Curriculum - to many choices?

Even though we have officially begun the 2012/13 school year, even though this is our 6th year homeschooling, even though many things, making the right or best choice for curriculum seems to induce a panic attack to some extent.

Fortunately, we've been at it long enough that we've figured out what works on most subjects.  Some subjects, boys have requested the next level, so no extra thought there.

This year is a tad bit different, we have a 7th grader.  He'll be in high school before we know it.  He'll be wanting to look at colleges and start applying before we know it.  Need to start prepping now, so that the stress of high school level isn't as great.

Many blessings though, through this transition.

1. Have heard many good things about Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) first hand.  Some negative first hand too, but it wasn't a nasty type review, more of a "don't get why we need to add this sort of word so many times!"  I can work with comments like that!!!!
2. Rainbow Resource staff has been very helpful in exchanging items and making recommendations for a new foreign language.
3. Thankful for many home school friends who've used specific subjects and can share insight as well as know our kids a bit and can weigh in with a valid opinion.
4. Having a co-op to go to so I don't have to teach every subject.  Both kids are getting science outside of the house as well as a fun class.

The line up for class this year is as follows:

• both boys:  Mystery of History Volume 3 (their mutual agreement that we needed to finish the series before doing something else), foreign language of some sort, physical education
• Thing One:  Pre-Algebra (MUS), Apples Daily Spelling Drills, Daily Grams 7th grade, IEW B, Beyond Five in a Row, Science, Robotics, Life Skills, Electives (Boy Scout Merit Badges and Requirements)
• Thing Two:  Delta (MUS), Spelling Workout, Daily Grams 4th grade, Five in a Row Volume 4, Science, Builders, Life Skills

What are your children studying this school year?  Are they excited?  Hope so.  =)
 

HEAV Convention in 3 hours

Think I may have spent more time on the road this year, for the HEAV convention, than I actually did shopping (and no time for speakers!)

First up, given the time I got there, parked, and got my name tag ~ the used curriculum sale.  Fortunately, I brought my wish list from Rainbow Resources and a mental note of new at Math-U-See.  I was finding things, in used and kind of okay condition, for more $$$'s than I could pick up at either place.  Hello?!?!  I can walk down the hall and get it for less.  IF they don't have it, they'll ship it for free.  I did find three hardback books, with dust covers, and spent a whopping $4.72 with tax.  Two, I'd been looking at for awhile to pick up and the third was a FIAR title.  Here's my lovely finds:

 So Kevin didn't even bat an eye lash at me when I said,
"I know we're finished with Volume 1 - 3, but I couldn't pass it up

in really good condition for $1.25".

 No joke, had tried to put it on my Rainbow Resource list

the night before, but they don't carry it.  Amazon had it for over $10.00.

Hello $2.00, you are coming with me!

 Another book I keep checking out and meaning to purchase.

$1.25, no brainer.

Headed over to the vendor hall.  Was a bit confused, this year, my 5th year down, Rainbow Resources and Bread Beckers were not at their usual spot.  These two companies have always been "anchors" either center back or far, right, rear corner as you walk in.  You get your barrings from their locations.  Actually had to look up Rainbow's vendor number to find them.  Anyway, so nice to be able to pull out my wish list and say that this is what I am looking for and can't find.  Was in and out of that section quick.  Not with everything, but free s/h on items not found.  MUS actually didn't bring their stock with them, but offered free s/h.  Well thank you!  I don't need the stuff anytime soon and I now don't have to carry it with me ~ BONUS!!!

Breezed through through the place to find one other booth, grab lunch, and see if I could find an all day parking spot that was inexpensive.  No luck so I headed home.  I so wanted to sit in some of Kathy Kuhl's talks and Bread Beckers, but no luck this year. 

Oh well!  Maybe next year will be better!

 

The wall and the dilemma!

Finally decided to pull everything off of one wall and patch the nail holes.  Why?  Because I really want to be able to have a school wall and that was the easiest one to use! {by the way, patching a wall goes quickly w/little or no humidity and really little holes!!!}  Besides, if I wanted a lot of wall space, I'd have to get rid of a lot of book cases and books ~ eeeekk!

So the dilemma is this (and not accounting for the triangular part of the wall that is open to the steps), there is a light switch just about dead center on the wall width wise and about 4 feet off the ground (whatever the standard height is for light switches).  It makes hanging a decent sized cork board, maps, white board, chalk board or whatever, next to impossible.  Well if I want just one or two of those things, it might not be so bad.  If I considered buying smaller maps, it might not be such a big deal, which is a possibility as well.  Hhhmm! Maybe it is time to go over to Rainbow Resources and see what they have.

The End Must Be Near!

It has to be near. It must be near!! Please let it be near!!!! What is IT? The end of the school year. And it has to be near because I just ordered our year-end tests for both boys. We've been using the Iowa's Test of Basic Skills (think I got that right) for the last few years and plan to do the same this year. Their prices are about the same as some of the other well known tests, I like how detailed the test results are, I'm able to test at home, which is a good thing for our boys to not have it rushed, and it's nice to be able to compare one year to the next.

So we're wrapping up 4th grade and 1st grade in the coming weeks, reviewing for a week, testing for a week (and mail out), and the next day vacation begins. So looking forward to a few weeks off before we begin our summer school session for both boys.

Where are the clapping and hopping smilely faces when you need them???



P.S. And in true Home School fashion, I am creating a wish list of things on Rainbow Resources and am dreaming of what next year might be like.

Christmas in July

It's been a little over a year since I blogged about Christmas in July. Last year (7/2/08) it was Thing Two KNOWING Santa would bring him certain gifts. Well, Santa didn't pull through exactly like he wanted, but they got the desired lego's.

This year, UPS delivered. It was our box from Rainbow Resources. A few books, workbook, spelling books, fun science, and unnamed Christmas Presents for Thing One and Thing Two. It's was hard opening the box without the boys getting all excited about it. Should be fun!!

Rainbow Resources

Finally ordered the last of our curriculum for the coming year - Sequential Spelling - from Rainbow Resources. Had a hard time coming up with the $150.00 to get free shipping and handling. Fortunately for me, hubby was sitting next to me and figured out what threshold made sense to not worry about reaching the free s/h - think it was about $125.00. Each time I tried to get close, it was $149 and change. Off by a few coins.