Miz Fancy Pants

Well after having homeschooled for over 4 years now, I feel it’s time to share my wealth of wisdom with the multitudes out there in cyberland who need it.  If you’re still reading this and are interested in what we’re doing this year, here’s the latest grand experiment in home-learning:

Sonlight 5- I have used Sonlight in the past somewhat unsuccessfully, but with my burgeoning confidence of being a seasoned 4-year veteran, I now know I don’t have to do it all, just the way they say, all in one day.  With that in mind, we are loving the reading selections and are learning so much about geography and the diversity of people on God’s earth.  We are also reading through the Sonlight 5 science books together.  So far, so good.

Bravewriter/The Writer’s Jungle- I have had this on my shelf for a few years and each year I read it and use it, we benefit more and more.  I can’t say enough about this program.  I do use Sonlight LA 2 advanced for Eyebrow and Sonlight LA 5 for Heyhey, but I pick and choose what we will do from the assignments with a big picture in mind of what I want to accomplish.  Without the concepts in The Writer’s Jungle, I don’t think I would have the confidence to do this.  It has been an ENORMOUS help in getting through the revising process without the battered writer’s ego.  

Real Science 4 Kids- I dug this one off the shelf this year when I didn’t know what I wanted to do for science.  We are using the Pre-Level Chemistry with all three kids, but the concepts are pretty fundamental. After reviewing the publisher’s site and all the materials, I think we will try to do the whole series.  The strength of this program is that it presents vital scientific concepts in an understandable way, and builds on the previous books as you go.  The level 2 program covers most of the material found in a high-school level course.  The best thing about it to me, is that one level only takes 10 weeks!  We are breezing through the Pre-Level Chem really quickly and I hope to get one Bio and Phys level in there before the year is over.  Wow, we will have really covered some ground!  The books tend to be expensive, but I plan to buy them used.  There is so much content in the areas of science, it has just been overwhelming.  I think that is why it has been a weak subject for us in the past; kind of like throwing a pail of water in the Grand Canyon.  RS4k is good in that it gives a foundation that will serve the kids in whatever science interests them.  

Netflix- This is the first year I have really begun to use videos more systematically with our studies and it has been really easy with Netflix.   We supplement science, history, geography and watch some just for fun. We love it!

Math-U-See- I have used this with Heyhey from the beginning with some other things here and there.  I keep coming back to MUS because of the mastery approach.  It has been a source of doubt in the past, when we haven’t covered some topics come testing time, but I have to say when they learn the math-it sticks.  Right now we are using Epsilon, Gamma, and Alpha.  

Vocabulary Vine- Well, I finally hung my head in defeat over Latin this year.  I just never seem to find the time to fit it in with everything else, and bottom line- I don’t think I am totally sold on the value it brings.  Anyway, my concession is this root program.  It looks great, and so far it has been pretty easy to fit it in during our group learning.  

Horrible Science- I made a personal compromise on my sense of decorum when I ordered these sets of magazines :-0, but I think the positives have greatly outweighed the negatives here.  Really, most of the stuff in them is NOT that bad; gross-ology type stuff, some kid-level potty humor.  I just would have PREFERRED that my kids like something like the Christian Liberty Nature Readers as much as I do.  But no.  They LOVE these magazines and read them constantly.  “The power of self-motivation is most useful when harnessed and exploited to your best advantage when homeschooling, Grasshopper”   

See, aren’t you glad I’m sharing my wisdom?

Artistic Pursuits- We are now doing art every day.  What more can I say about that!  This program is so easy to use.  I ordered the lower level, but Heyhey is enjoying it just as much.  I will say that she was not too impressed with the watercolor crayons.  The effect is too muddled and difficult to control.  I did purchase a set of professional grade watercolor pencils for her to use instead.  I go over the lesson with the kids before read-aloud time and then they work on it while I read aloud.  It keeps the busy-bodies busy while they listen.   I think I will try the older program next.  

Piano lessons- I found a great piano teacher who offers to split two lessons among all three kids for pretty cheap.  Even better than that, we have the same mindset for fostering a love of music.  I was worried she would start giving me the stink-eye if I didn’t force the kids to practice for 30 minutes every day.   I do encourage them to practice every day, but I’m not to rigid about it.  So far, so good; they all LOVE piano!

Other things I’m supplementing with this year:

Ed Zaccaro’s Primary Challenge Math 

Danica McKeller’s Math Doesn’t Suck- (kind of along the same compromising-on-decorum-for-a-payoff line as with Horrible Science)

Sequential Spelling- will we ever learn to spell????

Mathtacular Videos- Justinius the 1st!  He’s the bomb!

Scholastic News Online- we needed a current events resource for SL 5 assignments and this one is free, age-appropriate, and has some great games and activities to supplement.

BBC Dance Mat Typing- Just found this one.  It’s free, and it looks fun.

I’m still looking for the perfect foreign language program.  Any suggestions?