First Day of School.......Because we can

The bookwork has started and here is this year's schedule. (The purpose of this is....I get asked a lot so I can direct people to this list.)

Austin has: Right Start Math (the Asian way of doing Math) First Language Lessons 4 (includes all English and dictation exercises of lengthy paragraphs), Calvert Spelling online, Apprentice Writing, Daily Copywork book of great classical quotes, Memory work (states, capitals, all presidents, the bonus work would be the preamble to the constitution and the Gettysburg address. Also MOST important are the MANY memory verses he learns in Awanas.) History is 1850-present with Story of the World and History Odyssey (plus 5-8 books from Library that are recommended each week). Latina Christina DVD and workbook for his Latin Studies; Required reading 30-45 min. daily and fun reading 30 minutes before bedtime. Zaner Bloser Handwriting; Chemistry this fall R.E.A.L. Science and Physics this winter. Online Typing Course. Spanish (still debating a curriculum)

Lindsey has: Right Start Math, First Language Lessons 2, dictation, early readers, Copy Work from great authors, Writing With Ease, Memory work (states, capitals, presidents, etc. Awanas), 1850-present History with Story of the World and History Odyssey, Chemistry and Physics -same as Austin, required reading and fun bedtime reading , Zaner Bloser Handwriting, Spelling Workout B....

Reece has: Phonics Pathways (cont'd from last year), easy readers, Right Start Math, Zaner Bloser Handwriting, Reading with Mom, Language Development cards and he loves to listen in to what the others are doing as well and next year will be included in History and Science.

Extra curricular: Piano lessons for Austin and Lindsey, Music Theory, Story of the Orchestra (after this book they'll be doing: "Ludwig Beethoven and the Chiming Tower Bells, Mozart the wonder boy and Sebastian Bach the boy from Thuringia") Also Music Ace on the computer. Austin is also learning the trombone.

For our Art History and Appreciation we'll be studying books from the Library on : Hans Holbein, Sanzio Raphael, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Sir Peter Paul Rubens, Johannes Vermeer, El Greco, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, Mary Cassatt, Vincent Van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky Georgia O'Keefe, and Alexander Calder (Thanks for the list, Laura S., to go along with the history we are studying). Can't wait to spend time at the Art Museum this year!

Austin has tennis 2 times a week, Lindsey has soccer twice a week, and Reece has soccer once a week. All three have Art and Gym class every week at New Life Camp.

Lindsey has Girl Scouts too.

For our Generations Co-op group the kids are taking Medieval times (Lins and Reece), Bugs (Austin), Government and election (Austin), Weather (Lindsey), and Dinasoars (Reece) This is all for fall semester. For the Generations support group we'll have monthly field trips along with all the holiday partys, spelling bees, etc.

Required reading: For those who have asked me....we go every week to the Library and the kids are required to get: 1 science book, 1 history book, 1 art or music appreciation book, 1 practical book (craft, hobby, how-to), a biography or an autobiography, a classic novel (Austin), imaginative story book, a book of poetry, and a health book.

At lunch I am reading to them The Children's Book of Virtues, by William Bennett. At supper we are digging into every verse in Proverbs and explaining them (I'm sure this will take all year if not more). At supper we are also teaching the kids hymns.

Whew.....normally this type of list would 'freak me out' and it did when I first set my goals. But we've already accomplished a week of this schedule and there are no words to express my joy as to the journey we are on as a family.

Whew.......I quickly wrote this out and have no intention of proofreading (I'm tired).