This morning I am home, mostly alone, to plan for next year's school. This is how I spend my summer vacations. Though we do not really stop schooling over the summer, we do spend half days doing school when we feel like it and when it's TOO HOT to go outside.
I recently read Managers Of Their Schools by Teri Maxwell and whereas I do not think I can implement everything she has for her own homeschool, I have put into use many of her ideas. These have kept us on the ball and not turned into slackers once the weather warmed up.
My first step in planning school is to think. What worked well this past year? What didn't? What changes (Skippito Bambino) will we be facing this year? What does my husband think of this past year? Does he have any suggestions? These turn into general goals for our school year.
For example, this past year, I wanted to develop honesty and independence in the older children so my goal in general was for them to self grade their work. This is one goal that we will continue to work on in the coming school year.
I also think about each child and how they have progressed this year. Where do they need to be challenged? What do they need more of, less of? What does Dad and what do they think they need? This turns into individual goals for each child.
The next step is to plan our school calendar. I usually print a calendar from Donna Young. If the plan changes (read: if I decide I want to scrap it all and do some planning) I can always print a new one. I block out all the days we will not be having school: Thursdays (CBS), birthdays, holidays, spring break, etc. Then I assign each week a number 1 - 36. This corresponds to our history program. Sometimes (like this year) we will do two weeks worth of history in one week. This is so we can take most of Nov and Dec off. :D. I count up the days we will be doing school and write it at the top of the page. I believe state regulations say 170 days or so, but I don't stress on it, because we do school all day, all the time as well as all summer in the heat of the day. I am sure we do WELL OVER the required amount.
At the beginning of last year's school year, I wrote a scope and sequence for all years from Pre K through 12th grade. In it is a rough schedule of what curriculum/skills the children should be using/learning. It is not a plan I set in stone, but rather a money and time saving device. It has prevented me from changing curriculum in mid year and kept focus of what was to come.
It IS just a guide, however, because this year when I looked at what one child should be working on, I realized that this particular child was not ready for what was appropriate for when another child was at the same level. We will simply go back a year and set a firm foundation for learning rather than push this little love to keep up. (This is the beauty of homeschooling. Children working as they are able without the shame of being thought of as "behind").
Obviously the next step is to look at the scope and sequence and see what, if any, of the skills/curriculum are appropriate for each individual child.
Changes to be made this year:
Reading:
This year, I have learned from the mistakes of last year. Last year we did literature from Tapestry of Grace in addition to a reading program. I seems this was a bit overkill for those who were reading well. Their time (and mine) would be better spent simply reading and discussing good books and spending more time with the emerging readers.
Science:
Two years ago, we did Rod and Staff science as a family. We purchased a book that was in the middle of the two who were doing it. We shared the reading, took notes and did the experiments together. This was ok, when we got to it.
This past year, each child had their own Rod and Staff science at their own level. We set one afternoon a week aside for the reading and experiments. Many times they never got to it, and when they did, it wasn't a good an experience as the previous year.
This coming year, I want to do the literature/nature study approach (very Charlotte Masony). When cleaning out the book closet the other day I realized just how many cool science books we have at our home. My children LOVE to read books from the book closet, but usually the science books are out of reach. I think this year, if Tapestry doesn't have science in that weeks' readings (moon landing, creation, flora and fauna of Ancient Egypt) I will have a day set aside for science reading. If they are inspired from their reading to do more (experiments, add to nature journal etc) they certainly can. The library, too, can be a wonderful resource for cool science books. It will be sporadic, but definitely a delight directed year of science. I may even just get my act together and record exactly what they study. Dad, I know, will enjoy this kind of science.
Grammar/Writing:
For the past two years, we have tried to do Tapestry's writing program in addition (as per Tapestry's suggestion) a grammar program. This seemed again, like overkill, since Tapestry's writing includes a bit of grammar. The children didn't seem to learn from their grammar curriculum; it was just busy work. In the meantime, we were trying to do grammar so much, there was never time for writing. TOG writing is supposed to be independent, but the children were lost. Year before last, we took TOG and did it together. I combined and taught it directly. They seemed to really enjoy this, so I plan on making time each day to do this and do away with the grammar program. Instead we will do dictation/copywork (as per TOG suggestion. dictation teaches spelling, grammar and penmanship)
Bible
We will continue to use the scripture box, CBS (Revelation) and AWANAS. We try to do scripture memory at breakfast using the scripture box. Then before we start school, we do a bit of Brain Gym or jumping jacks, push ups or do laps in the basement. After this we pray and then settle down and do CBS and AWANAS.
Handwriting
We will continue to use Italics handwriting. Dad will be pleased to know these are the only workbooks we will need to buy this year!
Math
Math is Math. We generally use Rod and Staff. I like to keep math an every day, all the time thing. I also believe in stopping the "book work" to firm up skills (like multiplication facts) that are vital. This means they are generally behind, but it doesn't matter. As long as they keep plugging away and progressing.
Art
This past year we sporadically did a book called How To Teach Art To Children. In it they learned the basic principles of art: line, shape, color, texture, etc. At the end of the book, children learn to find these things (and copy them) from Artistic Masters. We did not finish the book, so we plan on doing that during our Friday afternoons. When this book is complete, we plan on beginning Artistic Pursuits. These will teach them about drawing using the works of Artistic Masters. My ultimate goal is for them to sketch what they see during their nature studies. If they go beyond that, fantastic!
Tapestry has an art appreciation element to it and the children look at art from the period they are studying. (Can you tell why I love Tapestry so much?)
Preschool
Last year we had three preschoolers. This year, we will still have one preschooler and two in Kdg. Kdg is an "ify" year to me. It is a time to gain skills (abc, color, shape, writing, counting etc) which, to me, is what preschool is for only in preschool it happens at a much slower pace. I like to wait until children are really ready to begin reading. We have not set time table. If they need more time, then that is what they need. They don't need Mom to push them to things they aren't ready to do. At the beginning of the year we four began the Preparatory Curriculum from Brightly Beaming Resources. Though they enjoyed it, we never got to it. The preparation time was too much. I needed something simple yet fun and effective. A fellow homeschool mom suggested Little Hands to Heaven. We love it. It's simple, Biblical and the babies love it. Did I say it was simple? :D.
Phonics
I am doing phonics with the eldest preschooler/Kdger. I have owned but never used How To Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons, but have never used it. Each of our children have learned letters/sounds/reading in different ways, so it was a good investment. I knew someone, sometime, would would benefit from it. We have begun it this summer and we have both been enjoying it. It's simple, repetitive (something this little love needs) and effective. Did I say simple? :D
So.....
After I decide WHAT we need to do we need to decide WHEN. This is actually the easiest part. Last year's schedule was pretty elaborate. We had a small baby to entertain/nurse and we revolved our schedule around her needs. Each older child was in charge of her for a short time during their morning. Everyone enjoyed this. She got to hear piano playing, got to do coloring and "shelfwork". As a result, she knows the game when it comes to school time. This year's schedule will be pretty much the same:
6:30 - 7:15 get dressed/animal chores
7:15- 7:45 breakfast/scripture memory
7:45 - 8:00 clean up breakfast (we always do bf dishes by hand...saves room in dishwasher later)
8:00 - 9:00 chores (monday is WHB, Tues, Wed, Fri is zone cleaning, Thurs is mini whb)
9:00 - 9:45 Bible
9:45 - 10:45 Math/Phonics/Preschool
10:45 - 11:00 Copywork
11:00 - 12:00 Projects (History or Science or Keepers)
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch (I like to read to them while we are eating
1:00 - 2:00 Writing/Grammar
2:00 - 4:00 MT History Reading/Lit Reading, W Science Reading/Lit Reading F Lit Reading/Art
Preschool schedule:
The little ones will do their AWANAS during Bible time(they do not have a CBS curric). Then they will do "shelfwork" until I am ready to do preschool with them. Shelfwork is fun, educational, skill building toys. Ever heard of Montessori? I was raised as a teacher on the method. They like choosing their own work, taking it to their space doing it and returning it for another. We rotate the "work" every few weeks. I used to rotate it every week, but that wasn't........simple enough :D. \
After preschool, they can do more shelfwork or bucket time (a bucket with their name on it; it has coloring books, notebooks, workbooks in them). Then if necessary, they can play in the playroom until 11:00. My oldest daughter helped me a great deal setting up this system of occupying the preschoolers in a quality way and also in such a way as to keep them apart. When they got together they would immediately begin running in circles to the entertainment of all.
If Dad is home and they have done their preschool, he may take them upstairs to do jobs with him or let them play outside. The can play outside while the older kids are doing projects. I also might have an older sister do preschool with them if I am occupied elsewhere.
How many hours is that? If you count what we do at meals, it comes to over 7 hours. Not bad, and it's....what's the word? Simple. Just what we need this year with baby coming and eldest daughter going to college.
So all that is left is to get the history all planned. Since this is the first year we will be doing year 1 and since it is literature based, I need to see which books the library has and which activities we want to do. Planning :D. What a wonderful way to spend the summer.
I'm such a nerd.



