Well, I don't know about specifics. But I am feeling more relaxed about it. History has been fine, simple schooling and videos. Science has worked too. Jazz really liked the switch from reading physics to the interactive physics...thanks J. Anne! But now we are done with that and so I am using Dr. Art does science...and that is ok. is it just me or do alot of science experiments seem "tacked on" like they kinda go with the topic, but they are not written in a way that illuminates the topic well. sigh. So, the curriculum, none of it is blowing me away. But we are having more good days than bad...
We are doing more unit studies this year, in particular Amanda Bennett's Download N Go series. This has been a good decision, since I am teaching K, 4, 5, 10 and 12 this year.
what works the best for us is our attitude. sometimes I get nerveous for not finishing much for the day. I am trying to looks at the positive side and see how much we accomplished instead. I am trying to give the girls their time for quiet reading even it's the first thing in the morning. My girls never cared much for science, I am very grateful that their co-op teacher made it enjoyable. My older daughter wasn't into writing, excellent writing institute was the right thing for her. I made a big chart on our white board with all the subjects and the days of the week. As long as everything is checked by Friday, we're all happy.
Well, what is working well for us this year is Math U See Algebra 1, I only hope it gets ds ready for Geometry with sos next year, otherwise I will go with MUS again, I have it.. but he may go to a homeschool private school option next year that uses mostly SOS, his friends from church are there but I seriously am praying about a way to get the best of both worlds and home school him down there, I could use an empty room, and send him out when his friends are out that way.... and maybe teach Drama again or Geometry ( My fav math!) Physics is now working great too! Ds is going ahead of me in it! I have ahard time keeping up he loves his MSPHysics so much! Thanks to COlorado moms site! He is really learning a lot! 180days grammar is working well too, ds is keeping on task with that one even when I don't! so those three things are going great! I am fighting keeping up with Geography tasks.. I think he is enjoying his CO Op class of it, more for social reasons again, but we are studying Belize this month because he watched a tourism video that made him want to go there! I am writing to a friend who was a missionary there and see if she will send a letter to me, the I will have Jackie's dd post it! over all he is doing okay, we are just not as organised as I would have us. But that too shall come!
Potter's School: My older two are doing Apologia Science (Chemistry and Physical Science) with the Potter's School on-line classes. They also are doing Chicago Math with the Potter's School. DD (16) is totally independent in doing this, submits her work on-line. DS (13) needs a little supervision, and guidance, but he is benefiting greatly from the extra on-line instruction. This is our 4th year of using Biblioplan for history; we absolutely love it! I'm much more organized this year, and so far have been able to keep up on corrections. That can be a real struggle for me.
We are much more relaxed this year. We are using Lesson Pathways for the first time and love it. We use it to supplement our science, history and reading curriculum and it's going great. My DS loves hands on learning. We are also alternating between our math and language arts books (Saxon 5/4 & Flash Kids LA 4) and Head of the Class. We only do the interactive lessons on HOTC, so he is not doing written work every day. We also started Story of The World, which DS loves too. Such a huge difference from last year! We used LifePacs and DS fought me almost every day.
