Homeschool...happy school

First the first time since we began, three years ago, I get to repeat a grade! Hooray! My second child is entering 6th grade, which my first child completed 3 years ago.

Compared to that year, I feel like a genius. We have been through 6th grade before. At last, a year where, everything is not NEW. I can finally, finally draw a little from experience and build our curricula with some actual first hand knowledge.

The grades coming up for us are: 3rd, 6th and 9th. Here's the tenative plan:

3rd grade: Continue Sing Spell Read and Write, Grand Tour. (this includes: spelling, reading, grammar and history). I will add CHC Tour a Country theme and modify it to "Tour a State." I liked Math U See this year, just need to find what level is right for this grade. Science we will work with our local co-op again, using Harcourt Science. Labs are done together in the group. Definitely will purchase Catholic Heritage Curricula's cursive handwriting and the Faith and Life books for this grade. Already have Catholic Tales and The Apostle on Crutches, we'll read that too. Can't forget: Latinia Christiana I with co-op too. That is enough!

6th grade: Continue Math U See (fractions) and pick up the next book when we are through with this. I really, really wanted to use the Apologia science series when we did this grade the first time, but was reluctant to buy more. However, never really found anything that I liked better, so this time around: Apologia! Already have Stories of the Saints (reading comprehension and history). Will add Catholic Heritage's Writing, Spelling and Grammar books. This particular child will also be signed up for Latinia Christiana II, Art and Discovery Place science, all group activities. Must stop here! Too much good stuff to choose from.

Now for my only new, new grade: 9th. Sigh. This has been a difficult decision to make. We are enrolling in Seton Home Study School. It will be a challenge, one I am sure we are up for. Lock, stock and barrel, we will be in. I like the accountability to some one else, I like the record keeping they will do, I like the grading they offer and the teacher available to help. I had reached the very tippy end of my knowledge in grammar this year. We need some one else.
This one may also pariticpate in the Discovery Place Science, like the labs and group setting.

There I said it. It's all in writing. Now I just have to follow through!

Free Handwriting Book!

It's been awhile since I have been really excited about something school related. But today's free download from Currclick is really exciting!

It is handwriting worksheets in block print, italic and cursive. The practice sentences are about animals. And if you like it you can buy other subjects for about $2. Like handwriting sentences about video games! That's pretty neat. Of course Bible verses are available and I like that too. But sometimes like to include different topics as well.

Happy Handwriting!

UPDATE: Wow! Lots of people search for free handwriting stuff! The link above was for a limited time and has expired. However, Currclick has plenty of other free stuff all the time.

Baby, oh baby

Holly is doing so much better..today. And the lesson I am learning is that TODAY is no prediction of what TOMORROW will bring with little Miss Chili Pepper.


Which brings me to why are we continuing to homeschool? I defer to Danielle Bean's blog on this topic because she answers this question so completely. So what will my children have learned this year? Hopefully some reading, writing and arithmetic. And more likely some works of mercy, like caring for the sick, perserverance in trying times, and even turning to prayer in stressful situations.


I can't say that there is a test for this type of information, or even if my children would pass this test. Still leaning of God's Grace to carry us through.

Current Events for Kids

Found this neat website to help add to our homeschool day: http://pbskids.org/newsflashfive/
There are several Top News Stories listed in a kid friendly format. Easy to use, my oldest son is listening and/or reading two stories a day and writing a short report. (If you know Lee, it is a very short report!) Still it will help broaden his awareness of what is going on in the world, without me worrying about censoring our local paper. Some actual headlines printed here should be R-rated for Violence!

Hope you enjoy this site too!