(Uh, I'm thinking we need to get out more? spice things up a bit. Live on the wild side and...I don't know...throw caution to the wind and maybe walk around the block or something. :) My girls wouldn't know what hit them. heh heh)
So when there's something *bulky* to carry in, courtesy of the USPS, it's an Event.
Because really, who doesn't love getting a big ol' package in the mail? especially when it's for you!
This week we received another part of our homeschool curriculum for next year. Just in time for me to rearrange my bookshelf for the twentieth time since we've lived here. *insert a roll of the eyes*I must be crossing over into the "Family of Die-hard Homeschoolers" Arena. (um...should this make me happy? or officially in need of professional counseling? *grin*)
Because my main bookshelf has now officially become The Homeschool Shelf. housing our growing piles of educational stuff.
I hate what my camera does to the color of the above picture. Everything looks so monotone. and blech. I really do have color on my walls. Honest!The box on the chair is not an everyday accessory. It's full of adult books...like Dobson and Peretti and Janette Oke and... that I threw off the shelves to pack away.
Tis sad to see MY stuff being stored away in lu of kid's Atlases. and History books. and Spanish lessons. But *shrug* it's all about making the kids' books accessible now.
Because shockingly, if the girls can reach it, they'll actually use it!
I know. the genius in me is overwhelming at times.
After researching and scouring the Internet for ideas, I'm REALLY excited about what I finally decided on for Charis's 2nd grade year:
1. The Story of the World Volume 1: Ancient Times
(still waiting for the activity book to arrive. apparently it's on a HUGE backorder as they just sent me an email saying it may not be ready until June. We ordered April 10!)
For the past few years, I've been reading a family blog of a homeschooling momma with 13 kiddos. She has always spoken highly of SOTW and raves about her children love all the activities.
I don't adhere to being a Classical Homeschooler. The whole teaching Latin (hello, a dead language!?) baffles me. But I do love this Classical approach to History by Susan Wise Bauer
Want to read an excerpt? go here.
2. Apologia's Exploring Creation with Zoology 2. Swimming Creatures of the 5th day
It's science from a Christian perspective. One of my closest friends happened to have this book for me to borrow. Thus, the reason why we skipped Zoology 1.
But Apologia's sites say that they recommend doing the first one first because they review Classification of Animals. while the 2nd book just assumes you know the information.
I figure, I'll just do a quick review of it with the girls myself. Hopefully, that'll be sufficient because I couldn't pass up saving money by skipping ahead and borrowing Crystal's book.
to read a summary of this book go here.
3. The Critical Thinking Company has been a huge discovery for me this year!!!
I've been perusing a great used homeschool curriculum site for a while now...and came across a woman who had written out a want list. She had some of the same things that I knew I already liked, so I went ahead and wrote down the rest of her list. determined to check them out.
Thank goodness I did! because this curriculum was among the short list...and I love them!
-Developing Critical Thinking through Science (book 1)
-Language Smarts, level C
-Mathematical reasoning, level C
-Building Thinking Skills, level 1
There is so much I could say about this company...and that's having only looked at the material and let Charis piddle here and there with some of the stuff.
But here is what their site has to say:
We design critical thinking into reading, writing, math, science and history lessons so students carefully analyze what they are learning. Deeper analysis produces deeper understanding, which results in better grades and higher test scores. Over time, students who practice critical thinking learn to apply it throughout their education and life.We do not teach through drill and memorization or teach to the tests—we empower the mind! Our goals are higher grades, top test scores, and problem solving skills to meet all of life’s challenges. The Critical Thinking Company is recommended by Mensa, Learning Magazine, The Well Trained Mind, Dr. Toy, Creative Child Magazine, and used by Sylvan Learning Centers, Club Z In-Home Tutoring, leading U.S. public schools, and gifted & talented programs in 57 countries throughout the world. We guarantee better grades and higher test scores—or your money back.
Can you even believe that? a money back guarantee?! They had me at Hello.
The same blog that talked about The Story of the World also recommended GeoPuzzles.and being that we'll be studying "Ancient times" in History this year, I went ahead and bought Asia and Europe (or should I say my Nana bought it... for Raegan's birthday. What?! She'll use it. Three or four years from now. *wink* Poor abused Raegan.)
I still have a USA puzzle like this from when I was little. I lovvvveed it. and can tell my girls are already feeling the same way about these. With the puzzle pieces being the same shape of the country, it's a great way to cement the country's look and location in their young minds.
and I can already tell it's going to be an educational experience for ME. (I totally stink when it comes to geography)
As far as other curriculum, I'm pretty laid back.
just making sure that they have plenty of hands-on type learning activities
and lots and lots of quality books.
You know, books that do not always include a princess and some prince who saves her. *wry grin*
I'm one who doesn't mind investing money in quality educational things. Subjects where they need to be challenged. Topics and lessons that are fairly concrete and don't have a lot of give in the text (like math. 2+5 will always equal 7)But when it comes to things like Art and Bible, I don't really find it necessary, in this stage of the game, to spend money for "formal curriculum".
In my opinion, kids are wired to create. they don't need someone to tell them how to do Art right. Not yet, anyway.
So for Art, I just provide markers and glue and piles of papers and whatever else I can think of to ensure that they have enough to let their little minds imagine.
And though I love some of the curriculum I've seen for studying the bible, I think this year we're going to just READ it. Novel concept, huh?
After all, we have at least nine kid's Bibles.
I want to encourage them to read it. to think about what they just read. processing it enough to apply it to their own lives. instead of just reading a story and answering someone else's prefabricated questions.
The Word is Living. I want to teach them to experience it. to interact with it...as God designed their individual minds.
and I'm really excited about this little $0.25 yardsale find.
...being that we have four little women-in-training running around here. I can already tell it's going to be a favorite. In fact, it's all I can do to keep Charis from devouring this book of Bible stories in one sitting. :)
