Homeschooling - Spring semester 2009; here we go!

Yesterday I planned the rest of the school year and prepared all the material we, or rather the boys, will need to get through. We did quite well this past fall, and if we stick to the thorough but fairly relaxed schedule we’ve managed to keep so far, the boys should have no trouble finishing their grades with distinction by June. I’m a bit nervous not knowing exactly what the baby will do to our routine, but I’m confident that no matter what happens, we’ll find a way to work things out as a family.

The way it has turned out – it seems that the boys prefer to work this way – is that I am going to give them a list of tasks they have to get through every week, and then we’ll divide things accordingly. The daily schedule I tried to promote in the past has not worked very well, and one way or another last semester we levitated towards a weekly schedule; so this is the way we’ll do it this semester. I’ll actually print out a list for each week, with boxes where they can mark their own progress. Not only will this give them control and a good overview as well as responsibility when it comes to their own work, but it will also help me through times when the baby might demand extra attention; if I already have everything they need to do worked out, I’ll need to do little more than be present, guide them, and can even delegate supervision to other adults (like Courtney or my mom when she’s here).

We’ll still do Science, History, Geography and Religion, Art and Music and Foreign language together. I’m also going to try to do math with them together this semester. They’ll be doing slightly different assignments, but the themes I’ve worked out should be applicable regardless of their level (shapes, money, measuring, fractions, and reading the clock). In addition, while William does his work on adding and subtracting, August will be memorizing the times table; these two things can be performed simultaneously. When it comes to English, I’ve decided to include William in some of the grammar work, and they both follow the same Spelling program, although August is two books ahead of William. When William works on his Phonics, still learning to read and write fluently, August will be doing writing assignments, narrations and reading comprehension. Every night we read together; I or Courtney read to both of them first, then August helps William with a book, and then August reads to William. I try to stick with the themes for this semester; the middle Ages (history) and the universe/the earth (Science).

I probably sound overly optimistic, but it’s a necessity at the beginning of the semester; there will be hard times, resistance, problems and difficulties over the next few months for sure, and then it’s good to have made a positive start.