Lindy's Homeschool: August 2011

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

My School Schedule

Alright Folks, I've got my schedule all ready to implement. I do a lot of this schedule already, so I'm hoping I'm being realistic with my expectations for next year. I did almost this same schedule last year and it worked, so we'll see.

Wake up by 8 am (I'm not a morning person)
Start breakfast at 8:30 while listening to Pimsleur (a spanish program for Dustin and I)
Mumma and Daddy do Family Fun and Finances (when Dustin and I plan his business day and the family rewards that happen when we reap the rewards)

START OUR DAY
Make Bed, Brush Teeth, Change Clothes
Chores (which is emptying the dishwasher for Maxwell, and putting the silverware away for Hyrum)
Math/Mumma cleans
Devotionals (song, prayer, calendar, memorize scripture, and a short lesson....mon. & thurs. is gospel principal, Tues. & Fri. is story from friend, and wen. is apostle biography)
Reading/Spanish (While one kid is doing one on one reading lesson with me, the other is doing spanish on the ipad)
Activity Time (We read about that history or science from classic picture books and library books. Mon. & Tues: History, Wen: Science, Thurs: Preschool when Maxwell goes to his cousins and I do a special learning time with Hyrum and Daniel, Fri: Field trip)

*10:30 Snacks* (fruit and veggies)
12:30 Lunch
5:00 Drop EVERYTHING and make dinner (I have a hard time with this, thus the capitals.)

8 pm Prayer and Scriptures
Teeth, Personal Scriptures, books, & Personal Prayer

Friday, August 5, 2011

Books books books

These are most of the wonderful books that I purchased for this year's school. There are chemistry books, ancient history books, old testament books, and books that go along with Learning Language arts through Literature. I tried to get classic books and books that teach cultural literacy. My personal library is finally growing in a big way!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

FUNDING!!!!!!

YIPPPPEEEE!!!!! Hooray for Canada!!!

For some blessed reason, Canada has this wonderful belief that if you homeschool, you should get the money that the government would have spent on your child in the public school system. This is great for me! (Maybe not so great for the public school system, but since there is not a huge number of homeschoolers, I'm sure they'll be just fine.)

I have been waiting and waiting and planning on this funding. In Alberta, they don't give funding to kindergarteners because they say kindergarten is "optional." Well, Maxwell is going into FIRST GRADE this year (or Grade One....to be Canadianly correct)

I have had SOOOO much fun spending the governments money!!!

Let me just tell you the cool things I've gotten (well, they are cool to a nerdy homeschool mom)

A complete RightStart Mathematics set which includes books, an abacus, and TONS of manipulatives
A whole Language Arts Through Literature program which is my reading program that has a manual, activity book, little books for practicing, flash cards and games.
School supplies like markers, an ELECTRIC pencil sharpener, hole punchers, binders etc.
An ipod with speakers.
Ink for my printer.
And, over 50 HARDCOVER colourful, beautiful, and applicable BOOKS. This is where I really splurged. I could have just gone to the library for lots of the history I'm doing this year, but once I started buying books, I couldn't stop! And besides, the Cardston library is sooo small.

I still have enough funding left over for about $10 a week on odd things I'll need. I've already gotten a few things I'll need for our activities, like the weird things I knew I needed to get online like a paper making kit.

I might find that I regret spending the bulk of my money at the beginning, but I have be WAITING too long to have just sat on my funding.

Yipee yippe yippee.....I just hope the mail comes fast. I hate waiting.

The "awkward and unprepared" Myth

There are many misconceptions and biases against homeschooling, and many people really think that I've never heard them or considered them. Many people worry about the "inevitable social awkwardness" of homeschoolers or that they are "unprepared for the world." In my experience, I've found that homeschoolers tend to be as socially "normal" or "awkward" as their parents. As far as "unprepared for the world" is concerned, that depends on how they are taught, but I have seen many successes first hand. Basically, I know the ins and outs of the decision I've made, thanks.

Why I Homeschool

When I was first married, I fell in love with the kids of the Leavitts and Schafers (my sisters-in-law families.) They were...and still are...confident, leaders, innocent where they should be innocent, creative, and accepting. They were also homeschooled. I wanted my future kids to be like them, and if homeschooling was part of that equation, then I was willing to make the sacrifice. Now, after years of study, prayer, and experience, I want to homeschool for many reasons. I want my kids to be family oriented not peer oriented. I want to include the gospel in every aspect of what they are taught. I want them to think out side of the box. I don't want them to be obsessed with what is "cool." I want them to feel loved by those around them. I want them to know who they are and what they stand for before they are bombarded by outside influences. I know that many families can do this without homeschooling, but it seems a lot harder to me. Basically, I'm a control freak. I want to be in control of my children's learning and social life....homeschooling makes that easier.

Also, now that I've realized they are severely dyslexic, I think homeschool is the best place for dyslexics to learn.

And there's the statistics.

My Schedule

7:15

START OUR DAY

Daddy does scriptures

Breakfast

Devotional w/ videos

Come Follow Me

Goals/mindfulness/memorization

9:00

School Starts

Maxwell

School of Hope Online

Hyrum's 3 "R"s

IEW Grammar and Writing

Video Text Algebra

Spelling (Word Wasp)

Daniel's 3 "R"s

Writing Prompts

Rightstart Math level "G"

Spelling (Wasp)

William's 3 "R"s

All About Reading

Creative Writing

Rightstart level "D"

Abraham's 3 "R"s

Logic of English

Handwriting Without Tears

Rightstart level "B"

Activity in afternoon:

Social Studies

Science

Art

Chess

field trips

Literature Club

WAS classes

My Curriculum

For math, I do RightStart Mathematics, which is an abacus based math, Times Tales to memorize multiplication, Video Text for Algebra, and Mathantics or other supplements on youtube.

For Devotionals, I use Come Follow Me.

For Reading, I have used the Barton Reading and Spelling program, but right now I'm experimenting with All About Reading and Logic of English.

For Writing, I use Handwriting Without Tears, IEW Fix It! Grammar, and IEW Student Intensive Writing.

For History, and Science, I use The Four Year Plan (which I LOVE.) This year we are using the "Family Jubilee" book which covers Biology, Modern World History, and New Testament.