Not sure I really like....

So now after trying the ELF program, I'm not sure it really is for Ricky. He is so bored with it all. It is all way too easy for him. I think I am going to have to go get a different language program for him. Eventually that is. Right now I will continue to use it for some of the spelling words. He is just so smart and advance. I want to make sure he is challenged, or he will get really bored. I don't want that.

Right now after going to the home school book fair and looking at several other grammar books, I think I like the "Easy Grammar" books. But for now we are not financially fit to buy anything else. Maybe next semester.

Michael is being challenged by the ELF program though. That is a good thing. He seems to like it too. Thank goodness for me. Michael loves to do it too. I am so lucky to have such fun/loving boys that love to be home with their mama!!

I bought the cursive books and the teaching textbooks programs today. That means when they arrive, we start school. Officially!!! YEAH!!! We all can't wait. It has taken a lot to get some things organized and put away. I hope that it works for us. I keep telling myself not to over do it these first few weeks. Here we go!!

More notes...

So far I have done the ELF program with Ricky and Michael. We are adjusting to this whole home school idea. I am very glad I started just one subject right now. It is helping is get comfortable to a type of routine. I am getting a feel for how the kids learn. It is amazing how different Ricky and Michael learn. Ricky is more of a get it done and hurry. Michael is more of a take your time so that you get everything right. He gets really upset if he makes a mistake. I think at Michael's age, Ricky was the same way. I just keep reassuring him that we are a home school environment and it doesn't matter if you make a mistake. I tell him that we all have to make mistakes in order to learn. Hopefully we can continue to work on that.

In regards to the ELF program...Michael is being challenged at the Level 1 so far. Ricky is not. I am going to move him up to Level 2 and try it out. He may need to move up to level 3, but I just don't want him to miss anything. He really is further along than I thought he would be. I am impressed. He actually has been learning something at school except bad habits and behaviors! J/K

I have been reading up on a program called: Shurley English. I REALLY want to get it. I have a friend that has a copy of one of the levels that I think I may ask to borrow and see if I really like it as much as I think I do. I am not going to get anything right now, but I know I want it for Michael sometime. Maybe after Christmas I can buy it. I don't want to over spend right now.

I am also going to just get the Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) books for the boys. I wasn't going to, but they can really use it. It looks like a great way to teach Michael cursive and have Ricky review and perfect his cursive. I am going to get "Cursive Handwriting" for Michael and "Can-Do Cursive" for Ricky.

Needless to say I need to buy still:

TT3 and TT7
HWT books for both

Not too bad. The boys have been enjoying it so far. I am getting nervous adding in more, but on the other side I am VERY excited about all of this. I am looking forward to spending the time with them at home and also on our trips away from home. Wish us luck!!

It's officially started...

Today we started one of our home school subjects...ELF. It is the phonic/grammar/spelling/writing program. The boys just kept begging me to start. So I thought that it would be fun to start with this program. I started both boys at the beginning. We did Lesson 1.1 and 1.2 today. They loved it!! It is more of a review for Ricky and Michael. Next week we might add another subject. It was fun. Whoo-hoo!

Getting things organized...

Oh man is time flying by and I still don't have everything done yet!! I am getting a little overwhelmed. I am preparing for a new baby and a new homeschool. I know everything will work out right. I just need to keep taking one day at a time.

I have ordered the scripture mastery cards. Now all I need to do is buy the Teaching Textbook programs for them. 3 and 7. Also the handwriting books. Not too bad.

I also am still wanting to start up the piano this fall, but I don't want to over do it with trying to deschoolize them and with the new baby. Worst case we start it up in the spring. The nice thing is that I get to do what I want when I want. I will do what is best for my family. The boys are getting excited.

I will be there when everything is organized. I am still starting and new at all of this.

So, I am not a saleswoman but....

BUT, when I find something good, I like to share it. At the Utah Convention for homeschooling I found this awesome program for phonic/grammar/everything!! It is called Mormon Little Books. I got the WHOLE package. It is an introduction to our Book of Mormon AND to reading. These books are very simple, yet they help introduce the people in the Book of Mormon. They are very cute drawings and an easy to read program. Right now the package is half price. This is the best $50 you will ever spend. It includes 32 books, scripted lesson plans book, and a Cd of Book of Mormon scripture pages that you print out and you have your children draw a picture that goes with that scripture. I think that it is not only a good reading program, but also can be used as an AWESOME family home evening lessons. I fell in love immediately. I can't wait until this winter to start this program. The link to her website is: http://mormonlittlebooks.com/shoppingcart.html

I'm not sure if she has a comment section, but if she does make sure you tell her I sent you:-)

Check it out and let me know what you think!!??

Programs I still need to buy...

Writing: Handwriting without tears and the Scripture Mastery cards.
Math: TT 3 and 7

So do I have it all taken care of???

Math:TT 3 and 7
Writing: HWT
Citizenship: ABC's of government
Spelling/Grammer: ELF program
Reading: Chapter books adn B of M together:-)

I think that is all that is required for the state of Texas. Please correct me if I am wrong. So far I am feeling good about all of this. I am just getting things organized for school before the baby comes:-)

New programs to add...

So while I am here in Utah visiting, I went to a Homeschooling convention. The website is: uhea.org It was very nice. I got two new programs to try out. I am going to add a Book of Mormon reading program/vocabulary program in. It was written by an amazing woman that has homeschooled her children for years and now one of her daughters is helping her sell the program. It will be so much fun to learn more about the stories in the Book of Mormon. I am really excited about this one.

I also found a program called ELF. It is a spelling/writing program. It looks like fun for the kids. I just hope the games are as fun as they look. It really sounds good. The website is: e-l-fun.com Check it out:-) I really think the boys are going to like it.

I also found out that Ricky will be on level 7 with the Teaching Textbooks program. I have to say, my boys are so excited to get all of this started. I am too.

So here is the list of the updated programs we are going to use:

Spelling/writing: ELF

Math: Teaching Textbooks 3 & 7

Reading: We will use the Book of Mormon program around Christmas time, until then we are just going to find fun chapter books for them to read and discuss.

Government: the ABC's still.

I think that is it for now. I am brain dead. I just can't wait to finish getting organized. I look forward to spending time with my boys. I still know that there will be some days I wonder what the crap I was thinking, but then most days will be fun and worth every minute of it.

When I get home, I am going to update my links with some more fun stuff I found:-)

I think this will be the plan...

Again, this is my brain storming right now. It probably doesn't make any sense, but here it is. The list of the programs I am thinking about now:

Reading: Find some chapter books for R and M to read on their own. Also read the BofM together.
Math: Still Teaching Textbooks 3/6
Writing: Handwriting without tears plus writing and memorizing a few scripture mastery's.
Citizen: ABC's (from Ben's guide to government)
Spelling: Spell to Write
Language Art: Wordly Wise A & 6 and First Language Lessons

Now onto waiting for the back to school sales and to get all the materials. So far the math program will come in early August. The rest is whenever I find a good deal.

Whoo-hoo!!!

Update

So after long prayerful weeks I have decided to only do what subjects are required by the state of Texas. They are:

Reading
Writing
Spelling
Math
Citizen

I have awesome friends that are helping me get all of this sorted out. With me being a first time HS AND I am having a baby, I have decided to not over do it. This came to me as some good advice. I think I will take it too. So for:

Reading I still haven't made up my mind on what to do
Writing I am doing the Handwriting without tears program
Spelling is the Spell to Write
Math is going to be the Teaching Textbooks program (this is all on the computer and is all taught to them. I don't need to do anything but supervise and coach when needed)
Citizen I am doing the ABC's of Citizen. A friend sent me a list with each letter meaning something that we can talk about and do something with ie: craft or activity.

I then will add in all other subjects and activities as time goes and we get the hang of things. I know I have to de-schoolize them for a bit too. Ricky has been going to school for six years now. I have missed out on a lot, but I know that it wasn't the time to school them until now. This HSing thing will take some time to learn and get the hang of. I am not promising it will go without any problems. I just know that I will give it my all and just try to do my best.

Later this summer when I do buy the material I want, I will then get a somewhat of idea of a schedule up and running. I do have some goals that I want to accomplish by the end of the year.

1. Make sure we are having fun.
2. Check up on Cameron and see if I am ready to pull him from school.
3. School 4 days a week at first for the first 3 months. Just to get the hang of it and to let Friday be a make up day and a special day to do some sort of activity together.
4. School for 5 weeks on and then take the 6th week to either catch up from bad days we may have or take a break.
5. Slowly add on more subjects.

I have more, but that is all I can think of right now. Of course all of this is me brain storming and getting them written down so I don't forget or loose my notes:-)

AWESOME link to an informative website!!

Thanks to another friend on mine, I have an awesome link to an awesome website. I am still reading lots on it, but it looks great!!

http://www.sonlight.com/homeschool-101.html

So far

Well so far I know I am going to do Saxon for Math. I have really thought about it and think that it will do good for my boys. Only time will tell.

As far as music, we are just going to keep it simple and learn how to play the piano. I haven't found any beginner books yet. I haven't really searched either. I have been too consumed with finding the right math program.

I am going to another friends house that home schools to really look at her books. (Thanks Heidi). She is such a great resource for me. It's amazing how fortunate I am to have a lot of friends that are willing to help me get this going.

Now onto where are we going to do the schooling and where am I going to store all the goods? Luckily I have all summer to prepare for this. I know I don't need to get it all complete until this fall or even this next spring. I have to deschoolize them:-)

Still trying

I am still trying to get things in order for this fall when I start the boys up. I have been doing a lot of research and thinking about what I want to start with. I know I cannot do all subjects right away, but with teaching over the summer I know they will catch up. Here is what I am thinking for now:

1. Science: co-op with Kade.
2. Social Studies: Co-op with Kade
3. Math: possibly still the "teaching textbooks" program
4. Music: find beginner books and teach ourselves together:-)
5. Reading: Read the B of M together and then have each boy pick out a book to read themselves.
6. Spelling: Haven't found exactly what I want.
7. Art: ?
8. PE: attend the APE class at UNT as well as go on walks and bike rides:-)

I know I have a lot more to learn and gather to be ready. I hope to have most of my material by mid-July. Oh could I use some prayers. I am still getting very emotional about all of this. I can't believe that I get to be a mom now. I miss spending time with my boys. They grow up way too fast. I love the quote that my friend said "I get to have them for 18 years...the world gets them for the rest". I am so grateful for all the support I have received. Now onto more research!

Something to start with.

I am excited to say that starting the 2010-2011 school year I am going to homeschool Ricky and Michael. We are all excited to get things started. I am excited to spend some more time with my boys. I am a bit nervous and overwhelmed, but I have a lot of help. This is just going to be a blog to keep track of all the information I get and of what the boys are learning. Kinda boring. Here we go!!!!!