Friday, May 04, 2007
Lots on my Mind....
Nothing too deep or serious, but I have had a lot on my mind today. First of all...with homeschooling we are making some decisions on what our children will be doing next year. I am really excited about all of it. Some of the fun things about homeschooling for me are looking through curriculum catalogs, reading what other's are doing for their homeschool, and reading books about various curriculum choices (what is best or what works well with different children, etc). Kim at Mercy Days posted on what she will be using next year and that got me all excited about new books!!! I have been thinking a lot on this and have been studying up on it. I think we have made our decisions. I will be attending our homeschool convention in a couple of weeks, so I may change a thing or 2...but for the most part,this is what we are going to do:
Also, I am so excited about the yummy stir-fry I am making tonight...I know I must sound wee bit weird, but it is my favorite meal, I think! It is really easy and I thought I would share the recipe....it really doesn't need a recipe, though...just chop it up and stir fry it! Here is how I make it:
Other random things on my mind. Our Gracie took the ACT this year as a 14 year old...mainly to allow for the experience of knowing how to take these kind of tests. Hopefully to be able to compete for some big scholarships one day. : ) She also took the PSAT in 7th grade as a part of the Duke University program, again as practice. Well,she did very well on the ACT. We were very happy for her and had a small celebration last night. I think she will have fun trying to improve her score in the coming years. We have been talking a lot about colleges with her. She has some that she is really interested in going to. All of them are far away. But, all of them are excellent. I guess we are a little concerned about her going off too far, mainly since she is a girl...I don't think we will feel this way about a boy...but I know it will be fine. Also, with courtship/dating as our plan for her, we will have to be creative in ways to get to know any possible suitors long distant...that will be interesting! That will be Mike's job! We will be seeking wisdom from others and be in much prayer about all of this!
Some schools that we are looking into are:
Master's College in Santa Clarita, California
Moody Bible Institute in Chicago
Cedarville University in Ohio
If any of you have any knowledge or experience with these schools, please let me know your thoughts!
This is the longest post I have ever written, I think! Time to stop! If you have read all this, my apologies!
Gracie:
Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry
Algebra II Abeka DVD
Spanish II Rosetta Stone
American Literature *For Such a Time as This*
American History Abeka DVD
Wordly Wise 3000 vocabulary and spelling
Sonlight books for her required reading list...various titles.
Abigail:
Sonlight Core 6 (Bible, History, and Literature)
Saxon 8/7 math
Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science
Grammar and Composition Abeka books
Wordly Wise 3000...vocabulary development and spelling
Evie:
Sonlight Core B Kindergarten (History, Bible, Science, and literature)This will be used for 2 years.
Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I will use this next year and then transition maybe to Pathway Phonics for Kindergarten.
Singapore Early Bird Math....this will transition to Saxon I as she is ready.
Handwriting with out Tears...as she is ready. I will possibly wait until kindergarten to begin this.
Leading Little Ones to God...mainly during family worship time.
Big Truth for Little Kids...love this shorter catechism book!
Evie is just 4 and turns 5 during the year next school year...so this will be very low key *school*...mostly me reading to her and the phonics lessons. We will get more structured as she is ready to move on. She is bright, so I want to challenge her while keeping it really fun!
Jack Henry:
I will prepare a Monday box, Tuesday box, Wednesday box, etc...for him to get out and play with each day. I may have themes for each box, if I get really organized...like animal theme for Monday( Baby Einstein animal flash cards, toy animals, animal crackers for a snack, a Going to the Zoo dvd,etc) Tuesday box could be diggers, tractors, and trucks. You get the idea. I love having a boy...can you tell???? He will play with these boxes while I teach school to the others.
He will also have:
Puzzle time
Book time with Evie( when I read to her)
Block time(legos,etc)
A DVD to watch here and there.
Maybe Back Yardigans or Wonder Pets some,too. Those are cute shows.
So much to get organized....whew...I'm exhausted just thinking about it.
Also, I am so excited about the yummy stir-fry I am making tonight...I know I must sound wee bit weird, but it is my favorite meal, I think! It is really easy and I thought I would share the recipe....it really doesn't need a recipe, though...just chop it up and stir fry it! Here is how I make it:
3 yellow squash, sliced
1 white onion, sliced
3 zuchinni cut lengthwise and halved so it makes sticks (I'm not sure how to explain it)
Bunch of broccoli florets
Fresh sliced mushrooms...I use a lot...I love mushrooms!
A few carrots, sliced
Put a little bit of olive oil and canola oil in a wok style pan, heat on medium high heat...Add a tad of garlic...then cook the onion and carrots for a few minutes. Add the other veggies and stir fry until everything is tender crisp. Add a tablespoon or so of store bought Teriyaki sauce and some sesame seeds. I just use a little bit of sauce because I don't like to drown out the veggies' taste. Throw in some grilled chicken and stir until heated through. Serve over brown rice.
Other random things on my mind. Our Gracie took the ACT this year as a 14 year old...mainly to allow for the experience of knowing how to take these kind of tests. Hopefully to be able to compete for some big scholarships one day. : ) She also took the PSAT in 7th grade as a part of the Duke University program, again as practice. Well,she did very well on the ACT. We were very happy for her and had a small celebration last night. I think she will have fun trying to improve her score in the coming years. We have been talking a lot about colleges with her. She has some that she is really interested in going to. All of them are far away. But, all of them are excellent. I guess we are a little concerned about her going off too far, mainly since she is a girl...I don't think we will feel this way about a boy...but I know it will be fine. Also, with courtship/dating as our plan for her, we will have to be creative in ways to get to know any possible suitors long distant...that will be interesting! That will be Mike's job! We will be seeking wisdom from others and be in much prayer about all of this!
Some schools that we are looking into are:
Master's College in Santa Clarita, California
Moody Bible Institute in Chicago
Cedarville University in Ohio
If any of you have any knowledge or experience with these schools, please let me know your thoughts!
This is the longest post I have ever written, I think! Time to stop! If you have read all this, my apologies!
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
17 Comments:
Kim,
I can't even remember how I found your blog but I always enjoy your posts! Just wanted to give high praise to Cedarville! My dh and I are both Cedarville grads (87 and 89) and we are praying that all of our kids will want to attend there too. The best advice I can give--GO VISIT with Gracie. It will blow you away! I'd be happy to try to answer any questions although lots has changed since we were there. It's a GREAT place!
My e-mail is vestrands@verizon.net if you'd like to chat.
Jen
MD
Hi Kim!!
Thank you for sharing what you are using for curriculum. I homeschooled our oldest two and graduated both but we started homeschooling after Mr. U and I married and they were in 7th and 9th grades. I have NO idea about the younger grades. I have already been researching reading programs and am glad to see what you recommend!! Thank you VERY much for sharing these!!
His,
Mrs. U
PS- Our son, Joshua, is a freshman at Liberty BUT he's doing the distance learning program. We all love it.
Oh my gosh, I don't know how you keep it all straight! At one time I was going to homeschool and loved looking at all the catalogs--in fact, I still do!
Getting organized feels so good!!! Pass along more ideas about those boxes for JH. I could use some ideas like that!!
Thank for posting this. I am getting very stressed out trying to think of things to do with Molly this fall when the baby comes so this gave me a great place to start. I will probably be calling you for more ideas.
I just found your blog and am very glad that I did!
I love your ideas for Evie, my daughter turned 4 in March so we will be doing a very similar year. I have a question with Sonlight do buy the whole "set" or just use the books off the book list? I have had lots of friends go to Cedarville and love it. Some other good schools are Liberty, Oral Roberts, and Pensacola Christian, and Anderson in IN.
You said something about a Duke Univ program, are you guys close? We live near Duke.
Jasmine
Looks like a great school year coming up, Kim! We are using almost all Sonlight stuff. We love it, and it works well for us. Youare a VERY organized person, aren't you? :-)
I have been getting ready for our support group's annual used curriculum sale. On that night, we always have some vendors with new books come, too, so I have been thinking ahead to next year as well. I'll be teaching 8th grade, and I find that has to be a year when we really start getting "serious" so I have been up in the air about writing.
Have to decide soon.
You DO know that Rosetta Stone has a Mandarin program, don't you? For future reference! :)
I look forward to hearing how you are able to keep John Henry occupied while teaching your older children - and how things go when you bring your daughter home. The only year I homeschooled (Hannah for Kindergarten), was the year we brought Abbie home and it was HARD (she was sick a lot and VERY needy of me!)!!! We may consider homeschooling again in the future, but probably not until after Sarah is home and settled. But then, you've been doing this for quite a while, whereas we brought Abbie home during our very first months of hs-ing - probably had a lot to do with why I had so much trouble...
I read EVERY SINGLE WORD! I really enjoyed this post... it was interesting to see what the kids would be studying in home school. I'm not used to the whole "home schooling" idea, so I'm always up for learning more. The more I hear about it from all you wise women, the more I'm drawn to the idea for my own future children! The available resources have grown so much from when I used to hear about it as a child. And then you're just cute about your menu plans, so I wasn't surprised to see another awesome recipe! :)
I remember taking those practice tests in 7th grade too.... did NOT do too well! Thankfully I improved greatly by the time the real ones rolled around. Those schools look like awesome choices... and honestly, from reading your posts, she is gonna have a STRONG foundation to stand on when leaving home.
Have you looked into John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas? I have both my Bachelor's and Master's degree from JBU. It provides a strong liberal arts curriculum with a Christ-centered focus throughout the departments on campus. I chose JBU over Wheaton and am so glad I did. Go to http://www.jbu.edu/
I enjoy "looking ahead" and planning for our next school year, too! But, because we school year-round (three weeks on, one week off) I'm looking and planning pretty much all the time! Ha!
You're using some of the same things we use/have used:
We loved Apologia (Biology) this year with a small co-op of other high school girls.
And I think A Beka has provided both my girls with a great foundation in English (keeping in mind that English is their second language).
Oh yea, I want to try your stir-fry recipe. Yum!
Hey Kim, would you mind emailing me...I'd LOVE to hear what you did for homeschool in the k-3 grade years!!! We're just starting to get our feet wet and looking at Tapestry of Grace and some other things, but would love to hear what you did, what you liked and what you didn't like! ; )
shawndauganda@hotmail.com
thanks, sister!!!
I LOVED this post!
I love hearing what others use in their home schools. I look forward to this time of year when we are finishing up our books and I start looking ahead to the next year and plan by pouring over catalogs. It is always fun to see what is working for others.
Thanks, Jill
Thanks for the reciepe too ;o)
Kim, I would love to hear what you think of the Doorposts stuff. I have looked at it and it looks wonderful, but I know of no one that has actually used it. Please email me at jmshelby7@verizon.net
Wonderful, Wonderful post! The more info the better ;) Thanks for your insight and I am really looking forward to having you as a resource this upcoming year.
I agree with Leslie on the daily boxes. What a fantastic idea. Also, the info on test taking for your older girls is so valuable. I think a lot of potential homeschooling parents are worried about their kids achievement on SATs and college entrance. Great info!!!
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