This year we were convicted to put our oldest into ninth grade at the public high school. So far it has been a good (albeit challenging) change for him. Of course God knows what we need and He has blessed me with the BEST curriculum and school year ever here at home! I love homeschooling with HOD. I am so used to dreading the day but just doing it anyway, that I continually shake my head throughout the day as I enjoy every subject more than the next. I don't dread anything we do throughout the day. It's amazingly wonderful. Of course my two girls still at home help in that department since they are both bright and eager to learn and have such sweet attitudes (most of the time, but the Bible verses and Godly character traits we are focusing on are helping in that area!
)OK, I've gushed enough. I have some pictures and details on my blog so I'll try to keep this short (although I'm so excited, it will be difficult!)
Monday Baylee (11) was Captain John Smith who was trading food and treats with Izzi (9), a native American. They mimed for communication since they didn't speak the same language. In science, they made a chart of the different types of mollusks along with drawings. They designed and colored Indian blankets today for art that turned out beautiful. They worked really hard on these activities and were so happy.
When I introduced the Bible verse and Godly character trait on Monday, they "fought" each other to be the one that made up the hand motions. Izzi brought up The Boy Who Cried "Wolf" to demonstrate how being untruthful can damage your trustworthiness. Baylee talked about how a boss expects their employees to show up on time and do what they are told and if they prove to be untrustworthy, they get fired. And we talked about how being untrustworthy not only hurts us, but reflects badly on Jesus. We used the word "trustworthiness" to talk about prefixes, suffixes, and how "-ness" added to the end of words turns adjectives into nouns.
We talked about The Arrow and how it is a metaphor for a man's life and how God controls it. We focused on similes and metaphors and why some words are capitalized in the poem; which is interesting because in Grammar (Baylee is using Abeka for this) she is studying capitalization. I love it when God works things like that out!
With Izzi, I started her halfway through the year of Emerging Readers and am going to use DITHOR after Christmas. It is too easy for her, but she loves it and right now, that is more important to me. We do 2-3 days worth each day and it still only takes about 15 minutes. I am alternating spelling and dictation with her every week. We both like that. Baylee does the highest level of dictation in the Preparing manual (which I bought to use next year) and has not had to repeat a single day, so it must be too easy for her. But it gives her so much confidence, so we'll just work our way through it! I read on here that someone uses the extension pack readers for read-alouds and I think that is a great idea. Baylee is reading Pocahontas and the Strangers and it seems really interesting. We read Phillis Wheatley and are now on Come On, Seabuiscuit. Both the girls dislike math but their attitude about doing it has already improved since the rest of school is so fun!
Well, I could write more but this is already so long so I'll stop now! Thanks for another good week, Carrie!
I am thrilled for your little sweeties and your great start to your school year. I am so glad that the Lord is blessing you for honoring your call to homeschool your kiddos. My hubby and I are blessed that you are feeling a new sense of satisfaction and enjoyment from your schooling too! I agree that we all need that! 
I have been so tired, and having trouble sleeping at night (isn't that an oxymoron kind of situation!?). So, I've not been getting up early enough to get started early, and we've let some things go this week. We even took Wednesday 'off' because Mom just could not get it together! And Tuesday was my 13th wedding anniversary...woohoo! 
They were happy to do the Science drawing yesterday...of the different creatures 'down by the sea' and 'in a shower'. They love anything even close to 'art' so that qualifies...mix science with art and they are on cloud nine! We continue to move ahead in English and Math. They are several days ahead in Math because they love the workbooks with Singapore. Yeah! I just figure they'll slow down soon enough when it gets more difficult...with ds we want him to get to 4A by January anyway, so we're moving along quickly toward that end. In English, dd is right on track. I'm very happy with what she's learning. My ds is doing 2 lessons a day, usually only half of each section, because much of it is review at this point and we want him to move into level 4 in January for English as well. 
I'm so looking forward to teaching the children more about animals and habitats this year. Look forward to getting to know a fellow HOD-ie too, we will convert the whole co-op over time, I'm sure 
) to marry her.
