Yes, we're *those* people. The crazy ones that homeschool. Because we like it. Because we like our children. Because we think that it's our job as parents (and not the government's) to raise our children. So here we are, 18 years in...
If you are interested in what we are using this year, you are in the right place. Here is an overview of what we are doing for the 2018-2019 school year.Derek is a 7th grader this year and Titus is a 5th grader. Both have learning struggles so they end up about on the same level, which is currently hovering around an upper 3rd/lower 4th grade level. But we made MUCH progress last year and are hoping to see massive gains again this year.
Jodi and I are sharing the teaching time again this year with my Derek and her Titus. It's good for each of them to have a class mate, and to have a variety of teachers and styles. So, without further ado...
DEREK (and Titus):
- We are continuing to use our beloved My Father's World for our core curriculum. It covers Bible/character training, geography, history, science, art, music and our read-aloud books. We are in year 3 of the 5 year cycle called Rome to the Reformation. It can be found here. It was generously given to us by one of our homeschooling friends and I filled the gaps with the MFW gift certificate I had from work last year's homeschooling conference. I teach in the morning while Jodi is running errands, visiting students at school, and doing her housekeeping. Jodi teaches in the early afternoon while I do office work. We are following the public school schedule since James is in public school and it also keeps our work/school schedule simple in terms of when Jodi will have clients in the office and I will be at work.
- Jodi teaches in the early afternoons and is writing curriculum specifically for Derek and Titus to cover Language Arts and Arithmetic, with a special focus on writing. She is using the "What Your ___Grader Needs to Know" series as a starting point and adding from there. This year we are using the 2nd and 3rd grade books for language arts and using the 4th and 5th grade books for math. We are also using Teaching Textbooks Grade 5 as a way to cover some of the basics and reinforce the math concepts that Jodi is teaching during the afternoons.
- Derek and Titus are learning some Spanish this year and we are using the DuoLingo phone app to allow them some independent learning time. They are both soaking it up like little sponges and are teaching us new things weekly.
- Extra Curriculars include: Lego Club/Board Game Day/Camps at Learn For a Lifetime, Game Night, Jump dates at Rockin' Jump on Homeschool Day, play dates with friends (and each other) and whatever else their mothers think up for them.
That pretty well sums up what we are doing this school year. If we add or change anything, I'll update the page.
