I thought I would give an update on how school is going for us. When I made this blog I thought I would be talking alot more about our homeschooling/homesteading experiences, and so far all I really blog about is home stuff and recipes.

   With taking a different approach to schooling this year (we decided to unschool) it has been a bit different for us. We are much calmer as we school. We are more relaxed towards getting assignments done, etc.

   So far with school we have covered all review of last years work. This has now got us to where we will be focusing on all new studies. we are moving forward in math and grammar. History and science we don't have a set goal to hit by the end of the year so these subjects are very relaxed for us. We will study whatever catches our interest at the time.

   For my oldest DD, we are moving along with geometry in math. In grammar, I am having her study more so on writing. She needs to get better with her desciptive/narrative writings.

   For oldest DS, he will be studing in math multiplication,

division, and fractions. In grammar he will learn about parts of sentences, how to disect a sentence, and of course all of the other normal grammar things (nouns, verbs, adjectives, predicates, etc).

    For middle DD, well, in math we are focusing on basic addition/subtraction. Although, we probably won't start subtraction until after christmas. I was worried with her ADHD that she wouldn't be able to focus and catch on all that quickly but she is really doing her basic math very well.

   We are still focusing on getting her to read. She is slowly starting to read for herself but still not at the level for her age. Which is fine with me because I know once she catches on she will just take off with reading.

   In grammar she is doing very well with writing sentences on her own and she is learning about punctuation.

   The twins, well, I was going to start preschool with them this year but haven't really gotten around to it. I do flash cards of color words and numbers with them. Mainly I have been letting them do craft projects. this is huge for me because I don't like messes and when the twins do a craft, well, lets just say I have to break out the vaccuum and dust buster, lol. But they enjoy it and it makes them feel good to show the crafts off. I tape the crafts to the wall for all to see when they walk into my house. The twins love that, lol. It is like their own personal art gallery.

   Yesterday i finally met our new neighbors. I don't really talk to my neighbors too much because I like to stay by myself and keep people out of my business, also I won't be blamed for being in their business. Anyhow, I had no choice but to met them becasue I noticed my cat Oliver had jumped in the back of her van. Oliver loves to get into peoples cars and I have to watch him closely when someone has their windows down or hatch open. So I went to retrieve him and we started talking. Turns out she doesn't like to really talk to neighbors either for the same reasons as I do. She too is from the country and moving to the suburbs is a big change for her. maybe it is a country thing with minding your own business, lol.

   Anyhow, she has 2 DD's, her oldest is a year younger than my middle DD and her youngest is the same age as the twins. The kids had a good time playing with each other. Hopefully, they can maintain a nice friendship. Her oldest DD and my middle DD seem to have a lot in common. they are also both emotional kids and very shy, so maybe they will make good best friends. I'm hoping. It would be nice for my DD to have a "nice" friend.

   Anyhow, now that I have made a short story long  It turns out she homeschools also. How nice! It is her first year homeschooling. I felt like such a veteran. It was nice for once to be to one with experience under my belt.

   So maybe something nice might turn up from these neighbors. ya never know.

   I normally am very strict with our school schedule. I try and stick with the same subjects taught in a day that the public school does. My kids like it like that. We do bible, handwriting (every other day), math, and sometimes language arts, all in the morning before lunch time. I let the kids have an hour for lunch, this lets them eat and have time to play outside if weather allows. In the afternoon we then finish up any language arts that may be left over from morning, we have science or history in the afternoons. I leave these subjects for afternoon because these are the ones that take the longest. I will either do a science unit for a few weeks and once finished with that then I will do a history unit for a few weeks, and this goes on all year. Every couple of weeks we switch.

   My point to this post is, that this year I have decided to change it up a bit. With middle DD having so many problems and so many doctor apponitments, and all the other hopla going on around here, I have decided to unschool this year.

   We have always been eclectic and strict schedule like I said, so to make such a drastic change to being unschooled will be weird and probably feel like we are accomplishing anything at all, but I'm sure we'll do just fine.

   What is unschooling some of you may ask. Well, unschool just means you let the kids choose and go at their own pace of what they want to learn. No text books, worksheets (although we will still do worksheets here and there), etc. If the kid only wants to do spelling  today, then you let them do just spelling. If they want to make a recipe for math and you all break everything down together, then that's what you do. If you just watch a hitory movie or animal planet, etc, then you chalk that up to history class and science class.

   Unschooling is just more hands on everyday learning. You really don't need text books or essays to prove that you are learning.

   I will still be doing worksheets and our science notebooks/history notebooks. What I plan on doing is just like one week all science. Next week maybe all math. and so on. I'll just roll along with what the day brings us. No stressing over getting all subjects done by a certain time.

  Schooling this way should free up alot of our time. It should be less stressful on me and hopefully I won't feel like a failure with their education.

     I have decided that after our camping trip next week that we will begin our school year. July 14 will be our first day of school. We will start off light with probably half of a day for the first two weeks and then we will have a full 5 hour school day.

   I am going to do something new this year with the children. I usually have my kids do some kind of copywork during the school week so they can improve their handwriting skills, whether it be print or cursive we are learning, but this year I have decided to do a copy work notebook of prayers, devotions, psalms. I thought it would be a great way for them to make sure they are kept in contact with the Lord daily.

    I found this really neat kids bible site that I have gotten bible stories to read to them (this guy makes it very kid friendly in his words. Not so boring and keeps their attention) and have got some of the prayers for the kids to copy and psalms they can copy.  BIBLE STORY GUY.  Here are the "Psalms ...and stuff for kids."  And here are some "Kids Prayers."

     Free samples of science curriculum. You can get 3 samples of 3 different grades, even comes with a teachers guide and project ideas.                                                              

SCIENCE A-Z curriculum

    I thought some of you may be able to use this link---                                                                         

  Free Kindergarten - 7 grade math workbooks

   The first page you pop on will be the kindergarten workbooks. If you look to the left of the screen you will see the rest of the grades you can click on.

    I can finally take a break... ok, not really. But I can take a break from school. Ok, that's not really true either because i have to start planning for next year. I'm actually excited about planning for next year.

   For the next week I will take it easy. No books, planners, pencils, gluey messes, etc. Maybe my house will stay clean for that week... maybe I'll actually be able to see the bottom of my sink since I'll have time to wash the dishes. OH! My laundry! My laundry will not pile up since I will be able to find the time to do it. Ahhh, sounds nice , huh?

   ... You know none of that will happen, right?  Who actually wants to do house work when I have a free week. Nope, I'll do the norm and take it easy the rest of the time.

   Monday I am dropping the portfolio's off at the school district and then I am offically done. Lazy days here we come!