Last year, based on feedback from other homeschoolers, we used Sonlight curriculum for Social Studies, Geography, Language Arts and Science. Regardless of how good or bad a curriculum sounds, it's always good to get the feedback of someone you know who has used it, as well as what learning and personality style worked best with it. We loved the literature-based approach of Sonlight, but with me working full-time outside of the home this past year, it was way too much to keep up with and I felt it lacked review to ensure retention of information. This year, we are using The Story of the World, Volume II for History. We received a number of thumbs-up from homeschoolers we know regarding these curricula. And by "this year" let me explain our "school" year. We take the month of June and around the 2nd week of December through the Epiphany off. The rest of the time, we are learning in some form or another.
This is our 3rd year homeschooling. B went to public school for kindergarten and 1st grade, but we made the decision to homeschool him for 2nd grade, and have reevaluated that decision in the 2 years since then. At this time, the hubs and I have decided to homeschool B through elementary school and see if he wants to go back to public school when he reaches middle school age. In my estimation, that gives me 4 years in which to teach him all he needs to know according to the state standards. Although we are using a different timeline, we hope to arrive at the same destination within the same ETA. ;o)
I was excited about the Activity book that SOTW offered but didn't have an opportunity to see what those activities were until it arrived. So far, there are great craft ideas but they involve supplies we don't have on hand and buying them can really add up. There are also role playing activities which can be challenging with an only child. But we are creative and we really enjoy this curriculum.
The hubs and B have visited my SIL at the beach a couple of weekends this Summer and I've stayed home to have a nice break. So last month, B and I went to my parents for the weekend to give the hubs a nice break at home by himself. My brother came over and I enlisted his help in a Celtic reenactment. My brother and B made Celtic double-headed war axes and then proceeded to have a battle. I thought for sure my mom would have some blue eyeshadow left over from the 60s for me to paint their faces like warriors, but I was disappointed. My brother has no hair so we could not use gel or crisco to spike his hair out and B's hair is wild most of the time anyway, so we just let them at each other, as is.
This is our 3rd year homeschooling. B went to public school for kindergarten and 1st grade, but we made the decision to homeschool him for 2nd grade, and have reevaluated that decision in the 2 years since then. At this time, the hubs and I have decided to homeschool B through elementary school and see if he wants to go back to public school when he reaches middle school age. In my estimation, that gives me 4 years in which to teach him all he needs to know according to the state standards. Although we are using a different timeline, we hope to arrive at the same destination within the same ETA. ;o)
I was excited about the Activity book that SOTW offered but didn't have an opportunity to see what those activities were until it arrived. So far, there are great craft ideas but they involve supplies we don't have on hand and buying them can really add up. There are also role playing activities which can be challenging with an only child. But we are creative and we really enjoy this curriculum.
The hubs and B have visited my SIL at the beach a couple of weekends this Summer and I've stayed home to have a nice break. So last month, B and I went to my parents for the weekend to give the hubs a nice break at home by himself. My brother came over and I enlisted his help in a Celtic reenactment. My brother and B made Celtic double-headed war axes and then proceeded to have a battle. I thought for sure my mom would have some blue eyeshadow left over from the 60s for me to paint their faces like warriors, but I was disappointed. My brother has no hair so we could not use gel or crisco to spike his hair out and B's hair is wild most of the time anyway, so we just let them at each other, as is.
Today we are reading our first chapter on Islam. While B was doing his map work and some other activity pages related to this chapter, the two of us were singing Carpenters songs complete with harmony. We are quite a pair when left alone together all day! ;o) We have so much fun. In a couple of hours we'll be heading to the sprayground with some other homeschool families. I love our life!
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