Welcome to our 11th Year of Homeschooling!
We began homeschooling in 2003. We now use the calendar year, not the traditional school year. This will be our 11th year. We are unschoolers at heart. Twice a year I make a list of educational goals, and I journal our progress. Lesson planning is frustrating and tedious and I usually feel like a failure. This method has been hugely successful
We began homeschooling in 2003. We now use the calendar year, not the traditional school year. This will be our 11th year. We are unschoolers at heart. Twice a year I make a list of educational goals, and I journal our progress. Lesson planning is frustrating and tedious and I usually feel like a failure. This method has been hugely successful
Each week we will master a new scripture from our list. The children are making their own flashcards to remember them.
Literature
We are reading the classics as a family. I will track the readings in our weekly Homestead Journal
Science
Since I have a vast area of interests when it comes to science, we are doing different studies. Jacob is going to study Quinten has decided to do animal science. Isaac is continuing to study Anatomy, and will also teach the littles. Abigail is doing animal studies and she as well will teach the littles. Each will work with the littles (Olivia, Urijah and Ezra) one day each week for about 30 min.
Independent Lessons:
Jacob: Math
Vocabulary ( 25 words and definitions)
Grammar (TBA)
Quinten: Math
Vocabulary (20 words and definitions)
Grammar (TBA)
Abigail: Math
Vocabulary (15 words and definitions)
Grammar (TBA)
Isaac: Math
Vocabulary (15 words and definitions)
Grammar (TBA)
Zachary: Math
Vocabulary (5 words and definitions)
Grammar (TBA)
Electives:
Jacob: Civics & Economics
Jacob: Civics & Economics
Quinten: Spanish
Abigail: Horse Studies
Isaac: State Study Unit
Zachary: Insect study unit
Each week I give each of the 4 older children a check list. I use these 4x6 index cards. This is the work they are responsible for each week. Assignments due by Friday.
* I received a message asking about these cards. "When you put your childrens' work on the index cards each week and say it is due by Friday, what is their reward or punishment for not finishing? How do you know how much work to give? What do you do if they quickly complete the work during the week? Do you give more for that child? Thanks!!!"
The cards are more of a personal goal. If they complete it they have a sense of accomplishment . at times I offer incentive like an ice cream.. if they don't complete it, I usually just look to see what it is and why... Usually its because we had a busy week with life and there was not a lot of time for book-work I judge what to give them based on what I feel their level is.. if they complete it too easily I add more, if they struggle and I pull back.. I try to find the point where they are properly challenged. A lot of it is trial and error.
I really like the card idea. It's simple, but lets the kids know what is required of them. That way, they can do it at their pace and in the order they want.
ReplyDeleteYep! I don't use cards, but I write assignments on a white board and it's definitely trial-and-error, although I'm usually pretty good about keeping it challenging, but not frustrating. IF one of the kids has a negative attitude and poor work focus then I will sometimes have them do the unfinished work over the weekend...or before screen time. Usually though they don't finish because something took longer than I thought or we followed some interest that popped up or Life became busy for an unexpected reason.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how everyone does their "years" differently. I've already said that our new year starts the day after our portfolio review and ends the day of the next portfolio review. But we unschool in the summer months.