My Homeschooling Year

I have thoroughly enjoyed homeschooling this year!  Thank you Melanie Hall for encouraging Scott and me to begin this homeschool journey - and thank you Scott for really leading our family in this direction.  What a joy it has been to experience so many wonderful moments with my children - ones that I otherwise would have missed.  

Just today, Cole and I learned together that Alexander the Great was a private student of Aristotle.  And that somewhere in the 400 years of silence between God speaking through the prophet Malachi at the end of the old testament and then once again speaking through John the Baptist at the beginning of the New Testament, ALexander the Great through his quest to conquer the world ended up preparing the way for the spread of the Gospel by requiring that so many learn the Greek language. It is amazing to see in a second grade history class how so much bad is worked together for the good by God for His people not only for us today but throughout all of history.  Cole said, "If I lived during those 400 year I don't think I'd stand a chance - it would be so awful not to be able to hear anything from God for so long." 

And I am pleased to say that by an act of sheer grace, we will be finishing all of Cole's 2nd grade curriculum before the end of May.  Having gone through public school myself, I am not sure I can even remember reaching the end of a single textbook.  And honestly, even though it took diligence on both of our parts to get to this point, neither Cole nor I feel like it was terribly difficult, as it was for the most part just a whole lot of interesting fun!  

So, to my friends here in Danville, particularly Jen Swartzentruber, and to those of you who gave recommendations for curriculum on this blog last year, I want to really thank you.  Your suggestions were very helpful and a big part of why we so enjoyed this year.  Our four family co-op was also an added bonus for our school year. 

On the curriculum side, we ended up doing a Reason for Handwriting, Horizons Math, The World of Animals by Answers in Genesis for Science, Saxon Phonics for the first half of the year and English for the Thoughtful Child the second half of the year, leading Little Ones to God and Discoverer's Bible for Early Readers for Biblical Studies, The Mystery of History Volume I, and a smattering of great readers graciously loaned to me by Christian sisters who have children just a little bit older than Cole. 

Although I have not finished gathering all of my books for next year, here are the curricula I am leaning towards:  A Reason for Handwriting (cursive), A Reason for Spelling, (love the Biblical teaching embedded in every lesson) Horizons Math (could not be more thrilled with Horizon's math!!), the second half of the book English for the Thoughtful Child (it is a 2nd and 3rd grade book), Discoverer's Bible, and Sonlight's history and language/reading for third grade.  Although I loved Mystery of History this year, I have decided to try out Sonlight's history for third grade since their readers and read-alouds coincide with what is being taught in the main history curriculum.  I Still haven't landed on a Science curriculum.  Suggestions?    

And above all to You, Lord, I want to say thank you! Thank you for the grace to have enjoyed each day!  Thank you for the times you reminded me not to get distracted and lose my peace in homeschooling by allowing my mind to wander and my heart to be divided.  Thank you that all the housework, that I thought would never get done, did in fact get done, just fine, in your time.  Thank you for giving me the time to invest in the adult relationships you ordained for me without me having to fret about them or spend needless time striving to maintain them.   I pray that with this new baby coming and Maya now getting involved in her own homeschool curriculum you will give me the right amount of your grace and your clear guidance to continue to do and be as you ask of me for your good purposes and pleasure in this area of training up my children.  Remind me Lord how quickly this time will go, so that I do not miss what you desire for me to see and experience.  And Lord, if there comes a time when you call me to go in a different direction as it relates to schooling our children, help me to hear you and not be so tied to what I think is "more right" when it may not be "just right" in your mind and plan for our family!

(Don't forget to tune in to Fox - Greta Van Susteren tonight at 10pm (just after Jack Bauer's 24 Hour of Power!) to witness Jelani Freeman's live interview. )  

Comments

[Julie in CA]

We just read the same lesson in the Mystery of History this week. Glad God has blessed you this year and you see his hand in homeschooling and the difference it makes.

We have used several of the Apologia science books for Elementary school and loved them. Our favorite has been Botany and Astronomy.

[Jennifer]

Apologia is great! We enjoyed the "Exploring Creation with Astronomy" this year.

[Lori]

After homeschooling for the past 9 years, I highly recommend Apologia's Exploring Creation series. My children have absolutely enjoyed the Botany, the Zoology, and the Astronomy. Praising the Lord for this new little one on the way. Truly, God provides and gives grace as our families grow and homeschooling grows with it!
All to His Glory!

[cindim]

Your post brings back many good memories of homeschooling. I believe I learned just as much (if not more) than my son!

Enjoy every day... the seemingly mundane ones as well as the difficult ("this stuff is over both our heads!") days. You both are learning/teaching more than you can imagine at this time.

Thank You God for allowing my friend to travel this journey with her children. Thank you for giving her the wisdom, the knowledge, and the patience to do it well. Thank You for allowing Scott to fully support, guide, and participate as the head of this (Your) household. Thank You for allowing us a glimpse into Your Parenting of us, as we also rejoice when our children are receptive learners. Continue to grow us all in Your likeness. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Love from NC.

[Michelle]

I put in our family vote for the Apologia books for all ages!

[Tricia]

We have homeschooled for 8 years and love the Christian Liberty Press Nature Readers for our younger kiddos. They are simple, but perfect for little ears! You can view sample pages on cbd.com :)

[Anna]

Kerry, I haven't done research on what's best science course, but ive done Apoligia for all my HS and I know that Abby loves it too in grade school. Great course.

[Sweet Joni]

Hello Kerry ~
Long time no type but sometimes it's that way :) First, Welcome to MN a bit late ha :D Second, so grateful to read that baby in womb is still doing wonderful... that is an Awesome blessing from God!!!

Homeschooling: My step-brother's wife has had 6 children (one died shortly after birth). Anyway, they are all two yrs apart & she has homeschooled them all since the oldest (now 13?) began school.

She LOVES it... their children are the most well-behaved, Christ-like children I know! Very, very precious Children of God!

AND their house is forever sparkling clean!!! I shake my head in AMAZEMENT at this Christian Family not knowing how she does it but only with God's Strength & Courage & her willingness to continue!!!

Best Blessings as you journey thru another year of homeschooling with both your precious children.

God Bless,
~Joni

[Lee Rivera]

We live in NYC and my 4 children currently attend public school. My oldest is graduating 5th grade and will be starting J.H. this next semester. I WILL NOT put him in public school around here....we do not live in the greatest neighborhood and I believe it would be detrimental to his growth if I sent him. Anyway I needed to read this and be encouraged and I am. Please pray for the finances for me to do this though. My hubby has been without work and we are in a financially tight position. I believe the Lord has our best interest at heart and will provide according to His perfect will. This blog gave me that glimmer of hope and encouragement towards researching my options. Thx.
Mother of 5 from the Bronx.

[Kendall Davis-Volunteer Assistant, Food for Oprhans]

That is so great that your first year of homeschooling went so well! It can be such a scary thing, homeschooling your kids, but its definitley rewarding! My mother homeschooled my brother and I when we were in elementary school, and I loved it! I'm watching my sister-in-law homeschool her kids right now, and she and her family are finding so many blessings in it! I am glad you are as well!

[Valia]

Hi Kerry!It's Valia from Irkutsk.It's so great "to find" you again :D
Lena Semeonovna and Ivanka will be so excited to hear about you and you family! Much love to you all!!!

[Stacey]

We love Apologia science, too!