Wrapping Up Another Homeschool Year (Part 2)

(My white Calla lily up close... I like the tiny flecks of white on the leaves.)

Hello again friends.

There's really no way I could ever include everything that's a part of our school year, but I am back to share a few more books and thoughts with you.

Also, some had asked where I get our books. I hope this post can answer that, plus be a continuation of the previous one.

For those who are new to Abeka, there are 170 lessons per book.

It is easy to stay on track and not lose heart with Abeka, since they have organized the lessons for you.

All you have to do is one lesson per subject a day.

I believe it's unnecessary to push for much more than that.

It's better for the absorption of little minds anyway. 

Besides, I'd rather focus on a well-rounded life, than be an academic drill sergeant.

Once the 170 lessons are complete for the year, there are supplementary exercises in the back of the books that are perfect for extra practice through the summer.

The kids can do these on their own since it's review. No new concepts will be introduced until the next school year.

I order straight from the Abeka website, and start each child on Abeka in first grade.

Prior to that I've always just used materials that can be found at Walmart and the Dollar Tree.

These were Elsa's books this year...

I also use Walmart and the Dollar Tree for materials like flash cards and handwriting practice paper.

The kids and I were in a locally owned school supply store right before Christmas and I picked up this reading comprehension book for Roman...

He worked through it this past winter.

I really liked it because it has adapted short stories from well-known authors with questions to answer at the end.

(A quick note: When you're working with non-Christian material, it's wise to skim through it first and tear out any pages that are not in line with your family values. Just because something's written for kids doesn't mean it'll be appropriate for your kids. Don't be afraid to do this. That's why your children have a mother. *wink)

I had mentioned in last night's post that I also shop for books at antique stores. Also, flea markets, thrift stores, and rummage sales can be good places to check for homeschool material.

That's where I found this Ten Commandments book...

Isn't it lovely?

We worked though this one altogether as a family devotional.

My goal was for us to memorize all ten!

I've also been given books from friends and family.

That's how we acquired this Christian life reader...

It's a "Keepers of the Faith" reader.

I've been going through it with Nola.

I love it!

I think every mom should get a Christian life reader and go through it with her children.

These are wonderful because not only do they build your child's vocabulary, comprehension and reading ability, but their character and faith as well.

People don't seem to consider the mind part of Matthew 22:37 when we're told to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind," it means education also!

This is what will always separate a Christian education from the others... Books and assignments that cause the child to dwell upon the lovely and the pure.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." 

- Romans 12:2

After each story in the book there's a corresponding Bible verse, discussion questions, and a vocabulary list.

I've had some precious conversations with Nola as a result of these discussion questions.

It's a great tool to see where your child's heart is.

So you see, great homeschool material can be found from a variety of stores and sources.

But have you considered that even if you don't have a single piece of curriculum, you can still homeschool by making lessons yourself? Out of your own knowledge, and based on your child's ability, you can cobble together any little concept you want them to learn.

Here's an example:

Today I wrote "Who's vs. Whose" on notebook paper for a quick writing assignment for Nola and Roman.

I gave them some sentences I made up, and they wrote them using the right spelling.

Who's Stacey's mother?

Whose bag is this?

etc...

After they wrote the sentences I solidified the concept...

Who's = Contraction for who is or who has

Whose = Belonging to whom

We've built up quite the home library because we've been doing this for a while now. But if you're  new to homeschooling start small and make your own lessons. Your library will build up over time.

If you are overwhelmed and don't know where to start, I would encourage you to go on Abeka's website and just order the Arithmetic work text for your child's grade along with a Language Arts book. Just start there. Read through them yourself this summer and get familiar with the concepts. By fall you'll be excited to start! 

As time goes on you'll gain confidence and momentum.

You don't need to feel called or qualified, your love for your children will motivate you to want to succeed.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today friends.

I know not everyone cares about homeschooling, but I use my blog to record our family stories and homeschooling is a part of that!

"Reserve your memories,

keep them well.

What you forget 

you can never retell."

- Louisa May Alcott

xo,

~ Courtney ~

Wrapping Up Another Homeschool Year

It is currently gloomy and drizzling here at the Downs' farmhouse.

This is my view from the kitchen sink window...

After a few days of very sunny dry weather, it's a nice change of scenery to have a little rain.

I baked a loaf of bread earlier, mopped the floors, and got out for a load of groceries. I feel ready to begin a new week!

Monday mornings feel nice to homeschool moms. We get to begin our passion again. The busyness of the weekend is over, and we get our kids and our routine back! 

Our school year is about wrapped up, so the work load feels lighter. But we still have some finishing up to do in our books.

I consider our school year done when the Abeka books are complete.

The kids kept their daily workbooks in these wooden boxes. It worked great for us this year. I'll have to remember to buy a fourth one for Elsa, since she'll start first grade curriculum in the fall.

We've always used Abeka. It's been a great fit for us. 

I love how traditional and uplifting it is.

Every lesson in every subject points students to the Lord, and toward happy, healthy thoughts...

(Abeka 5th grade penmanship)

(Abeka 2nd grade American History)

(Click on the images and read them! They're delightful!)

 It's important to love your books!

That will keep your motivation strong through the year.

Lately I've been daydreaming about what I want our summer school to look like.

That's always fun because once the "serious" work is done we can enjoy all the books and activities we didn't seem to have time for during the school year.

We were given this book set that I am excited to have the kids go through this summer...

It has some wonderful things in it that even I have enjoyed reading and learning from.

Something very marvelous about homeschooling is that YOU, the mother, get to learn and relearn alongside your kids! All the things I had forgotten, and even things I never knew... I am learning, too!

(Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation in the 5th grade reader... fascinating stuff!...)

If I keep learning myself and presenting these books to the kids like, "Hey! Look at this! I didn't know this about Columbus, did you?" It piques their interest and causes them to be open and willing to take the book and read for themselves...

I also like to pick up old books in thrift or antique stores to supplement our curriculum.

I bought this reader for a couple of dollars a few months ago and have been going through it with Soren...

It was published in the 1930's and has some timeless stories and lessons in it...

If you can find some books you are delighted in, your heart will be in your homeschool day, and it won't feel like drudgery.

Another thing that helps me keep homeschooling from feeling like drudgery, is to keep our table cheery.

It is good for my mood and motivation to freshen up the house with new scenes.

A week ago I had this arrangement...

But since my grocery run this afternoon it now looks like this...

Notice the white Calla lily in the center... I was in a store right before Mother's Day and saw a table of Calla lilies for sale. It caused me to remember that I had wanted them for my wedding years ago. They are one of my favorites! But Calla lilies were out of season at the time and therefore too expensive, so I got white Tulips instead.

This memory made me look at the price tag, wanting to get one for myself, but they were 26 dollars!

Yikes! Too expensive yet again. *sigh...

I went home without it.

But today I saw this one at my grocery store. It was the only white one and it was 10 dollars!

Oh! Thank you, Lord. I said in my heart. I'll just put this right here in my cart next to the bread and milk. I know You did this just for me!

I think it looks right at home here on my table, ready to greet me tomorrow morning.

You'll also see I have a lesson out and ready as well.

This is for Soren, and it's top priority for the morning.

(I made a lesson of blends for us to work on...)

So you see, homeschooling can be whatever you want it to be!

I like knowing exactly where my kids' strengths and weaknesses are and exactly how they're progressing and what they need work on. Then it's fun to custom-create a school experience that's perfect for each of them.

With this approach Monday mornings can be a joy!

Wishing you a great start to your week as well.

Take care, friends...

xo,

~ Courtney ~