Our Curriculum/Classes for 2013-2014

Curriculum/Classes 2013-2014

Here's what we are planning to do this year. I included some activities as well. This is going to help me as I prepare my children's transcripts. All of the extra things are important to keep track of.  Of course, my plans may change as the year goes on. That's what I love about homeschooling. You don't have to do everything you planned or you may not like something you planned. I always love to look at what other homeschoolers are doing and get ideas from them. Hope you see something that might help you as you are deciding on curriculum. It's amazing how many choices we have now!  

I've mentioned this before, but I feel very strongly that you should not compare yourself or your children to other homeschoolers. No child or family is alike. No one learns alike or may have the same interest. It's okay if your child is taking math that is two years behind his grade or working 2 years ahead in Literature/Grammar. Each child is unique and as homeschoolers, we can work at the child's level, not what the school says is required of their age. As you will see below, I decided to use history that is said to be below where my son is and he will be doing math ahead of where he should be. I do what works for our children; not what others say they must be doing.

I would also love suggestions for a few things I am still considering: Typing for older kids, and my high school son might want to be an architect. I would love suggestions for curriculum, websites, or books he could use.

I buy the majority of my curriculum used from http://homeschoolclassifieds.com/, ebay.com, and from co-op sales. We get most of our books from the library and there are a few I buy new once a year. Check out my favorite websites for websites where I get free curriculum. I'm going to add some great new websites I found through friends recently.


My children are going into 7th & 8th grade next year. Here is a list of curriculum my children will be using for the 2013-2014 school year and classes they will be taking. I'm still  deciding on some subjects.


History/Geography/Literature/Bible for Posie: Sonlight Core E - Intro to American History:  A friend let us graciously borrow this curriculum. We've never used Sonlight so I am excited to try it out. I believe this will be our favorite subject this year. My daughter saw all the books and she looked like it was Christmas! She is thrilled about History this year for the first time in years!

History/Geography/BibleLiterature for Shrimp: I decided to use the Sonlight History with both of the children and I will just require more for my highschooler. I may ask him to do additional research and write essays.
Later or as we go, I might have him use this free website http://education-portal.com/academy/course/us-history-i.html to take a History class while earning college credit. It even has a practice CLEP test to take after. I'm not sure if we will do the CLEP test however, because we don't know where our son will go to college and I heard many colleges do not accept CLEP. There are more classes offered on this website. Check it out!

Geography for Shrimp: I was just asked to be a home-bound teacher for a sweet boy I tutor. They asked if I would teach him geography at home as well as be his reading tutor. After much prayer, I felt God may be wanting us to do this. So, I decided I will teach both my son and this boy World Geography. I'm going to add in many hands on to make it more interesting.

Math: Posie: Saxon Algebra 1/2
Shrimp: Saxon Geometry


Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling, & Literature 8th grade: Abeka - http://www.abeka.com/: combine both children
We will be using spellingcity.com to study the Abeka words and vocab


Writing: IEW Levels B & C at co-op:
   http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/mhw-s
I will be teaching IEW level C to highschoolers, so Shrimp will be in my class

Clarinet (Year 2) : Shrimp at co-op

Language: Posie: Chinese (year 2) at co-op, Shrimp: free Spanish language course at home he won from winning Spelling Bee last year

Logic: Shrimp at co-op

Ridgewood Analogy books at home: Both children love doing these

Criminal Science: Posie at co-op (I was very surprised when she told me she wanted to take this.)

Science: Shrimp: Physical Science Abeka 9th, Posie: Science: Posie loves the Apologia books so she is doing the new Exploring Creation through Chemistry. She is so excited about this! I wish I would have been excited about chemistry at her age. She wanted this so bad that this is one of the few books I bought brand new this year since it just was released in Aug.

Typing: Not sure what we're using yet. Again, would love suggestions. We have only tried Typing Instructor so far. Need something new.

Architecture: I found a couple neat websites I would like to share: http://architectureatzero.com/tools/, http://www.archkidecture.org/
I also have him doing different activities for us since we are starting the foster process. He created a floor plan of our home with square footage and a fire escape route. My next project for him will include designing his dream home.

Co-op: At one of our favorite co-ops this year, I will be teaching: High School IEW Level C, 1st-3rd grade Books Alive class, and a Preschool class. This co-op meets every Friday where we have a bible/worship time and 3-4 classes after depending on how long you stay. We are part of several homeschool groups and we love each and every one of them. We go on different adventures with each and have wonderful friendships. We are so blessed to have them part of our lives. I would encourage those of you who are not part of one to seek out a local homeschool group.

 Geography Fair, Biography Fair, and Science Fair with co-op


Spelling Bee with co-op: Shrimp


Speech/Drama: Fall/Spring at co-op (this is our children's favorite)

Field trips/Community Service: I will be setting up many fun trips for one of our homeschool groups.

Summer Engineering for Shrimp: He has done this for 2 summers now. I would highly recommend this to any child interested in a science field ( PREP) It is a free 7 week program for children finishing 6th - 10th. He is learning algebra, problem solving, logic, engineering, architect class, & physics. It has been a great experience for him and helped to boost his confidence. In Texas, there are several TEXPREP programs. Check it out and see if you live near one.

Ballet for Posie: This is Posie's passion!


Youth group at church  

Dinner time:  Our family just started a new thing for dinner time. Each child researches and presents10 facts on a person or place to us at dinnertime. This has been fun and interesting to see what and who our children will choose. Later, we will change it to informing us on a news story they read that day. Some interesting topics: Hitler, The Dog Whisperer, creator of Mine Craft, cereal, & St. Basil's Cathedral.


Reading:
My children love to read and will be known to go through a book a day. They love all kinds of books. Both of my children have loved reading the classics, but they have also enjoyed mysteries, adventure, poetry, nonfiction, and book series.  I do not pick out books based on a certain level of reading. I try to pick out real living books for my children: high-quality literature with real-life experiences. But mostly they choose their own books.

Selecting children, having faith, and the waiting game

I wanted to write this post because we are currently in the waiting game again and I felt I left out some information in a previous post about selecting children to adopt. We have been selecting children and waiting since April. After praying for God's will, God showed us He does still want us to adopt, so we have been seeking children of all ages and groups. And, yes, we are still waiting!

One of the things not shared with us in the beginning was that a family can select as many children as they want. Now this is for the state of Texas. I'm not sure how it works in other states. We thought we could only ask for one child or one group at a time. No, you can choose as many as you are interested in at a time. Our sweet, patient worker sometimes submits for up to 5 a week for us.

This can be a hard time as you select a child based on one picture and a short description of that child. I don't know about you, but how can you know this is the child God wants you to have?

Well, I decided to give it all to God and I would urge you to do the same. And I mean completely trusting in Him and what He wants for your family. I realized the more and more we looked, we were still being very selective.

We initially only wanted children between the ages of 6-10 and no more than 2 children. Now, I am asking for all sorts of children, even sibling groups of 3, which my husband said no to. The only thing we realized is we don't believe He wants us to have a child older than our oldest son, who is now 13 and that we can't take in a severe child. Besides those 2 things, we are trusting God completely. Are you?

Every day I would look at the website and the broadcasts sent out to us and realize we were still being too selective. I started asking for several children a day asking God to shut the door on the ones He does not want us to have. Yes, my friends and family do think I'm crazy! But, I am not about to tell God what I believe He wants for our family.

This has given me an incredible peace as I realized He is doing exactly what I asked for. We have received a few phone calls and emails saying we are being considered for different children. Occasionally,  we hear that we were not selected for a child or children, but mostly we don't hear back at all. Thank you, Lord, for shutting those doors!

One day I received a phone call saying we are being considered for a group of 3. An hour later another group of 3. I'm not sure if God wants us to have one of these groups or if He is trying to show us something. Whatever it is, I am trusting Him to close the door if they are not the ones He wants for us.

We know we are currently in the top 3 for one of the sibling groups, but again, we have been waiting for over a month. We do know we are still being considered and there is a new selection date, so we are just waiting.

Do we see ourselves with 3 or want 3 children? No! But, do we really know what God wants us to have? Again, No! We just have to trust that He knows what is best for us and who needs us.

I have had friends and family who roll their eyes or make comments about how many I have submitted for. They think I'm being impatient or testing God. Or they'll make comments like I don't think God wants you to have older ones again or I don't think God wants you to have 3. All I can say to you is - Don't worry about what others say or think. I value my friends and families' opinions, but they are their opinions. How do they know what God wants for your family? Be careful when taking advice from others.

I urge you to prayerfully consider how you are handling the adoption selection process and just remember to be patient and trust in God. Let Him lead you.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Helpful advice after you are selected to adopt a child through CPS

This is a very exciting and emotional part of your adoption journey. It's the moment your family has all been waiting for. Here are a few things to think about as you begin your adoption journey. 

After you have been selected for a child or sibling group, your family is so excited to meet the child. You start to imagine the child in your family and in your home. You may even begin to set up their room.

• First piece of advice is to take the next steps slowly.

Before we met our child, I read the same thing. Take it slowly, but the next thing you know we were taking the child home for good after our first formal visit. We should have heeded advice and taken it more slowly.

• Read, re-read, discuss, ask questions, and pray about the information you receive

After being selected, you will receive all sorts of information about your child: Psych reports, family history, medical reports, etc. Please make sure you have received it all and the most current reports. Once you have it all, take your time to read it all, discuss with your spouse, and pray about it. Don't rush this process.

A large box was given to us an hour before meeting her. We read through it as quickly as possible and then decided it was too much to go through.

Also, if you question anything in the report, this is your opportunity to ask the worker questions. They want you to ask questions. They want you completely informed. Don't be afraid to ask too many questions or to ask to have more time.

• Set up as many visits as possible 

Next, you will either be given the opportunity to speak with the child on the phone or most likely, set up a first meeting date. If you are meeting the child, set up a short afternoon visit in their foster home and get to know them and their foster family.

Do not let the worker talk you into taking the child home after the first visit. Our child's team felt it was in her best interest to limit visits. They felt she didn't need to go back to her home because it was a RTC and they felt she would have more issues. As we look back on this, we realize it moved way too quickly and we should have set up more visits. Your family and your child needs time to process the changes that are occurring.

Go home and have a family meeting and pray. If you feel the first meeting went well, tell the worker you want to proceed and set up another visit.

Ask the foster parents what the child might be interested in doing before you make plans. We knew our child was interested in the outdoors and adventure, so we took her kayaking and she loved it.

Once your family has started having long weekend visits in your home, you may have a good feeling about this child or you may not feel this is the child for your family. Do not be afraid to back out at this point. It's better to know now before the child moves in with you. Pray and ask God to show you if this is the child for your family. Trust God and enjoy your new child!

If you are currently in this process, I would love to hear how your adoption journey is going or for you to offer any additional advice to others in the process of adopting.