Comments on: Evaluating Your School Year

By: 7 Quick Takes: April 30, 2010 (Vol. 39)

7 Quick Takes: April 30, 2010 (Vol. 39) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:23:13 +0000

[...] Evaluating Your School Year – The Homeschool Classroom [...]

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:33:04 +0000

This is also our second year with homeschool. I am like you, I thought we would do more of these exciting things. I found it has been a challenge to just get through the core stuff sometimes! The first year, I was set on compiling everything myself. I almost burned out just in the planning. This year we purchased our math, reading, grammar and history curriculum and I supplemented those and pulled together our science stuff. It was a welcomed change! We also added piano lessons, which my daughter loves. I no longer feel so much pressure to add something more than listening to classical music while we work.

While I admire those people who can do it all– including the artist, music and nature studies– I know that our classical family can’t. We will stick with field trips and the occasional library book to add these things in. And you know what? That is ok with me :)

We are switching to a year-round school schedule this year so we aren’t wrapping up any time soon!

By: Norah Baron

Norah Baron — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:37:45 +0000

I’m still figuring it out. We started with a virtual charter school in our state for kindergarten and the first 2 months of this school year. I left them for another virtual school that allowed us to pick and choose the subjects we wanted and then did our own stuff. For next year with 3 kids who will be schooling I think I just want to figure out how to homeschool three kids and without using the virtual school.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:11:58 +0000

I am so glad you posted this! We are coming down to the wire ourselves. We all need to break from school work. This school year I wanted to focus on improving language arts for both of my schoolers. And it was very successful! Next year I am trying to decide if I should ditch our packaged curriculum we use (and still really like but it is very workbook, meet this criteria oriented) OR should we spend our year away from a packaged curriculum and focus on enjoying less subjects with deeper learning. In addition to my rising 5th & 3rd graders, I will be incorporating a kindergartner/1st grade in some subjects and have 2 little ones under him.

Anyway – I would LOVE to get some input from fellow homeschoolers on the notion of stepping away from a packaged curriculum and using more of a unit study or interest led curriculum (but not unschooling) Or does anyone have experience doing both? Using a package and fulfilling those requirements while expanding certain subjects with more fun interest-led supplement materials?
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..On Being "THAT" Family =-.

By: Julie H

Julie H — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:27:16 +0000

Well, we are finishing our first year of HS and it has been a blast! Of course, I wanted to spend more time on “extra” topics but as you stated….have to get the three “Rs” in. I have been in planning mode these last few weeks and since we are starting first grade, I want to be a little more organized with our time. I like Jolanthe’s (Homeschool Creations) method of breaking up the year into 6 week segments. I think this will help us tremendously because I feel like we may not finish a topic we got into and jump to the next thing. I want to be more thorough in that aspect. Also, planning 6 week segments will help my DH as he shares in teaching with me. Now, we have enjoyed doing a variety of science experiments and my DH is really great about outdoor exploration…he’s taking our son on a camping trip in a few weeks and he said he plans on counting in some school time…love that man!

By: Dawn Farias

Dawn Farias — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:05:54 +0000

My changes would be similar to the ones you are hoping for. I’m also having a hard time focusing in these last few days. We will continue to do math and phonics through the summer and I’m hoping to use those days, also, as an entry into more unstructured learning. Perhaps we’ll get ‘used to’ it and really be able to ‘live it’ better when the fall comes.
.-= Dawn Farias´s last blog ..People Don’t Poop In Their Christmas Cards =-.