Choosing a language to learn as a family

I've been praying a lot lately about which languange we should learn as a family.  I have this feeling in my heart that it would be an invaluable experience for each member of our family to spend a few years in a foreign country.  The perspective changes I've gained from relatively short trips to foreign lands has been invaluable for me, and I think a longer stay as a family would be awesome for all of us.  So, I'm still praying about which language would be best for us to begin learning.  I'll post back when we get answer to prayer.

Curriculum 2011-2012

After lots of studying, researching, and praying, I have decided on curriculum choices for our first year of homeschooling. Phew! I really hope they work out this year and next year will be easier to plan.
Math was a fairly easy choice. We (Vince helped me with this one) chose Singapore Math. They take a very different approach to Math. We think this will work very well with Parker since he finds math to be easy and this is an advanced program with little review. Hannah, on the other hand, struggles a bit at this point. Vince thinks that we need to still try Singapore with her, and if it doesn't work, I guess we will change it. Another math program that I want to keep in the back of my mind for her is Teaching Textbooks.

Reading/Comprehension/spelling/Vocab/: Total Language Plus. This was a great program that a friend referred to me. We chose four books that we wanted to study, which include Where the Red Fern Grows, My Side of the Mountain, Amos Fortune Free Man, and The Hobbit.
This study will be for our son only, because it starts in the 3rd grade. This program does have a grammar portion, but I don't feel that it is a strong one. It also carries writing ideas, but doesn't seem to guide the child in how to write. We will be skipping those pages.

Spelling for Hannah will be All About Spelling.
I haven't decided on reading yet for Hannah. I'm not sure if we really need a textbook for this, because her spelling program teaches her any phonics that she may have missed in the public schools, in the last two years.

Writing for our daughter will be Writing with Ease Level 2. I really wish our son could have gone through a program like this when he was younger.

Writing for our son is a more difficult choice, because of his writing challenges. I'm contemplating the Excellence in Writing program starting half way through the year.

Science was an easy choice for me (Thank you Lord!) I fell in love with the Apologia program. We will be studying Zoology 3, Land Animals of the Sixth Day.

History was a fairly easy choice, also. We will be studying the first in the four book series The Story of the World.

Handwriting will be A Reason for Handwriting, which uses scripture to copy.

For Art we are going to make if simple. I have a book titled Who Was Claude Monet? I also picked up a book that shows the kids how to draw animals, and two books that study famous paintings. I'm hoping to take the kids on a field trip to an Art Museum by the end of our school year.

For Grammar we are going to use Easy Grammar and Daily Grams.

Music: Parker will be in his 3rd year of piano and Hannah will continue violin lessons that she started in February of this year.

Besides those subjects Parker will be involved in karate and Cub Scouts and Hannah will be taking swimming lessons and going to Brownies.

Well, there you have it! Now on to scheduling our school year!

Proposed Bump Making workout for Parker

Hi Parker,

I (and Mom) are excited you want to have bumps like dad.  In order to help you achieve bumps (which will help in every area of your life) I have created a workout similar to the one I started with last year.  Please post in the comments what you (or your Mom) thinks.  This starting workout will be great to prepare you for when you get to start using weights in a year or so.  After we have a workout plan we all think is great, Mom and/or I will help you go through it the first few times to help with any questions you have.  I'll also create a form so you can track your progress as you make bigger bumps!

Day 1:

- squats (no weight)

- alternating lunges (no weight)

- deadlifts (no weight)

- Single leg hip raise (keep butt in air, alternating up and down).

- Calf raises

- pullups

- curlups

Day 2:

- superman exercise (lower back)

- ab wheel

- crunches

- leg raises

- dips

- pushups

- close grip pushups

- handstands

Love always,

Dad

Proposal for Parker's typing goal this summer

Trina and Parker, what are your thoughts about this goal and the proposed rewards for the goal?

Overall goal: Make it through “Typer Island” using Typing Instructor for Kids so Parker can type 40 WPM at 95% accuracy using all letter and number keys by Labor Day 2011.

Intermediate goals:

-          30 minutes of practice 5 days per week (create Excel sheet to allow tracking)

-          Set target goal 2 WPM faster than last achievement to continue improving (include in Excel tracking sheet to show best WPM from session to show improvement, allow charting)

Rewards:

-          Meet intermediate goals (LED headlight and pocket knife)

-          Meet 40 WPM goal for letters and numbers (Night camping or in hotel)

Parker has his own email!

I have an email now, so you can really see who is writing these storys! I am excited!

Character first

A reoccurring theme that has hit me the last few days is that building Godly character is by far our first prioritiy for our kids. Don't get me wrong, we will give Parker and Hannah an outstanding education. But having the smartest kids in the world doesn't matter if they don't have a heart for following Jesus as they grow into young adults. No matter what, I know Trina and I are on the same page regarding this priority.

First Post From Trina (I know, not a very interesting title!)

I received gifts from teachers yesterday for helping out in the classrooms this past year. One of my presents was a perfectly formed red delicious apple wrapped in gauze with a blue polka-dotted ribbon. There was also a red tag attached that read:

"An apple for the teacher....
It's really nothing new.
Except when you remember,
Parents are teachers too!"

Isn't that the truth! Our kids look up to us in everything we do. They are watching us. Not only can I be a teacher for academics purpose, but for the most important part, which is character training. I start this by leading from example. I'm also going to start a Bible Study first thing in the morning with the focus on character training. I'm hoping to learn just as much, if not more, than my kids. Lord please help me to set a healthy example, and may our house be a home full of love.

Trina

Why Parker is Excited about Homeschooling

The good thing about homeschooling is... I get to have HUGE musses like my daddy!!! Also, the week of my birthday, I get off of school. I can also take breaks to go on trips! Let's see....I can get a head in school work if I do more work in a day than is required. For my music lessons I'll be practicing piano, so , that means that I won't get behind. I will have enough time to practice piano without worrying about homework (that will already be done!). When I went to the public school, I did not get home until 4 in the afternoon. Then I had homework, dinner, and bedtime. It was hard to fit in time to practice the piano. In the public school the teachers had multiple students and now I get more one on one attention to help me. These are just the beginnings of why I'm looking forward to homeschooling.
Signing off,
Parker

Public school is over, lifelong schooling begins

Today was the last day of public school for the kids. Now we take a break and then let activities begin at the Ward Academy of Lifelong Learning! A very exciting time for us!

We're off...

Trina and I have been praying and thinking about whether homeschooling is the best choice for our kids. We started to consider this last year when Parker was having some issues with keeping up in the writing portions of school. Trina was ready to start homeschooling this year, but I listened to the schools promises of being able to help him overcome writing issues through special help and thought they could do a better job than us. Well, this was another example of where I should have listened to Trina. The only good thing about having the kids stay in school this last year was that now I'm also 100% sure that homeschooling is the right choice for us.

So, after receiving confirmation after confiirmation that we are making the right choice (even one of the kids' teachers confirmed it was the right choice), we are thrilled to begin homeschooling. The only cons are increased cost and we will have to change our weekly Friday afternoon date times since the kids will be home. The cost thing is a non-issue to me because I'm 100% sure spending the money now to give them the best education possible is the best possible use for the money. As far as dates, getting someone to watch the kids will not be a big problem so Trina and I can maintain our weekly dates.

I've been journaling pretty much daily for a few years now, and find it invaluable. I think it is one of the most valuable parts of my day. There are so many benefits of journaling that it is probably a separate post on its own. This blog will be where our family journals homeschooling highlights and lowlights. It is an exciting beginning for this new journey for our family...