Aug. 29, 2007 - Getting close to that first day!
I've been working hard on getting our schoolroom ready. I have a few last minute finishing touches and posters to add but we are just about done. I've been collecting school desks and I made an 8'x4' chalkboard. The kids LOVE it. We are planning on starting the day after Labor Day. I went to the doctor today for my prenatal checkup and he said I can have my baby at anytime so little boy may come sooner than we think! Also I've been going a bit wild with curriculum for my oldest 11 yo dd. I bought everything I thought I wanted to do and then turned around and bought the BJU DVD program but after talking it over with my dd we have decided to go with our original curriculum so the DVD program is headed back. It looked great and we may decide to do it for the upper grade levels but for now we want to stick with what we know works for her. So I went and bought all the original curriculum all over again! Oh the things we hsing moms do! She'll be doing.. History-Landmark Freedom Baptist Curriculum Science-Apologia Zoology 1 (I also wen ahead and bought the science kit to make it easier on me) Language Arts-CLE Math-CLE Bible-Rod and Staff Reading-Pathway Readers Here are some pics of the almost finished schoolroom.
Aug. 13, 2007 - Our new school room..in progress!
Well here are just a few pics for now. Just started today so a few things left to do.
Now the walls are PLAIN right now since we just moved everything around today and put some school stuff in but I have to go shopping for posters and borders.
I left the computer and everything in the main house since we have internet in there and my main desk and computer/bookcases and all that are in my bedroom but I have a little desk for out there too.
I want to put up an alphabet boarder on the top of the wall area where the white board is and then I have some USA and world maps ordered for another. It looks plain right now though...
My mom did find me a desk today for Seth so I'll get that on Wednesday.
I have until the day after Labor day to get it all ready but you get an idea of the area I have to work with.
The outside..
Play yard-where I let the kids go crazy and play on that lawn :heehee:
School room
I'm going to have hubby build me some book display shelves too.
At least I got the vcr/dvd/cd players all going so now my 11 yo dd can do her BJU dvd's out there if she wants too. I'll buy another white board and a chalk board to put at a lower level for the small kiddos this week.
I was thinking of buying one of those long white craft tables that fold up for the middle to work on projects and stuff.
And just for fun pics of the bedroom and a peak at the kitchen area..
Kitchen area is in that other room
It's still a work in progress but a good start was made today :o)
Aug. 5, 2007 - Pics of our Hsing ''areas"
Wanted to add some pics of our hsing areas.
My 6 yo dd has a computer station, desk, bulletin board and whiteboard set up for schooling in her room. Still looking for another school desk for my 2 yo so he can play along too! A lot of times we end up in the kitchen though ;o)
This is my desk and where I keep all the supplies in my room. This part of the house is gated off so our 2 yo can't destroy anything.
My 11 yo dd usually does her work either at the kitchen counter, her bedroom floor, outside or just about anywhere, oh and sometimes at her desk! Hee hee!
Jul. 26, 2007 - I've been so neglectful!
As you can see, I've been a bit neglectful about my entries this past year BUT this school year will be different...I hope. I'm making it a priority to keep up with my blog. I'll do my best!
Recap of this past school year
Things for the most part went well. We decided to try for another baby and found out we were expecting around the end of December. I'm due at the end of September.
The beginning of the year started out great but as Winter set in so did the morning sickness and every smell began to bug me. It made it hard to school some days. I switched up some of our curriculum and stuck with some we had. We finished the year a bit late but all in all I'm pleased. It's not the easiest thing to hs a 5th grader and a Kinder with a 2 yo boy running wild! I'm hoping he'll calm down a bit for this next coming school year.
Fast forward to now
So as the Summer days came and the morning sickness went away, I started getting all excited about hsing again. I scoured through tons of curriculum and bought most of what we need to start the year. I've organized our hs shelf and bought most of our supplies. I've hooked up each dd with their own computer and programed their games.
My oldest is 11 and starting the 6th grade. She'll be doing a mix..
LFBC for History
Apologia Zoology 1
CLE for Math and L/A
Pathway Readers for Reading
ACE for Typing
( I still need to get a Bible and Health program.)
I've been looking into using the BJU DVD program. Looks good but I think maybe we'll hold off for a year and see. Right now things have been going well with what she has been using.~~~~~~
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For my 6 yo 1st grader I have a couple of choices. So far I have bought 2 programs, CLE Learning to Read and ABC's with ACE and Christi's 1st grade program.
Both look great. Both look like she could handle it. If I were to ask her which one she would want to do she tells me ACE. We did almost all of the ACE Kinder program last school year and she loves the pictures and stories.
I'm still deciding though. I just need to make sure I will be able to handle teaching a 6th grader, 1st grader, running after my 2 yo wild boy and taking care of a newborn. I know my plate will be full this year but I've heard some wonderful, encouraging stories from other moms with big families that get by just fine. One day at a time and one prayer at a time!
I'll be back to update...I promise!!! ;o)
Nov. 10, 2006 - Switching things up a bit!
All is well at Brown Bear Academy.
Kayleigh is loving homeschooling now and proudly tells everyone. We met another homeschooler her age at church a couple weeks ago and they really hit it off!
She is now doing CLE for Math and LA. For her reading she has been LOVING the Farm Mystery Series by CastleberryPress....http://www.castleberryfarmspress.com/
She reads for 20 minutes and fills out a report sheet and some days she just narrates it to me. She's on her 3 book and can't get enough. Safe, wholesome, Christians and they homeschool too! Can't beat that~
ACE is for History and we have our Apologia Science now and I have to say it is AWESOME! Our favorite. Why oh why didn't we find this sooner? My dd grasps all the concepts and she's reaching out and studying things all on her own. She is fascinated with Creation Vs. Evolution. She just doesn't get how people could believe the whole Big Bang Theory.
Things are going really good for her at home.
My 5 yo dd was using ACE's Preschool/Kindergarten program and though it was working I felt drawn to Heart of Dakota's, Little Hearts for His Glory. I dove in and bought it and we are LOVING it also. Great fit for my girl. For some reason I feel less pressure. With the other program I felt like if I missed a day we were off for the whole program since it goes for 5 days a week. With LHFHG it's set up for one day at a time. Highly recommend. I'm not thrilled with Singapore Math...not sure why but we are using that and CLE Preschool/Kindergarten Math books also.
I LOVE The Reading Lesson for phonics. My dd was reading after the 1st lesson. She loves the CD-ROM programs that I bought extra for it. She wants more more more!
Ashley is doing great at her church group and loves to memorize verses. She's so proud of herself right now because she's learning the books of the bible and is doing wonderful!
Kayleigh got to sing at church with her church youth group and they all did so well. Very proud of them all.
Well just a quick update for now!
Love in Christ to all my fellow Homeschoolers out there!!
Oct. 10, 2006 - Truck'n Right Along~
Time to do a little updating.
Things are going really well. I'm pleasantly suprised! Kayleigh took a few days off to go deer hunting with her dad but she's home and back on track. Oh and they filled their deer tag too!
For Kayleigh we are still using CLE for Math and LA, ACE for Social Studies, CLP for Bible but we are making a change with our Science. I decided to try Apologia Astronomy. I've heard nothing but wonderful things and what we were using just wasn't sticking with her. It should be here within the next week.
I'm also looking at trying Drawn to a Heart of Reading for her Reading program. Right now we put away our curriculum and I'm just having her read books at her age level and fill out book report sheets or do oral reports. I have her signed up for the Pizza Hut BOOK IT program also. Today I asked her if she was liking being homeschooled and she said in a very loud happy voice....."YES, I LOVE IT!"
That warmed my heart!
Ashley is plugging right along also. So far it's pretty easy for her and we haven't hit a wall yet. She is doing great at her Bible memorization and just finished memorizing Pslams 100! She also know the whole Pledge of Alligencer. We are still using ACE's Kindergarten Program and it's working really well for us.
Our church has the kids programs on Wednesday nights so Kayleigh is in her Kids on Track Music class and Ashley goes to her bible class. Billy is teaching the 5th grade boys with another member and I'm taking care of the nursery/daycare needs.
Well it's always an adventure with their little brother Seth, Destroyer of All Things, running around the house. There are days that can be challenging but I really feel God wants us to be at this place in our lives. I'm so grateful and blessed to be able to help raise my kids in the Lord! Growing up some mighty Christians we are!
Sep. 25, 2006 - Settling in~
Hi all! We are on our 3rd week of hsing and things are starting to fit into place~
Ashley and I have a routine w/her work and it's taking us about 1 hour in the mornings to complete the basic work. In the late afternoons and evenings we get to add in some extras like educational dvds, games and extra crafts. She is learning The Pledge of Allegiance and is doing quite well. The curriculum is pretty easy for her at the moment as she already knows all her letter sounds and numbers. She is learning to sit and listen to stories and is able to answer comprehensive questions afterward. She still gets the wiggles from time to time but she is doing great so far.
Kayleigh is adjusting well. She does most of her work in the early morning and all the harder work and work she doesn't understand is done after Seth is taking a nap. (not real easy to school with the destroyer boy running through the house!) She's struggling through her reading curriculum I have her on so we will see how that works out in the future and may have to make a change. Her favorite subject is math and wishes she could do all math.
We went on our first hs field trip on the 13th to one of the local volcanos w/have in our area. Went pretty good but Ashley wasn't feeling up to par and Seth was starting to become a bit wild. We may have to leave him w/Grammy next time!
Thank you for taking the time to check in on us and God bless you and yours~
Sep. 11, 2006 - Our First Day!!
Yay, we started our first official hsing day today. All in all it went pretty well! Kayleigh even woke up early to get started which is quite the struggle for her
She ended up getting most of her work done by noon w/little help from me. She had a ball searching the house and outside looking for elements to add to her "Element" box she is creating for Science. She made a few phone calls to her Papa for some added help too
I was planning on working w/Ashley in the afternoon while Seth was napping but we got it all done by lunch~She did great!
Kayleigh ended up having a long day because she did 4 days worth of Social Studies and Science in one day! She didn't realize she was supposed to stop at 4 pages so tomorrow will be a bit easier on her 
Here are some 1st day pix~(Seth had to get in on the action too-don't mind the "teething drool!)
I don't have many pics of me since I'm the one usually behind the camera so here's a quick shot to give you an idea of what the lady looks like behind the blog!
Sep. 4, 2006 - Quick update
Just wanted to give a quick update. We decided to start hsing on the 11th of Sept. We have a busy week this week including a garage sale on Friday lasting through Sunday. Kayleigh has already unofficially started w/ math is almost done w/ her first Light Unit.
Our family lost a beloved member suddenly due to a rapid, unforseen infection. Lacy, our adopted Dalmation of 10 years, passed away on Sunday afternoon. She was a true member to our family and will be missed beyond words. The infection is rare and can be fatal w/in hours. They do not know what causes it and affects dogs that were previously in excellent condition w/ no symptoms. We know we will be w/ her in Heaven and look to that day for comfort.
Please keep our family in your prayers.
Aug. 22, 2006 - Only a couple weeks until the big day!
Well we will be starting our first official day of hs on the 4th of September. We are all very excited and hope that our family and friends will enjoy following our blog on this new path that God has lead us down.
Kayleigh is at Church camp for 5 days and I'm sure having the time of her life.
We took a looong drive yesterday to get her there. It was me, Grammy, Kayleigh, Ashley, Seth and a friend of mines son Tracen all in our truck with the back loaded down with all the campers belongings. We were packed!
It was over a 5 hour trip to get to the camp. We only lost one sleeping bag on the freeway but it was safely retrieved by a fellow counselor!
The camp looked wonderful and a dream come true for the kids. I think next year Billy or I need to be a counselor~
Me, Grammy, Ashley and Seth then went and visited Shannon at the cemetary in Roseburg where she is laid to rest in Lullaby Land. We had a chance to clean off her headstone and say a prayer. We ate lunch under a shady tree and tried to explain to Ashley where we were. She couldnt' understand why I new all the peoples names that were buried~ She can't wait to see her Aunt in Heaven!
We reluctantly left and headed home for a total of almost a 13 hour trip. The kids did amazingly well~
This week I'll be doing some testing for Ashley to see where she is in her skills. We have to go back to get Kayleigh and the campers luggage this Friday. I'm not sure if I want to take that trip again so daddy might be heading over by himself.
Well hope you enjoyed my first official post or blog (not sure what they call it)
Love in Christ,
Holly B
