
My two oldest are on the trip of their lives for ten days to Washington DC and Virginia with my mother and her husband. They are seeing places I have never seen before and their trip has been wonderful so far. It has been a joy to talk to them at the end of every day because their excitement and wonder at what they are experiencing is palpable. Today they will visit Colonial Williamsburg. I think it will be one of the highlights of their visit! They both loved Monticello and both purchased things to bring home from there. They chose things totally congruent with their personalities - one chose garden seeds and one chose a book about Jefferson's books. Those of you who know them will know which is which!

He is also using a cursive handwriting/copywork program from LightHome Publications. Since he is studying animals of the 6th day this year for science, I am having him do their A-Z Exotic Animals. He has really been enjoying it and I am pleased with the wide variety of different animals they chose for this book. The sample at the link gives you a good idea of what is included in the download. I discovered this company some time ago and really do love their handwriting/copywork books. I have used several of them thus far over the last year.
Land Animals of the Sixth Day: Exploring Creation with Zoology 3 is the science source we are using for John and Abigail's science. They are making this lapbook to go along with it. We have really loved using Jeannie Fulbright's books--and we learn so much in such an interesting manner! Abigail and John will also be using the intermediate level from Science Excursion. This is the neat curriculum I told you about when I came home from Modesto this July. What a fantastic company!
Math U See is still our staple for early math. Emma began her MUS journey yesterday and we have lots to learn together. She tends to have a fatalistic mindset about school until she sees she *can* do it. I don't even know where that comes from, but by the end of the lesson she was showing me place values and was very happy with herself. :+) That can be a trickly concept to understand, but she is slowly getting it.
The Mystery of History: The Renaissance, Reformation, and Growth of Nations, (1455-1707) Volume 3 will begin once the girls get home. I cannot wait! I love this time period and am really looking forward to learning Ren/Ref with Linda Hobar. Her book is just beautiful! We have learned so much and have truly *enjoyed* our history study with her two previous volumes, Mystery of History, Volume 1 and The Mystery Of History, Volume 2: The Early Church and the Middle Ages. I cannot recommend this series enough.
John has been joining Emma and Elizabeth on one of my "Ah HA!" journeys. Last year I was sharing with a dear friend Nancy, that if I could do it over again, I would do Beautiful Feet's Early American History. She pointed out that I *could* do it over again (so to speak) because I have two little ones! So we are reading almost all the wonderful books in this set and making their beautiful timeline and they are loving it! I am loving it too. So thank you, Nancy, for reminding me that some things can be do-overs. :+)

Well, that is about all I can do for today. I just wanted to share a bit about our homeschooling this week. I will share more about what we are doing with the others in the future.
I hope your new year is going well!
8 comments:
I well remember the fresh pads of paper, newly selected curricula, and armloads of library books that helped usher in each new school year. With my youngest now 24 and married, at times it seems like forever since we homeschooled, and yet it often feels like yesterday!
Enjoy the journey, as I know you are.
I love fall too!! :)
So great that Nancy encouraged you about the BF books - I am currently "in love" with BF and wishing I could have that same do over! So funny! I'll be starting Early American History with Ian too - likely in grade 1 (a few years off still).
Love ya, Kate! :)
Dawn
I ADORED YOUR POST..REALLY, I DID! I LOVE USING A VARIETY OF CURRICULUM TO TEACH, AND I JUST DONT FEEL THAT ANY ONE CURRICULUM CAN HONESTLY BE THE BEST IN ALL AREAS..BUT I COULD BE WRONG. ANYHOW, YOU REMINDED ME OF SOME THINGS THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT; AS THEY WERENT NEEDED AT THE TIME. I LOVE YOUR EXCITEMENT OVER THE AL THE LEARNING AS WELL. I DONT KNOW WHY BUT I ALWAYSD GET REAL EXCITED OVER THE SHINY NEW BOOKS AND FOLDERS, THE SMELL OF THAT FRESH BOX OF CRAYONS, AND JUST NEAT IODEA OF STARTING OFF WITH NEW THINGS TO DICOVER NEW WORLDS.THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST. LEENA
Thank you, Kate, for your thoughtful and insightful blog. I have learned so much from reading it, and it even inspired me to start my own blog(s)!
Thank you, too, for being such a good friend. :-)
When I get back from vacation, we'll have to arrange a few Early American History experiences with our kids...
--Nancy
I am SO glad you're liking it!
Thanks so much for posting this, Kate! I love seeing what my friends are doing with their homeschooling.
~Charlotte
I wanted to thank you and Donna Campos who did an outstanding review of our teaching game, BrainSavvy. Donna highly recommended it for homeschool teachers. Now we need to get the word out to homeschool teachers, so I'm posting the blog.
Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Jamie McCracken, Ed.D.
Co-inventor and President
www.Brainsavvy.com
Oh dear friend, I miss bouncing between our blogs and have gotten so sadly out of this habit. I am trying desperately to find time to write here again. I hope to more regularly pop in on you here soon. How does anyone keep up on all of these things!
Hugs!
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