Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Back to School 2019-2020

This is seriously the only place I can go back and remember what I did for each year...even though I have tons of spreadsheets with possibilities and costs. 

In year's past, I started with the oldest and went down to the youngest.  I'll shake things up a bit and start with Jason.  Jason is now four years old and will always be the baby of the family; he certainly acts like a baby still!  Many of my older kids were in full curriculum by the time they were four, but being the baby, Jason can wait until he is older haha!  But seriously, he is taking two classes at our co-op: a multisensory play class, which I hope he stays in and doesn't cry for me the whole time, and Little Learners A to Z, which is taught by me.  Again, I hope he doesn't cry for me the whole time because I need to help other kids too.  At home, he will have workbooks to play with.  He really likes to sit at the table with everyone and work in cast-off workbooks.

Heidi is 5 1/2 and would be starting Kindergarten!  She started the language arts portion of Memoria Press' Kindergarten package last year and Math U See's Primer math, along with Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. We will see how much she remembers and then start back up wherever we left off.  Her classes at co-op include Little Green Thumbs, a class Lula took previously, where she will learn about plant science, a drawing/writing class, and PE.

Jason and Heidi will also do a preschool science course with me on Wednesday evenings while the rest of the family is at Taekwondo.

Lula is seven years old and in second grade!  She is taking a hands-on history class and a science experiment class at co-op, along with a show and tell class that teaches public speaking.  The teacher for history and science told me she is using Sonlight at home with her kids, so I decided to do the same with Lula.  I've purchased and sold Sonlight's first grade history guide at least twice now, so I am not going to do that again- in fact, I think I sold the books too...hmm...where are they?  Anyway, I went ahead and bought Sonlight's level C science, just for the books and worksheets.  I think Lula will have fun having control over her reading and worksheet time, just like the older kids.  She is also using Memoria Press Second Grade for her language arts and (gasp) Latin.  Math is going to be our good old trusty Saxon Math 2, the same program I used for Ian and Shane back in the day.

Daniel (9 and 4th grade) and Fiona (11 and 6th grade) are grouped together on most of their subjects.  Daniel caught up to Fiona in most areas and Fiona is okay with working with him in some subjects, but wants to use a separate math and spelling program.  Daniel will be using Saxon 5/4 (I can't wait to see if he can write neatly on lined paper) and Fiona will be sticking with Math U See Epsilon.  They are both taking Art at co-op. Daniel is also taking PE and study hall. Fiona is taking cooking and geography.  At home, we are focusing on American History for all, so I'm using Sonlight D+E, which is American History and Literature condensed into one year. We are also using Memoria Press Fourth Grade for language arts, (gasp) Latin, and other classical subjects: Astronomy, Christian Studies, and Greek Myths.  Their science will be through Sonlight as well; Level E, which I've always liked but for some reason sold... I went through a decluttering/selling phase a year or so ago... but now I'm getting updated instructor's guides printed with colored worksheets, so I don't mind :)

Genevieve is 13 1/2 and in 8th grade.  Can you believe I have only one more year until she is high school aged and I need to keep records!?!?!? She has been using Memoria Press for a few years and has had a really good middle school education.  This last year she burned out a bit because she traveled so much for vaulting. She competed in California, Oregon (twice), Canada, Lynden, Spokane, and Missouri.  This year she is taking Life Skills, cooking, and knitting at co-op.  She is using Bookshark Level 100 for American History and Literature, Apologia Exploring Creation with Physical Science, Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1, and Institute for Excellence in Writing at home.

Shane is 16 and this may be his last year homeschooling with me.  At co-op, he is taking American History, Life Skills (same class as Genna), and Material Logic (a Memoria Press course).  At home, he is taking Algebra 2 using the textbook Memoria Press schedules, Exploring Design through Chemistry, either Sonlight 330 or 430 for literature (I can't decided between them: one is 20th Century and has so many great books and the other is American Lit but the books aren't as good), and Institute for Excellence in Writing.  He also needs to finish Second Form Latin from last year.

Ian is a senior at Peninsula High School.  I'd like to brush my hands off and say, "My work here is done," but I have a feeling my work here is NOT done.  His school has him taking AP Calculus, Chemistry, English 12, Guitar, Contemporary World Problems, and Freshwater Science.  I have no memory of signing off that coursework sheet, but I don't have a problem with any of those classes either.  Fingers crossed he doesn't beat his tardy/unexcused absence record and he remembers to sign up to take the SATs.  I don't have high expectations for him anymore.