I Love My Kids

It's amazing how they have just taken off with their reading and math. I have been spending several hours a day just reading up on curriculums. I am so excited about school this year. I am much more comfortable. I think I really have it down. I get rid of all of my over-achiever guilt by reading the unschooling blogs. I'm not unschooling, but I'm more relaxed than last year. School is going to be so much fun for them this year! I hope they love it. So far I think our year is going to look like the following.

Reading

1. Explode the Code online (Phonics)

2. Five in a Row with lapbooking

3. They read to me from the reader

4. I read something fun to them

6. The new writing program from Susan Wise Bauer. She is awesome!

7. First Language Lessons

8. Daily Language Practice

Math

1. Math u See - Check out his website. I learned from the demo. Wish I'd known some of that last year!

2. Math games

3. Daily Math Practice

Social Studies

Story of the World with Workbook (LOVE THIS!)

Daily Geography Practice

Science

Scott Foreman?

Science Club

Mad Science (This is fun)

also play-well.org once a month - cool real working Lego cars and robots!

I'm also teaching science to a group of homeschooling kids. I'll probably just use the 1st one.

Foreign Language

Chinese School starts again soon!

Extra

Art Classes - We have a real art teacher. I'm trading art for Science

Field Trips - King Tut and Monterrey Bay already booked!

Soccer and tons of playdates this year.

I may add a Bible study program too. I'll have to see how it goes!

:) :) :)

Many questions - Not many answers

It's time to catch up -

About JJ -

The boy who was raised with sisters and home schooled saw his first light saber, and his world was changed forever! I picked him up from Chinese school the other day. His face was covered with scrapes and bruises. What happened in just two hours of reciting the Pin Yin? JJ grinned from ear to ear as he excitedly told me how the other boy had mashed his face into the dirt during recess. The other little boy smiled proudly as he pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. They were both so proud. Should I get involved if no one cries?

About Boo -

Beautiful, I think she is prettier everyday. She gets frustrated easily, and is gifted in language and reading, but struggles with math. At the beginning of the year JJ was trying to cheat off of her paper in math, as he was a young kindergartner and she a 1st grader. Now she is trying to cheat off of his paper. She loves art, clothes, and parties.

About Taz (Not Shown) -

Taz developed hormonal brain damage, and now spends her days text messaging and her nights on the phone using her free minutes. The only subjects of interest pertain to meeting boys, being with boys, or talking about meeting and being with boys. Everything else warrants eye rolling. When kept from the possible presence of a boy, sulking will occur.

About me -

I'm in perimenopause! To take artificial hormones or not to take artificial hormones? That is the question. Whether it is nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of becoming pudgy and hairy, or to take arms against threat of cancer causing chemicals. To dream to want to sleep a lot! Oh,to take medical advice from Suzanne Sommers or Robin McGraw who both look better than me, or perhaps figure something else out. I just don't know.

About School -

It's a constant worry that my kids will be behind or won't do well on standardized tests. I'm just not sure what really matters, and I don't want things to slip through the cracks. I really want my kids to have an advantage, and I try to think out every educational move carefully. There is so much to learn. What really matters most?

I have many questions and not many answers.