Just stuff

So I've added more subjects to our day as we try to acclimate back into a regular school day.  It feels like too much, but I think we're just used to less for so long.  I'm not willing to drop any of these right now.  They complained for a few days that it took too long and they didn't have time to play outside.  I mentioned that they had control over how much free time they get and suggested that they start their school as soon as they wake up and not wait for me to tell them to do it.  Savannah led the way and has been waking up at 6 am or earlier, with Charlotte following her lead.  Many days they have most of the independent subjects finished before I even roll out of bed!  Nice.  Hope it continues like that.


Savannah & Charlotte both do:


Math Mammoth, 1 page front and back, daily
R&S English, odds or evens only, daily
Latin lesson & worksheet on Mondays, flashcards and copywork the rest of the week
30 minutes of reading scriptures daily
30 minutes of reading classic literature of their choice daily
History spread over two days: copywork, vocabulary, reading, and comprehension questions or written narration
Geography, one day a week
Computer programs daily:
xtramath, typing instructor, and Duolingo:German
Poetry copywork/memorization, once a week


Madelynn is starting to read the scriptures with us in the morning.  She is getting more confident.  She hates Phonics Pathways and enjoys McGuffey Readers, but PP is very effective, so we trudge along.  Doing the dictation with it helps tremendously.


Thinking about next school year and the value, if any, of doing the Memoria Press workbooks with the Classical Studies.  They don't like them and it would be better if we discussed their readings or something more organic, but at the same time I am a mother of 6 kids...  Is that realistic?  I don't know.  I'll have to think more about that one.  Otherwise, I think we'll just keep doing what we're doing for next year.  It is all working out well.


Still don't know when I'll be adding in Classical Writing again...  that's the last subject that is missing.


Speaking of writing instruction, I shouldn't have skipped the writing lessons in R&S 4.  I think they are valuable and on level with my 4th grader.  I'm going back and having her do a writing lesson or two each week.


And note to self:  don't go for two weeks without checking math and English work.  Both kids are re-doing almost a week of English, and we wasted a day in math correcting missed problems. 

Homeschooling in Deutschland!!

So I survived.  I moved overseas with 6 kids, including a newborn.  We homeschooled lite, only doing math and English on good days.  We're settled in our house, finally have internet since yesterday, and have started on our third full homeschool week since being here: week 21.  Not too bad for such a crazy, interrupted year.  We'll take a few more breaks to see Europe with Dad before he deploys, then we'll finish up the year, hopefully before August.


The two Bigs are working on Math Mammoth, R&S English, MP's Classical Studies, geography, reading, and poetry copywork and memorization.  I still haven't added Latin or Classical Writing back in yet... I might do that this week.


Madelynn is zooming through her phonics and handwriting book.  We're doing our Power Reading schedule, which is reading three lessons a day: one after breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  She'll be reading fluently soon.  She was sorely neglected through this huge transition. Trying to catch her up!  Then I will start on Zachary.