My main focus this year is math and language arts. I feel these areas haven't been up to par the last year or so. I got so caught up in living books for history and trying different things that I let those two subjects slide a bit. Working independently is nice, but Laura is just not ready for that in most areas. I want to prepare her to work more independently over this next year. After this, she'll be hitting the middle grades and tougher work.
Laura has done a lot of reading since the day we began homeschooling. That won't change. The difference is that we are using a couple different methods this year. Laura is going to use a reading book. I know, I know, that has been said to be death to joy in reading. However, we sort of did the same thing last year with ACE Literature and Creative Writing. They use books, but some of those books are story collections. We've also used Abeka readers, which have collections of stories. This year I am using a used Bob Jones reading set. It came with a worktext that is like brand new. I suppose if I was homeschooling a larger group of children, this method wouldn't work. However, with the ages of the three that I have, this method works just fine. For Laura, there is something exciting about having a new story every day or two. We'll do plenty of books, but short stories for a year add some light fun.
There are still books we are going to read, however; Lots of them, just waiting to open and have an adventure. I am trying to come up with lists of books that I want Laura to read, and a list of books I want to read to her. Since I am still slowly buying the books, and because I haven't made the final library selections yet, that list isn't completed. Truthfully, it keeps growing and I know I'll never get to them all at this rate.
We are using a lot of Christian literature this year. Looking through catalogs and websites of different publishers, I've been able to come up with many appropriate selections. Some will coincide with the study of US History. Others are just fun stories. Some of the books we have, especially with our history selections, aren't Christian. Most are Sonlight selections. Stories like Caddie Woodlawn and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and Miracles on Maple Hill. These are all read aloud selections. Laura could handle them on her own, but I want to share them with her.
Slowly our school year is taking shape. The only things truly left that are required that I haven't purchased are Laura's math, bible, grammar, and spelling. I'm still debating between a few things for her. Math is the hardest, because she struggles. Finances are limited, but I am determined to find something that we can work on together to boost her to where she needs to be. I'm also looking at supplements that might help her like Hooked on Math and TimesTales. These things add a little fun to the subject using other methods of teaching.
For Grammar, unless God changes my direction, I think we will use Bob Jones. The gentle approach to grammar just isn't what I want this year, but I don't want anything heavy either. We've used Abeka, and it seems to move very fast. I was going to use Learning Language Arts Through Literature, but after looking it over and praying about it, I decided that might not work for us at this time. The Bob Jones Grammar and Writing has a focused grammar section and then a writing section then a different grammar topic. Some companies sell two separate programs to concentrate on both. It's nice they are combined. ACE didn't focus much on writing, and I felt Laura wasn't getting what she needed.
There is still some time before we officially begin school. The public school here begins August 17th. My college girl starts August 23rd. When we will begin a full course load will probably be in the same time frame. Laura likes having her summer off with her public schooled friends. At this age, as long as we are reviewing through the summer, I don't have a problem with taking a break.
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