Back to the Grind?

After all of my reluctance to begin school again and put an end to our leisurely summer days, I've discovered that I like our leisurely school days just as well. The grind isn't such a grind after all...and I'm so relieved.

The routine is good for all of us, perhaps me most of all. We're getting more household chores done, enjoying our lesson times, and I haven't heard "I'm bored" nearly as much since school began again. 

Teaching three is a challenge, as I expected. But spending my time with my Kindergarten-aged daughter first helps her to be more cooperative when it's time to do lessons with her brothers. And the two year old is enthralled with the Little People suddenly which is certainly an answer to prayer. She's much less disruptive than she was last year. 

I've changed up our routine a bit this year and ditched my weekly checklist completely. Freedom from the checklist - ah.

Now since I'm frequently asked (especially by new homeschooling parents) what curriculum we use, I'm going to post it here. This is subject to change, of course, as it's just what's working best for us right now. 

6th Grader:
Saxon Math
Writing & Rhetoric
Latin for Children
G.U.M. Drops (Grammar, Usage & Mechanics)
Sequential Spelling
Zaner-Bloser Cursive and Character ZB Cursive

3rd Grader:
Explode the Code workbooks
All About Spelling
Ordinary Parents Guide to Reading
Saxon Math
Handwriting Skills Simplified (Cursive) and Character ZB Print practice
G.U.M. Drops (Grammar, Usage & Mechanics)

Kindergartener:
Explode the Code workbooks
Phonics Pathways
Singapore's Essential Math
Zaner Bloser Handwriting

Add to that memorization of Scripture and creeds, catechism, poetry reading, Shakespeare, composer study, hymn singing/learning, Christian history, Bible study, literature read-alouds, independent reading, history reading and discussions, map work, science reading, and it looks like a really full plate!

So in the interest of full disclosure, I should let you know that we're usually finished by 2 p.m. (apart from the boys' independent reading). We don't do all of those things every single day...not even every single term. I've divided the school year into six terms - some longer, some shorter. And we'll work on some of those things during some terms and not others. 

For example, Cade (3rd grade) is doing spelling every day this term, but not grammar. Luke (6th grade) is doing grammar, but not spelling. And the litany of reading and memorizing that we're doing is obviously not everything, every day. I'd be headed for the loony-bin if that were the case! Also, during our holiday term (the few weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas), we'll set aside some of the things we'd normally do and instead focus on advent themes.

One of my favorite changes we've made this year is in regards to history and science. Previously we've alternated history and science - history on M/W/F and science on T/Th. This year we are studying history every day for a week and then switching to science every day for a week. This will coincide with the science co-op we're joining which meets every other week. Otherwise, I'd be tempted to alternate every other month.

I've really enjoyed the continuity of studying history all week without jumping back and forth with science every other day. This month we're actually doing history all month long since our science co-op doesn't start until September. After that we'll begin to alternate weeks. I think this will give our studies a better flow and more depth, too.

We're striving for diligence this year...diligence in our lessons as well as in other areas of our lives. I want to stop checking off boxes (on paper or in my head) and start being "all there" at whatever it is we're doing at that point in time. I hope to see more beauty in our studies and help the children see how it all points to the One who embodies beauty in every way.