Curriculum Planning for 2009-2010 is nearly complete...

I confess that by nature I am a planner. I like to know what I am doing in advance. I start planning my next school year in January of my current year. I look at curriculum. I read reviews. Then I walk away from it for a while. In a week or two, I come back, pick it up again, and plan some more. I do this until about March. By then I am ready to order, and the tax return has been deposited. So, what I am going to share with you now is the culmination of about 2-3 months of work.

Jonathan - 10th grade

History: History Odyssey Level 2 Middle Ages
Science: Biology class taught by a high school science teacher...taken outside of our home
Math: Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2
English: CLE English 1 and Writer's Jungle plus other books that I will give him through the year
Health: Total Health (He is required to have a half a credit of health)
Foreign Language: Tell Me More French

Natalie - 8th grade

History: History Odyssey Level 2 Middle Ages
Science: This is still up in the air. She could take the same bio class as Jonathan or do Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry
Math: CLE 600 and 700
English: CLE Language Arts 800 and Writer's Jungle
Reading: CLE Reading 800
Foreign Language: Tell Me More French

Carolyn - 5th grade

History: History Odyssey Level 2 Middle Ages
Science: Real Science 4 Kids: Level 1 Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Math: CLE 400 and 500
English: CLE 400 and Writer's Jungle
Reading: CLE 500 plus full length books
Spelling: All About Spelling Level 2 and 3

Brianna - 5th grade

History: History Odyssey Level 2 Middle Ages
Science: Real Science 4 Kids: Level 1 Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Math: CLE 300 and 400
English: CLE 300 and Writer's Jungle
Reading: CLE 400 and 500
Spelling All About Spelling Level 2 and 3

If you are interested in looking at any of these programs, I will include links to their websites.

CLE is Christian Light Education.
All About Spelling
Real Science 4 Kids
Writer's Jungle (Bravewriter)
History Odyssey

Also, as a disclaimer, I just wanted to mention that I did not actually buy Real Science 4 Kids from the publisher. It is crazy expensive. I found Amazon had the best price plus I found some items used.

Time to think...

I was reminiscing about those early day of home schooling. In hindsight they seemed much easier. I had fewer children in school, and the school requirements were so much more relaxed. This picture is my son, Jonathan's visual of Paddle to the Sea's journey. He built this all on his own in 2003 at age 9. That was when he thought it was a true story.



Here is another picture of our "study" of medieval life. I simply got books from the library and my children took it from there. One little one is still in her jammies.

Ahh, if high school could be this relaxing.

Up to our elbows in school.

This is why I have not blogged in two weeks. We are now back in school full swing. It is taking all my focus to keep all the plates spinning right now. So, I thought I would share with you a little photo essay of our day yesterday.

Natalie and Carolyn choosing the proper color for map coloring.



Brianna colored Antarctica orange.



Jonathan, the high school freshman, does his school work in his room.




Carolyn must have found the right color.



Natalie is finishing up English.

Have a great weekend!

Jennie

Today's Fruit...

My hands have been fairly busy today. Since I made a full week meal plan, I had to honor what the menu said and make muffins for the children for breakfast. Once we had cleaned up, it was time for school. It is our habit to read from a chapter book on Fridays. We have been working our way through Farmer Boy for several weeks now. Carolyn took her placement test for our year-end standardized testing. We still have to complete one more section.

I was able to dig a little in the garden. I am working on creating the most productive garden. This will be the third year for our garden. I have a huge herd of white tail deer that I compete with for produce. Last year, my husband put up a seven foot fence. Since it was a lightweight mesh, it didn't last the season. I would prefer not to put up a fence, but I am not sure if I can get away with that. I had read that deer are deterred by horse manure. Since I have access to as much free aged manure as I can haul home, I am going to try. Hopefully there is some merit to it.

I topped the day off with a trip to Home Depot. We finally picked wall colors from the dining room and living room. My husband has them all beautifully primered. I am secretly hoping that he will at least paint the accent wall tomorrow before we are running from hockey rink to hockey rink.