Life with the Family O

Category: Homeschooling

  • Final Curriculum List – Fall 2010

    For the Blog roll and my first time participating in it, I am featuring the curriculum that I will be using for my 1st grader.  Since this is my first I wanted to use a curriculum that “laid it all out for me”, complete with books, daily schedules, everything.  A friend happened to have Sonlight Core 1 and offered it to me!  What a huge help to get started into the homeschool arena!  They use Explode the Code, which I just found out they have an online version,  for language arts.  I am also using Sonlight Science 1.

    Sonlight Core World History 1 books

    Sonlight + Horizons 1

    For my 4 year old he will participate in the 1st graders history, science, and Bible (I will adapt accordingly).  For Language Arts I have several workbooks and the same goes for Math, I will use them but I am also hoping to buy another core for him.

    I plan to incorporate art, playdoh, manipulatives, puzzles, calendar time, weather, etc.  throughout the day.

    I must say that I am getting so excited… and nervous but with great anticipation!

    Thanks for stopping by!

  • A Blog Hop?

    Homeschool Blog Hop

    Those are the words I spoke about 3 days ago, now that I know – wow, how fun!  Researching organazation methods of other homeschoolers, I came across a blog post from last August (2009).  It was posted at www.my3boybarians.com, which is a great homeschool blog.  The blog hop is a page where they have 100 blogs listed and every blog has a post that corresponds with the weeks theme.  For instance, one week it was show us your homeschool room.  each blogger posted a new post with that title and shared pictures of their homeschool rooms.  Great inspiration!  I have seen some of the most resourceful blogs I have ever seen.  Downloadables, tips, tricks, etc.  Very helpful for a new comer.  Looks like the blog hop will begin August 2nd and is hosted by http://heartofthematteronline.com.  Looking forward to it, I will participate and “hop” too!  Hope you enjoy and find inspiration and motivation!

  • File System for Homeschooling

    Many of my days recently consist of organizing.  That includes creating file folders, laminating, hanging, etc.  I have Sonlight’s curriculum so everything is contained within the binder.  However, when materials are needed for certain lessons I wanted to have everything ready to go.

    I went surfing the net and came across www.manylittleblessings.com.  She has a file system that consists of file folders labeled Weeks 1 – 36 and then behind those she has January – December.  I like this method, when I go thru the lesson book I will file any additional items, cutouts, color pages, etc into the appropriate week.

    www.manylittleblessings.com

    Mardel has another Education Sale going on until August 5th.  I picked up the Filetastic I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, it is on sale for $5!  I also snagged some cool file folders, 12 for $5.  I only bought 1 pack so I will be going back for 2 more packs.

    from Mardel

    only $5 at Mardel until 8/5

    Pictures of my schoolroom to come!!

  • setting up the schoolroom

    This could be my favorite part so far.  I get to decorate, organize and prepare for school!  I am so excited.  I have combed through so many great homeschool room ideas and have been completely inspired.  I would have loved to run out to Office Depot or, better yet, the Container Store.  However, that just isn’t fitting into my home school budget.  I picked up some clear steralite drawers from WalMart, they have 3 big drawers.   My husband surprised me with a cool one on sale at Target.   Those have been very useful.  I also had a tall 7 drawer container which currently holds paper, paints, stickers, and other craft items.

    For my birthday my mother gave me the white cabinet, which is the “Teachers Cabinet” it is perfect. **and now a shout out to mi madre** – THANKS MOM!  I need just a couple of more items, like a wall map of the world, 1 more file organizer would be great to organize weekly lessons.  This week I get to go and laminate more materials at Mardel – should be the last run until schools starts.  Also, I will be ordering Math Manipulatives from a Sonlight mom, excited about getting that done.  I will post pictures of the school room soon!

  • Like Father/Mother, Like Son

    My oldest boy, who will be 7 in August, has decided he wants his own website.  He wants to share lego and play-doh ideas with everyone.  He also makes video games and he will be posting tutorials and games.  I look forward to teaching him how to blog all on his own.  I will incorporate it into our homeschooling.  My husband and I are both techs and are more than equipped to teach our boys.  Hope you enjoy, it is just now brand new, look for content in the next couple of days!

  • More Options to Consider

    When you decide to homeschool, I am finding out, that there are so many options for every facet of home education.  In Colorado, a child who is 7 years of age and older must register with their county.  Registering is simply filling out the letter of intent, this is one from Jefferson County.  It must be turned in 14 days prior to the start of the school year.

    Something I found out today while searching the Christian Home Educators of Colorado’s website, is that you can register with Independent Schools.  Independent schools offers perks such as testing, attendance tracking, record keeping, diagnostics, support, and more.   Some schools offer yearbook class and field trips.  If you sign up with an Independent school you do not have to register your child with the county.  There are several Independent schools in the Denver Metro Area and around Colorado.

    One more option I came across is registering with an out-of-state Correspondence school.  When I browsed the list I noticed that a lot of these schools are run by Christian and non-Christian curriculum publishers like Alpha Omega, A Beka, Bob Jones, Calvert, Cambridge, and more.  Here is a link to the list of Independent and Correspondence Schools.

    I looked around Alpha Omega Academy’s website and it looks interesting, something I am going to investigate.  ONE THING to note about the Correspondence schools – enrolling in these alone does not fulfill registestration requirements in Colorado.  Check your state laws here at the Home School Legal Defense Association.

  • Excitement is Building..maybe a little nervousness

    This morning I went to the Mardel Education Sale!  Since I have SONLIGHTs CORE 1, I was looking to buy Horizons Math I and maybe a Science program.  All education items are 20% off.  Unfortunately, they did not have Horizons 1, I quickly grabbed a Saxon Grade 1 Math.  Growing weary in my hasty decision to grab the Saxon, I ran around the store looking for a friend from church.  She home schools and I knew she would offer excellent advice.  I asked her about Saxon and she said that she uses Saxon now but when he son was younger she used Horizons.  She said Horizons is more colorful and “exciting” for little ones.  She recommended Saxon for later years.  Perfect!

    Sonlight Curriculum

    AlphaOmega Horizons

    I did pick up LifePAC Science 1, which was reduced to $60 from $75, plus 20% off for the sale!  I also picked up a pack of blank US maps, Preschool Centers folders, some magnets that were on clearance and a Colorado childrens workbook.  I am still wondering if I should go back and get the Filetastic I saw there…

    It was fun to go and look around.  I think there are still great deals to be had online but have a store to actually walk into and see it all is so motivating!  With my purchase I also got a free Insects poster, $5 coupon for laminating (a homeschool MUST) and another coupon for another 20%.  All in all – I am happy!

    LifePAC Science

    The Filetastic

  • Impressive List You Can’t Ignore

    Wow, the list of Home-schooled famous people throughout history is quite impressive. I wanted to share because it is vital evidence that home-schooled children lead, productive, compassionate lives.
    Today’s list is comprised of US Presidents that were home-schooled:
    • John Adams
    • John Quincy Adams
    • Grover Cleveland
    • James Garfield
    • William Henry Harrison
    • Andrew Jackson
    • Thomas Jefferson
    • Abraham Lincoln
    • James Madison
    • Franklin Delano Roosevelt
    • Theodore Roosevelt
    • John Tyler
    • George Washington
    • Woodrow Wilson

  • A Valuable Resource

    Looking for all the homeschool info I can get my hands on I came across, probably one of the most valuable sites around.

    It is for the Home School Legal Defense Association. Here is the description the have:

    Home School Legal Defense Association is a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Through annual memberships, HSLDA is tens of thousands of families united in service together, providing a strong voice when and where needed.

    You can click on your state and you will be taken to your state page. It contains all homechool news, legal notices, current legal battles, etc. Also, it lists all requirements for homeschooling in that state. Plus so much more!

    I am still checking it all out. I am so glad that I am finding so many resources, it’s pretty awesome and ENCOURAGING!

  • Some Things to Consider

    As you know, I am traveling down the investigative path to home schooling. I have done tons of reading and have had some things really speak to me, I wanted to share:

    1. One Mother pointed out that when we send our kids of to school, we are missing the best parts of their days. Their brains are sharp and ready to learn. They are enthusiastic and energetic. By the time my son goes to school for 8 hours, then I work in the evening – When I finally see him – he is so tired, cranky, you name it. This concept really clicked with me. I want to spend the most productive parts of their days with them.

    2. Socializing… I already got told by my mother in law that home-schooled kids aren’t socialized. One mom that I met with last week said you will hear so many times, her point – What kind of socializing are they getting? It is not all the same, there can be negative consequences for unsupervised socialization. Some people just aren’t on the same page as far as appropriate behavior, appropriate media, etc. So yeah, what kind of socializing are we talking about – has to be the first question you ask back.