few of the same things. Hope you have an awesome year!
Thanks! I’m ready for it–I want some schedule back!
a
We are starting back next week. We homeschool. My kids are ages 10, 12, 16.My oldest is using My Father’s world for the second year in a row. I really love it! The younger two are using a mixed curriculum including exploring creation and teaching textbook.
Sounds super fun! I’ve heard lots of god stuff about My Father’s World!
a
It’s so fun to look at other people’s curriculum choices! I always discover new things that I’ve never heard of. We start homeschooling our 5-year-old daughter next week, so I’m a little nervous, but mostly excited. By the way, I think that Road Trip USA is by Confessions of a Homeschooler, not Homeschool Creations. I LOVE both of those blogs–they offer some incredible resources!
Ack! You’re right! They both start with an H and a C. I get confused easily, obviously! 😉
We’ve already started back. We took June off of most things and then began adding 1-2 new subjects back each week when July started. It’s so much fun in the early years, and it gets even better as they grow!
Oooh, easing them in nice and slow! I like that!
a
What a great idea to have the kiddos learn from their grandparents and aunts and uncles! I love that. We homeschool and we’ll begin back next Monday. We’re very excited.
I’m really excited about the kids learning from their family. I’ll keep y’all updated on how it goes! 😉
a
Oh my goodness! I can’t believe school has already started for some kids! Ugh! Our kiddos start August 27. We have had such a good summer, and I hate to see it come to an end. I just ordered the virtue system you referenced. Thanks for all the great ideas!
Yay! I can’t wait to try it out–and I’d love to hear what you think about it, too!
a
This list of resources sounds great! My daughter started school last week – very exciting! And in the near future, we’re going on a road trip around the US, so that program sounds like something I can do with them then. And I love the idea of the “We Choose Virtues” resource – this is something I can do with both kids outside of school and work hours.
Thanks again,
Kristina 🙂
I can’t wait to try them both out! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
a
love love love FAMILY MENTORING!
I’m super excited about it! 🙂
a
I love the family mentoring idea–such a great idea. 🙂 I kind of want to take the sewing class from your mom, too….
I know! I wanna take the class. Why didn’t my mom teach me to sew?!!
We’re starting preschool homeschooling this fall and I’m very excited about it. I love the sound of the “Whats in the Bible” and the Story. Keep us posted!
I just loved reading all that you are doing with your littles. Mine are so big, and I am just now starting to homeschool. I wish I had started when they were little like yours! What a blessing to be starting off this way! Have a great year!
I just reviewed the What’s In the Bible 1st DVD today, and we loved it! My kids are a good bit older than yours, but they still enjoyed the DVD. I love you idea of family mentoring. I think that’s such a good idea!
My oldest (2nd grade) broke her elbow this summer and has been sidelined from the normal summer fun, so we started school quite early (over 4 weeks ago), since we couldn’t run around.
I’ve started 5 in a Row with my kindergarten. I enjoy it!
I found you on the hop! I hope you have a fantastic year!
When I saw the title of this post in my list of blogs (what is that called anyway the iGoogle thing?) I thought, ‘I know, right!’ We start our homeschool community day the last week of August. I’m thinking we’ll start our school maybe in the next couple of weeks.
I’m really interested in hearing how you like We Choose Virtues. I’m thinking of getting just part of a pack, not sure which would be best yet, and start working it into our days. I just wrote to a friend that I know these things need to be “caught not taught” but I feel like I need help in getting them across. WCV looks like it might be a good helper in that. I’ve also just been seeing some reviews for the Apologia “What We Believe” series and that looks wonderful. I bet my 6 yr old could easily get it but it would probably be too much for my 4 yr old. I’m sure she could catch some of it though.
Your family mentoring idea is wonderful. We don’t have family around but we do have friends so maybe I can mull that over some.
Amanda, thanks so much for sharing these awesome resources! I found some things I’m gonna use with my Kinders here at work and some things to use with my own kids at home! We started school last Wednesday, so we’re getting into the swing of things with school, 2 boys playing football, Chris teaching taekwondo, and all the goodies that go with two teachers at the beginning of school! Thankful for God’s grace and mercy this time of year!!! LOVE to read your blog even though I don’t blog too much myself anymore!! Thanks for fresh ideas!!!
Ok, Mrs. Amanda. I LOVE THIS BLOG! Thank you so much for following the leading of the Lord.
I noticed in this post that you and I have children the same age. That makes me so happy! Why? I guess because I feel like I can follow along and better see the age appropriateness of the lessons, activities, etc.
Anyhow, thanks again. I’m looking forward to reading more. Today was the first day I’ve really taken the time to read a post. I’ve been missing out! LOL!
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