We homeschool all year round and I’ve always tried to do most of our “work” during the summer, but this summer, like the last, has been way too busy to get much done. We did keep our regular things (history at least once a week, math at least once a week–they do an entire lessoon in a day most of the time until they get stuck and then we hunker down and work hard at learning it–reading and spelling–the basics) but there are so many things we like to learn.  Problem solving, geography (this year they did more because Bill was home to work with them on it), science.  We have joined a science coop this year (we took last year off) and I’m looking forward to that. Still need to order my book (add to to-do list).

Mostly what we’ve done this summer is travel. Sea World and San Diego sort of wrapped up our year long focus on sea life in a wonderfully spectacular way. And we’re spending at least half of August up in the mountains where we’re finding lizards, praying mantis’, milk thistle, petrified wood, etc.  And learning how to live like they did in the 1800’s!  It was great to watch the children with their conveyer belt set up for dishes. One bubbie would hand dirty dishes to whoever was washing, who would pass it to whoever was rinsing and drying, who would hand it to the other bubbie who would take it to the table and set it there so I could put it away. Meanwhile I’m washing clothes in a galvinized bucket and then passing them to our oldest who is rinsing them and hanging them to dry. As dishes finished the older children moved over and joined in rinsing clothes. We got everything done very quickly!  We also read Lewis’ “TheMagician’s Nephew” in the week we were there (started it at night and then finished it on the drive home)

Anyway, about the coming year.  Our style really is eclectic classical unschooling and any time I try to push us outside of that realm I get stressed and we regret it.  So I’ve compiled a ton of games, and a few workbooks for those who love them. We’re still working on Barton’s for reading with dyslexia.  I’ve got Spelling Power set up for the older children, and this year will be bringing the bubbies in as much as they can handle.  this is their transition semester before they turn 5.

We will be finishing the Narnia series (they’ve announced these are their favorite books EVER!), doing our science coop, continuing with Story of the World and supplemental books and movies for our oldest. Fiona is in dance 7 hours a week and this year I arranged with the owner’s of her dance school for ALL of my boys to take a dance class! The youngers are easy because there is a “combo” class where they get exposed to all different styles.  For my oldest he’ll be in pre-teen but with his issues and never having danced we’re just going to move him around until he finds a dance style that clicks with him

With Bill home I want to do even more geography since they all enjoy it. Our problem solving books and projects are fun.  And I have FINALLY found a book series that Liam loves–Daniel X by James Patterson. IT’s the first thing beyond encyclopedia’s that he enjoys! So since this is a new series and only comes out every so often, I’m going to try and introduce him to some other science fiction–maybe even some classics like War of the Worlds.

Mostly I’m excited because my health is finally to a point where I can get excited about homeschooling because I know I have the ability to follow through with whatever I plan.  I’m finding some balance in other areas and am going to focus my energies on a few key things including homeschooling instead of being as scattered as I was last year. We missed out on a lot with our homeschool group because I wasn’t feeling well–but this year we’ll be able to do a lot more.

so that’s our plan–and it’s that time where I sit down with all my books surrounding me and loosely plan out something that gives me forward momentum with each child. I’m tweaking my “schedule” this year a bit to allow for how it really goes   We’ll see how it works

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